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Bruno Kirby | |
|---|---|
2.JPG) Kirby inThe Super in 1972 | |
| Born | Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr. (1949-04-28)April 28, 1949 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 2006(2006-08-14) (aged 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Bruce Kirby Jr. B. Kirby Jr. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–2006 |
| Spouse | |
| Parent | Bruce Kirby (father) |
Bruno Kirby (bornBruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr.; April 28, 1949 – August 14, 2006) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles inCity Slickers,When Harry Met Sally...,Good Morning, Vietnam,The Godfather Part II,The Freshman,Sleepers andDonnie Brasco. He voiced Reginald Stout inStuart Little.
Kirby was a character actor whose career spanned 35 years. In 1971, he made his screen debut in the dramaThe Young Graduates, although it was his role three years later as the youngPeter Clemenza in the epic crime filmThe Godfather Part II that raised his profile in Hollywood. In the summer of 1972, in one of his early television appearances, Kirby portrayed Anthony Girelli, the son ofRichard Castellano's character Joe Girelli, inThe Super; Castellano had played the older Peter Clemenza inThe Godfather. In 1973, he appeared inThe Harrad Experiment.
His other television appearances includedRoom 222 and thepilot episode ofM*A*S*H, portraying the character Boone (he had no lines). He also appeared in the 1974Columbo episode "By Dawn's Early Light", alongside his fatherBruce Kirby, and in the season 2 episode "Seance" ofEmergency!, where he was credited as "B. Kirby Jr."
Described byLeonard Maltin as the "quintessential New Yorker or cranky straight man", Kirby appeared in a series of comedies, typically playing fast-talking, belligerent yet likable characters. His best-known roles include a colleague ofAlbert Brooks' film editor inModern Romance; a talkative limo driver inThis Is Spinal Tap; the jealous, comedically impaired Lieutenant Hauk inGood Morning, Vietnam; and a shifty assistant toMarlon Brando—a parody of Brando'sGodfather role—inThe Freshman. Kirby balanced comedies with dramatic roles likeDonnie Brasco as a double-dealing mobster.
Kirby appeared withBilly Crystal inWhen Harry Met Sally... (1989)[1] andCity Slickers (1991). Both featured Kirby's character as the opinionated best friend to Crystal's character. Kirby refused to sign on forCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold unless script changes were made, and was subsequently replaced byJon Lovitz.
Bruno guest-starred on an episode ofMad About You in 1996.[2]In 1991, Kirby made his Broadway debut when he replacedKevin Spacey inNeil Simon'sLost in Yonkers. In the last decade of his life, he had success inStuart Little and was increasingly working in television. He starred asBarry Scheck in the 2000CBS dramaAmerican Tragedy, played a paroled convict in a season three episode ofHomicide: Life on the Street, and also directed an episode of that show.
He appeared on the HBO TV seriesEntourage in season 3, episode 4, "Guys and Doll", as movie mogul Phil Rubinstein.
He was invited to be a member of theActors Studio in 2006, less than six months before his death.[citation needed]
He shared the same birthday, April 28, with his father, actorBruce Kirby, who was born in 1925.[citation needed] Kirby attendedPower Memorial Academy.[citation needed]
Like his character inThis is Spinal Tap, Kirby was a fan ofFrank Sinatra.[3] He enjoyed playing softball in the late 1970s. He was also strongly allergic to horses and needed daily allergy shots on the set ofCity Slickers (this was part of the reason he declined to return forCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold).[4]
During the 1970s Kirby was in a relationship with actressAnnette O'Toole.[5] He married actress Lynn Sellers on September 29, 2003. They remained married until his death in 2006.[citation needed]
Kirby died on August 14, 2006, at age 57, from complications related toleukemia.[6][7]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Young Graduates | Les | Credited asB. Kirby Jr. |
| 1973 | The Harrad Experiment | Harry Schacht | |
| 1973 | Superdad | Stanley Schlimmer | |
| 1973 | Cinderella Liberty | Alcott | |
| 1974 | The Godfather Part II | Young Peter Clemenza | Credited asB. Kirby Jr. |
| 1976 | Baby Blue Marine | Pop Mosley | |
| 1977 | Between the Lines | David Entwhistle | |
| 1978 | Almost Summer | Bobby DeVito | |
| 1980 | Where the Buffalo Roam | Marty Lewis | |
| 1980 | Borderline | Jimmy Fante | |
| 1981 | Modern Romance | Jay | |
| 1982 | Kiss My Grits | Flash | |
| 1984 | This Is Spinal Tap | Tommy Pischedda | |
| 1984 | Birdy | Phil Renaldi | |
| 1985 | Flesh and Blood | Orbec | |
| 1987 | Tin Men | Mouse | |
| 1987 | Good Morning, Vietnam | Lt. Steven Hauk | |
| 1989 | Bert Rigby, You're a Fool | Kyle DeForest | |
| 1989 | When Harry Met Sally... | Jess Fisher | |
| 1989 | We're No Angels | Deputy | |
| 1990 | The Freshman | Victor Ray | |
| 1991 | City Slickers | Ed Furillo | |
| 1992 | Hoffa | Nightclub Comic | Uncredited |
| 1993 | Golden Gate | Agent Ron Pirelli | |
| 1995 | The Basketball Diaries | Swifty | |
| 1996 | Sleepers | Mr. Carcaterra | |
| 1997 | Donnie Brasco | Nicky Santora | |
| 1999 | A Slipping-Down Life | Kiddie Acres Manager | |
| 1999 | Spy Games | Max Fisher | Alternate title:History Is Made at Night |
| 1999 | Stuart Little | Reginald "Reggie" Stout (voice) | |
| 2001 | One Eyed King | Mickey | |
| 2006 | Played | Detective Allen | Final film appearance |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969–1973 | Room 222 | Herbie Considine | 5 episodes Credited asB. Kirby Jr. |
| 1972 | The Super | Anthony Girelli | 10 episodes |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H | Pvt. Lorenzo Boone | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1973 | Emergency! | Ken | Episode: "Seance" |
| 1974 | Columbo | Cadet Morgan | Episode: "By Dawn's Early Light" |
| 1975 | Kojak | Keith Wicks | Episode: "Acts of Desperate Men" |
| 1976 | Delvecchio | Episode: "Board of Rights"; uncredited | |
| 1979 | Detective School | Marvin | Episode: "The Bank Job" |
| 1981 | ABC Afterschool Special | Official | Episode: "Run, Don't Walk" |
| 1982 | Million Dollar Infield | Lou Buonomato | Television movie |
| 1982 | Fame | Marty Shwartz | Episode: "Homecoming" |
| 1983 | Hill Street Blues | Louis | Episode: "The Russians Are Coming" |
| 1984 | Buchanan High | Mr. Prescott | 2 episodes |
| 1989–1990 | It's Garry Shandling's Show | Brad Brillnick | 8 episodes |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Billy Paloma | Episode: "The Trap" |
| 1992 | Mastergate | Abel Lamb | Television movie |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels | Tony Reseck | Episode: "I'll Be Waiting" |
| 1993 | Frasier | Marco (voice) | Episode: "Call Me Irresponsible" |
| 1993–1998 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 1994 | Late Show with David Letterman | Cop on the Edge | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Victor Helms | Episode: "The Gas Man" |
| 1996 | Mad About You | Virgil | Episode: "The Gym" |
| 1999 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | The Great One (voice) | Episode: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" |
| 2000 | American Tragedy | Barry Scheck | Television movie |
| 2001 | Between the Lions | Sad Dad | Episode: "The Sad Dad" |
| 2001 | Biography | Narrator | Episode: "Bobby Darin: I Want to Be a Legend" |
| 2004 | Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi | Television movie |
| 2004 | The Jury | Carmen Pintozzi | Episode: "Too Jung to Die" |
| 2006 | Entourage | Phil Rubenstein | Episode: "Guys and Doll" Final television appearance |
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Nominated | American Comedy Awards | Funniest Supporting Actor | City Slickers |
