Don Calfa

Don Calfa

Don Calfa with Living Dead co-stars Linnea Quigley and Beverly Randolph in 2007
Born Donald George Calfa
(1939-12-03)December 3, 1939
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died December 1, 2016(2016-12-01) (aged 76)
Yucca Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1968–2015

Donald George "Don" Calfa (December 3, 1939 – December 1, 2016) was an American film and television character actor whose credits spanned over 40 years, playing both comedic and dramatic roles. Although Calfa has appeared in many high-profile films and television series, he was perhaps best known for his role as mortician Ernie Kaltenbrunner in the 1985 cult horror-comedy The Return of the Living Dead, and the bumbling hitman in Weekend at Bernie's.

Early life and career

Calfa was born on December 3, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Ozone Park, Queens and later West Hempstead, Long Island. According to his official biography, Calfa was originally interested in pursuing a career in the fine arts, but diverted his interest to acting after seeing Rebel Without a Cause. He promptly dropped out of high school to join a theater workshop (later finishing his degree through night school), eventually joining both the Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.[1] Before transitioning to film, Calfa worked heavily in theater, appearing in many Off-Off-Broadway productions and having performed on Broadway in 1965 in Mating Dance and in 1971 in Lenny.[1][2]

Calfa worked steadily in both film and television for over 40 years, and has worked alongside such high-profile actors and directors as Warren Beatty, Michael Douglas, Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.[3] Although he has worked extensively as a dramatic actor, Calfa is perhaps best recognized for his comedic performances in various cult films, including as Paulie in Weekend at Bernie's, Scarface in Foul Play, Harold Grand in Treasure of the Moon Goddess and mad scientist Ralph Willum in Chopper Chicks in Zombietown.

Calfa was perhaps best known for his major role in the 1985 cult horror-comedy The Return of the Living Dead, in which he played the eccentric mortician Ernie Kaltenbrunner. He would later audition for the role of Doc Mandel in the 1988 sequel Return of the Living Dead Part II, which also featured several returning stars from the original, but the part ultimately went to Philip Bruns. In 1993, Calfa was set to play the character Colonel Peck in Return of the Living Dead III, but had to pull out of production due to personal reasons.[4] He remained good friends with the rest of the Living Dead cast and crew, and made appearances alongside them at horror conventions and screenings of the film across the United States. Calfa was also interviewed for the 2012 documentary on the film, More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead.

Personal life

Calfa was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[1] He had been a close friend and colleague of fellow actor Richard Lynch since the 1960s, and acted alongside him in H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon (1993), Toughguy (1995), Corpses Are Forever (2003) and Lewisburg (2010).[4] He was married to Trixie Flynn (from September 10, 1977 – August 26, 1981); the union ended in divorce..

Death

Calfa died on December 1, 2016, at his home in Yucca Valley, California,[5] two days before his 77th birthday.[6]

Filmography

Film roles

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1968 No More Excuses Priest Directed by Robert Downey, Sr.
1969 Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value Peter DeCola
1970 Pound Italian Terrier Directed by Robert Downey, Sr.
1972 Greaser's Palace Morris Directed by Robert Downey, Sr.
1973 The Rainbow Boys Mazella
Cinderella Liberty Lewis Directed by Mark Rydell
1974 Rhinoceros Waiter
Bank Shot Stosh Gornik
Shanks Albert Einstein Directed by William Castle
1975 Peeper Rosie
1976 Nickelodeon Waldo Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
1977 New York, New York Gilbert Directed by Martin Scorsese
1978 Foul Play Scarface
1979 10 Neighbor Directed by Blake Edwards
The Rose Don Frank
1941 Telephone operator Directed by Steven Spielberg
1981 The Postman Always Rings Twice Goebel
1983 The Star Chamber Lawrence Monk
The Man Who Wasn't There Tohfa
1984 E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind E. 'Nick' Vanacuzzi Starring role
1985 The Return of the Living Dead Ernie Kaltenbrunner Major role
1986 Running Scared Women's Room Lawyer
1987 Treasure of the Moon Goddess Harold Grand Major role
Talking Walls Andre
1988 Blue Movies Max
The Presidio Howard Buckely
1989 Weekend at Bernie's Paulie Major role
Chopper Chicks in Zombietown Ralph Willum Major role
1991 Bugsy Louie Dragna Directed by Barry Levinson
1992 Me, Myself and I Irving Major role
Stay Tuned Wetzel
1993 H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon Mr. Benedict
1995 Cobs n Roberts
Toughguy Office Worker #1
Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie City Hall Guard
1998 Progeny Jimmy Stevens
Dr. Dolittle Patient at Hammersmith
2001 Downward Angel Adam
2002 The 4th Tenor Bum #3
2003 Night Creep Mr. Blunt
Corpses Are Forever Jack Stark Credited as Lance Fladoda
2010 Lewisburg Night Clerk
2012 More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead Himself Documentary film
2015 Sharkskin Joey 'Snot'

Television roles

Television
Year Show Role Notes
1972 Goodnight, My Love Bananas Made for TV movie
The Delphi Bureau Gunjamen Episode: "The White Plague Project"
1973 The Blue Knight Made for TV movie
1974–1975 Kojak Fidelio Ortez
Burgess		 Episode: "Marker to a Dead Bookie"
Episode: "A House of Prayer, a Den of Thieves"
1974–1977 The Streets of San Francisco Larry Mason
Sparrow
Randolf J. "Moonshine" Fisher		 Episode: "Mister Nobody"
Episode: "Poisoned Snow"
Episode: "A Good Cop...But"
1976 Most Wanted Episode: "Pilot"
Baretta Corsican Episode: "Aggie"
Delvecchio Sergeant Mendez
Narc		 Episode: "Contract for Harry"
Episode: "The Avenger"
1977–1981 Barney Miller Mr. DiLucca
Angelo Dodi
Leon Bidell
Calvin J. Kendall
Gilbert Lesco
Arthur Thompson
Eddie		 Episode: "Group Home"
Episode: "Copy Cat"
Episode: "Hostage"
Episode: "Identity"
Episode: "The Desk"
Episode: "The Vests"
Episode: "Homeless"
1977 Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected Episode: "The Final Chapter"
1978 The Bionic Woman Petie "The Weasel" Regan Episode: "Rancho Outcast"
The Comedy Company Harry Fenner Made for TV movie
Steel Cowboy "Go" Trucker Made for TV movie
1979 The Runaways Sam Episode: "Dreams of My Father"
1980 Nobody's Perfect Rosen Episode: "What's on Third?"
1981 Park Place Howie Beech Recurring role (4 episodes)
Benson Dr. Death Episode: "The Grass Ain't Greener"
1982 The Day the Bubble Burst Mr. Cinelli Made for TV movie
1983 Allison Sydney Harrison Pat Rosetti Made for TV movie
Shooting Stars Driscoll Made for TV movie
1984 Legmen Oscar Armismendi Episode: "Poseidon Indenture"
Hill Street Blues Oscar Foreman Episode: "Eva's Brawn"
Night Court Miles Seaver Episode: "Billie and the Cat"
1985 Simon & Simon Randall Deeds Episode: "Slither"
Our Family Honor Maltz Episode: "Runaway Movie Queen"
Amazing Stories Messenger Episode: "The Amazing Falsworth"
1986 Blacke's Magic Episode: "Wax Poetic"
Throb Coyote Man Episode: "My Fair Punker Lady"
1987 Private Eye Made for TV movie
9 to 5 Janipopolous Episode: "Love and Death"
1988, 1993 Murder, She Wrote Clifford Coleson
Vinnie		 Episode: "Mr. Penroy's Vacation"
Episode: "The Survivor"
1988 Houston Knights Episode: "Bad Paper"
1989 Mancuso, F.B.I. Episode: "Murder of Pearl"
1990 Matlock Andrew Sloan Episode: "Nowhere to Turn"
Twin Peaks Vice Principal Greege Episode: "Episode 10 (uncredited) and Episode 17"
1990–1993 Doogie Howser, M.D. Carmine Delpino Recurring role (3 episodes)
1990, 1995 Columbo Rudy Episode: "Strange Bedfellows"
Episode: "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo"
1993–1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Mr. Pitts Recurring role (3 episodes)
1994 Boy Meets World Frank Episode: "Who's Afraid of Cory Wolf?"
2003 Less Than Perfect Uncle Nicky Episode: "Save the Squirrel, But Bet the Over/Under"

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Don Calfa Biography". doncalfa.com. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Don Calfa – The Internet Broadway Database". Internet Broadway Database.
  3. ↑ "Don Calfa filmography". Internet Movie Database.
  4. 1 2 "Don Calfa biodata". Internet Movie Database.
  5. ↑ Press, Associated (December 2, 2006). "Don Calfa, evil mortician in 'The Return of the Living Dead,' dies at 76". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ Barnes, Mike (December 2, 2006). "Don Calfa, the Mortician in 'The Return of the Living Dead' Dies at 76". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2016.

External links

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