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Bruno Kirby

Born 1949-03-28 in
An Actor

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In Brief:

Bruno Kirby, born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu, Jr. (April 28, 1949 – August 14, 2006), was an American character actor

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Bio:

Kirby was born into a Hollywood family; his father is actor Bruce Kirby (born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu), who most recently appeared in the movie Crash, and his brother, John Kirby, is a notable acting coach. Bruno Kirby married actress Lynn Sellers in 2004

Kirby's early appearances included his film debut in the little-seen The Young Graduates (1971) and on the television programs Room 222 and The Super, in which he portrayed Richard Castellano's son. In a bit of irony, Castellano appeared in The Godfather (1972) as hefty Pete Clemenza, a prominent member of the Corleone crime family; Kirby subsequently played a younger version of Clemenza in the sequel, The Godfather Part II. He was listed in the credits as 'B. Kirby, Jr.', and the role raised the actor's profile in Hollywood.

Described by film critic Leonard Maltin as "the quintessential New Yorker or cranky straight man", Kirby displayed his talents in a series of comedies, typically playing fast-talking, belligerent, yet strangely lovable characters. The most well-known of these are Modern Romance (as Albert Brooks' fellow film editor), This Is Spinal Tap (as a talkative limo driver), Good Morning, Vietnam (as jealous U.S. Army officer Lt. Hauk, obsessed with polka music and unaware of his own mediocre comedic skills) and The Freshman (as a shifty assistant to Marlon Brando, spoofing his own Godfather role). Kirby balanced these comedies with dramatic roles in Donnie Brasco and Sleepers.

Kirby and comedian Billy Crystal made a popular screen team in When Harry Met Sally... (1989) and City Slickers (1991). Both movies featured Kirby as the sidekick of Crystal's characters.

Kirby was a popular character actor through the late 1980s and early '90s, although the frequency of his film appearances waned. In the last decade of his life, he was increasingly working on television. He played a paroled convict out for revenge in an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street. More recently, he played Phil Rubenstein in the HBO series Entourage.

Bruno Kirby died on August 14, 2006, in Los Angeles from complications related to leukemia. According to the Associated Press and other news reports, he had only recently been diagnosed with the disease according to his widow. He was 57 years old.

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Trivia:

• In an interview on Bob Costas' Later show, Kirby revealed that, like his character in Spinal Tap, he was a fanatical fan of Frank Sinatra. He was also deathly allergic to horses, and needed daily allergy shots on the set of City Slickers.

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Filmography:

• Played - 2006
• The Trailer - 2003
• Waiting for Ronald - 2003
• One Eyed King - 2001
• Stuart Little - 1999
• History is Made at Night - 1999
• A Slipping-Down Life - 1999
• Donnie Brasco - 1997
• Sleepers - 1996
• Heavenzapoppin - 1996
• The Basketball Diaries - 1995
• Golden Gate - 1994
• Hoffa (Uncredited) - 1992
• City Slickers - 1991
• The Freshman - 1990
• We're No Angels - 1989
• When Harry Met Sally - 1989
• Bert Rigby, You're a Fool - 1989
• Good Morning Vietnam - 1987
• Tin Men - 1987
• Birdy - 1984
• This is Spinal Tap - 1984
• Kiss My Grits - 1982
• Modern Romance - 1981
• Borderline - 1980
• Where the Buffalo Roam - 1980
• Cruising (uncredited) - 1980
• Almost Summer - 1978
• Between the Lines - 1977
• Baby Blue Marine - 1976
• The Godfather: Part II - 1974
• Cinderella Liberty - 1973
• Superdad - 1973
• The Harrad Experiment - 1973
• The Young Graduates - 1971

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