Richard Foronjy

American actor (1937–2024)

Richard Foronjy
Publicity photo of Richard Foronjy
Born	(1937-08-03)August 3, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	May 19, 2024(2024-05-19) (aged 86)
Occupation(s)	Film and television actor
Years active	1973–2003

Richard Edward Foronjy (August 3, 1937 – May 19, 2024) was an American film and television actor.^[1]^[2]

Early life

Foronjy was born in Brooklyn, New York,^[3] on August 3, 1937.^[4] Prior to becoming an actor, Foronjy had an extensive criminal record, including armed robbery. He also worked as a butcher.^[5]

Career

Foronjy saw his first small role as Corsaro in Serpico.^[3]

Foronjy was perhaps best known for playing the mobster Tony Darvo in the 1988 film Midnight Run and the mobster Peter Amadesso in the 1993 film Carlito's Way.^[6] He also played one of the key parts, Detective Joe Marinaro, in Sidney Lumet's Prince of the City.^[3]

In Repo Man, starring Harry Dean Stanton, Foronjy played Arnold Plettschner, the rent-a-cop who memorably said, "You’re fuckin’ right I’m Plettschner! Arnold Plettschner! Three times decorated in two world wars! I was killing people while you were still swimming around in your father’s balls! You little scumbag! I worked five years in a slaughterhouse, and ten years as a prison guard in Attica!"^[3]

Foronjy wrote and published a memoir called From the Mob to the Movies on October 8, 2020. In retirement, he lived in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Death

Foronjy died on May 19, 2024, at the age of 86.^[3]^[7]

Partial filmography

Serpico (1973) – Corsaro
The Gambler (1974) – Donny
Fun with Dick and Jane (1977) – Landscape Man
The One Man Jury (1978) – Al
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) – Mike
The Jerk (1979) – Con Man
Prince of the City (1981) – Detective Joe Marinaro
True Confessions (1981) – Ambulance Driver
Gangster Wars (1981) – Umberto Joe The Boss' Bodyguard (uncredited)
Repo Man (1984) – Plettschner
Once Upon a Time in America (1984) – Officer Whitey aka Fartface
City Heat (1984) – Poker Player
Odd Jobs (1986) – Mannu
The Check Is in the Mail... (1986) – Tony
The Morning After (1986) – Sergeant Greenbaum
The Galucci Brothers (1987) – Galucci Brother
Midnight Run (1988) – Tony Darvo^[8]
Ghostbusters II (1989) – Con Ed Supervisor
Oscar (1991) – Knucky
The Public Eye (1992) – Frank Farinelli
Fatal Instinct (1993) – Cy Tarr
DaVinci's War (1993) – Hamlet
Carlito's Way (1993) – Pete Amadesso
Man of the House (1995) – Murray
Recoil (1998) – Vincent Sloan
Hoods (1998) – Tony
Evasive Action (1998) – Vince

References

^ "Foronjy". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. February 4, 1987. p. 89. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Scott, Vernon (January 19, 1987). "Ex-con becomes successful Hollywood character actor". The Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. p. 16. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Richard Foronjy, Character Actor in 'Midnight Run' and 'Serpico,' Dies at 86". Variety. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
^ "Richard Foronjy". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
^ {"Scott's World;NEWLN:From felony to fame". United Press International. January 20, 1987. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
^ Pedersen, Erik (May 18, 2021). "Robert De Niro Remembers His 'Midnight Run' Co-Star Charles Grodin: "As Good A Person As He Was An Actor"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
^ Barnes, Mike (May 21, 2024). "Richard Foronjy, Convicted Criminal Turned Character Actor, Dies at 86". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
^ Wilmington, Michael (July 20, 1998). "Movie Review: Murderous Fun in the 'Midnight Run'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018 – via Wayback Machine.