In this article, Richard Libertini was a versatile and talented actor who could play a variety of roles with ease and humor. He was known for his ability to speak in different accents and his comedic timing. He appeared in many films, TV shows, and stage productions, often stealing the scene with his memorable characters.
Early Life and Career
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Libertini was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1933, to parents who had immigrated from southern Italy. He grew up in a bilingual household, which helped him develop an ear for foreign languages. He graduated from Emerson College in Boston, where he studied drama and music. He also played the trumpet in local bands.
He moved to New York City in the 1960s, where he started his acting career in off-Broadway shows. He was an original cast member of The Mad Show, a musical-comedy revue produced by Mad magazine. He also performed in Woody Allen’s Don’t Drink the Water and Paul Sills’ Story Theatre.
He joined the famous Second City improv group in Chicago, where he honed his skills and met other comedians. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he began his film and TV career.
Film Roles
Libertini made his film debut in The Night They Raided Minsky’s in 1968. He followed with roles in Catch-22, Days of Heaven, The In-Laws, Popeye, Sharky’s Machine, All of Me, Fletch, Fletch Lives, Awakenings, Lethal Weapon 4, and Dolphin Tale.
Some of his most memorable film characters are:
- General Garcia, a crazy Latin American dictator who has a puppet on his hand, in The In-Laws.
- Prahka Lasa, a Tibetan mystic who transfers his soul into Steve Martin’s body, in All of Me.
- Judge B. Duffield, a justice of the peace who marries Goldie Hawn and Burt Reynolds in a hilarious ceremony, in Best Friends.
- Geezil, a grumpy greengrocer who hates Popeye and loves Olive Oyl, in Popeye.
- Walker, Chevy Chase’s skeptical editor who assigns him to investigate a drug ring, in Fletch.
TV Roles
Libertini was also a prolific TV actor who appeared in many shows as a guest star or a regular. He played the Godfather in the first season of Soap, a spoof of mafia movies. He also appeared in three episodes of Barney Miller, as different characters.
He guest starred in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as Akorem Laan, a Bajoran poet who claims to be the Emissary of the Prophets. He also voiced Wally Llama on Animaniacs, a parody of the Dalai Lama.
He starred in three short-lived sitcoms: Family Man, as a comedy writer who marries a younger woman; The Fanelli Boys, as an Italian priest; and Pacific Station, as a police detective.
Personal Life and Death
Libertini was married to actress Melinda Dillon from 1963 to 1978. They had one son, Richard Jr., who is also an actor. Libertini died from cancer on January 7, 2016, at the age of 82.
He was remembered by his friends and colleagues as a kind and generous person who loved to make people laugh. He left behind a legacy of laughter and joy for his fans and admirers.
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