The young Kirby's first big break came playing the young "Clemenza" in The Godfather, Part II (1974), in the section of the picture in which Robert DeNiro plays the young "Vito Corleone" in New York’s Little Italy. Corleone makes the acquaintance of Clemenza, who takes him to a "friend’s" luxurious home. Except that this is no friendly visit. Corleone finds himself in the middle of comical burglary, in which Clemenza also enlists an unwitting cop. Clemenza gets Corleone to help him roll up and steal an expensive living room rug.
Kirby made an immediate, indelible impression. And well he had to. "Clemenza," as played by Richard Castellano (1933-1988), was one of the most beloved characters in The Godfather. Kirby was under a lot of pressure, but he delivered.
Reiner, the son of Carl Reiner, the legendary writer-producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show, would eventually become, for approximately eight busy years (1984-1992), one of Hollywood’s best directors. In 1984, Rob Reiner cast Kirby in a small role in Reiner’s first theatrical movie as director, the cult classic rock “mockumentary,” This is Spinal Tap, where Kirby worked with Billy Crystal for the first time. Most of Kirby’s role, as a Sinatra-obsessed limo driver, was cut from the movie, but it was added, as part of the extras, to the 2000 DVD version.
Kirby came to the notice of director-screenwriter Barry Levinson, who cast him in 1987’s Good Morning, Vietnam and Tin Men. In Good Morning, Vietnam, he opened the eyes of critics and audiences alike, as the humorless heavy, a polka-loving, would-be comedian who maligns the free-spirit DJ-comic played by Robin Williams. (In retrospect, the movie, a simple-minded, pc morality play about a persecuted, saintly non-conformist, anticipated Patch Adams, but was redeemed by Williams’ brilliant improvisations.)
In 1995, Barry Levinson cast Kirby as the guest heavy in the season-ending episode, “Gas Man,” of his critically acclaimed show, Homicide: Life on the Streets. Levinson, who served as one of the show’s executive producers, also directed the episode. In “Gas Man,” which first aired on May 5, 1995, Kirby played Victor Helms Sr., a convicted killer, just freed after six years in prison, who stalks “Det. Frank Pembleton” (Andre Braugher), the man who had put him away, and with whom he is obsessed.
Article Author: Nicholas Stix
New York-based, dissident journalist Nicholas Stix, has the dubious distinction of being arguably America's most frequently censored writer, having at different times outraged black supremacists, socialists, feminists, white supremacists, paleocons, neocons and libertarians. …
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
beatiful, informative, touching job Nicholas, thanks!
2 - John Henry
Excellent article Nicholas, and the best that I've read to date. He was a tremendous actor, and so obviously touched the hearts of all who knew and met him.
You gave him a great tribute, and I for one greatly appreciated reading it. Very heartfelt. He would approve I'm sure.
3 - Nicholas Stix
Thank you for your kind words, Eric and John.
4 - Roberta Rosenberg
I'm a huge movie buff (more than a fan, something less than a scholar), and your "In Appreciation" piece about Bruno Kirby was beautifully written. In many ways, this is a tribute not just to Kirby, but to all the characters actors the public knows by face, even voice, but not the name. A fine, fine job. Thank you.
5 - Dawn
Wow, that was in-depth and well written! I am no fan of Billy Crystal, he's too east coast for my taste. If I want to see a short, self-effacing comedian, I'll watch Richard Dryfus. He's much more talented and versatile.
6 - Gina Weiss
VERY informative, well-written, well-deserved tribute to a real star...Kudos, Nicholas!
7 - Nicholas Stix
Roberta Rosenberg: I'm a huge movie buff (more than a fan, something less than a scholar), and your "In Appreciation" piece about Bruno Kirby was beautifully written. In many ways, this is a tribute not just to Kirby, but to all the characters actors the public knows by face, even voice, but not the name. A fine, fine job. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Roberta.
When I was a little boy, maybe eight years old, the first time I ever heard the term “character actor” applied to anyone, it was my Nana speaking. She said it, as if it were the greatest thing in the world. And it was.
We used to watch 1930s classics on regular, afternoon TV in those days (40 years ago), and I believe Nana's favorite character actor was Thomas Mitchell (her favorite star was Jimmy Stewart, who's high up the ladder for me, too).
For many years, Mitchell was my favorite, too. (In 1939, he had the greatest year any actor has ever had, with central roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach and Gone with the Wind.)
These days, I lean towards Walter Brennan, whom I've seen dominate scenes with the likes of Bogey (in To Have and Have Not), Coop (in The Westerner), and Spence (in Bad Day at Black Rock), the latter of whom was one of the first character actors to make it to the marquee (just after, I believe, Marie Dressler).
And yet, I love 'em all. I could name 100 (alright, maybe not 100) great character actors off the top of my head, and most of them would be the kind of guys you were talking about -- the ones whom few people know by name, but whom everyone knows by face or voice " the Elisha Cook Jrs., Eugene Pallettes, Ward Bonds, Marjorie Mains (I'm not counting Thelma Ritter, because she actually became famous in her day, and was nominated for a passel of best supporting actress Oscars), John Cazales, George Dzundzas, James Edwardses, Jane Darwells, Victor McLaglens, Charley Grapewins, Emil Meyers, Willis Boucheys (confession: I couldn’t remember Bouchey’s last name, and had to look it up), Strother Martins, Bonnie Hunts, Robert Loggias, et al.
8 - Nicholas Stix
Thank you, Dawn and Gina.
9 - brunobuddy
Bruno is an actor Billy is a stand up comic.
I heard that Billy tried to give Bruno some acting crtiticism and Bruno pointed out that he started in The Godfather II and Billy started as a stand up comic then in Soap and rabbit test
10 - Dennis Purcell
I was an usher working with Bruce Kirby in 1968 for the stage musical "Hair." Bruce took another job at the Vine St. Theater which was running "Romeo and Juliet," which he was stuck with for 51 weeks! He left the Aquarius Theater so he could work at a movie theater to "see more free movies" but no one thought R&J would run a year. I moved to NYC for ten years and ran into Bruce when I returned, about 1981. I told him I'd seen him in lots of movies and I was proud of him. He was always a nice guy. At least I can always see him in movies, here and there.
That's it.
11 - Ellen C
Nice article, Nicholas...very enjoyable reading...and your additional message regarding Hollywood second bananas -- top notch!
I hope that these actors know how much they are appreciated by the folks outside the golden inner circle.
Thanks again for your great writing! I'm going to click away on your links and see if I can find more!
12 - C-magne
Watching "When Harry Met Sally" again. He's fantastic.
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Kirby when I recorded him at a voiceover studio for a commercial. Definitely down to earth.
Thank you - Nicholas - this was great.
13 - Gilda DeMartino
I've been an enthusiastic Bruno Kirby fan ever since I saw him for the first time in The Godfather, and have enjoyed all of his succeeding performances. After reading what Billy Crystal did to him, well, I have never been a Billy Crystal fan, but never had a reason. Now I have a reason. May you rest in peace, Bruno, and have a peaceful afterlife. Thank you for everything that you gave us.
14 - Rich S
Years ago I was attending La Salle University in Philadelphia, I saw an interview that Bruno did for the school. I don't think the interview was aired beyond La Salle's own local cable channel. During the interview, Bruno talked briefly about his falling out with Billy Crystal. He basically said that Billy, as director, was trying to tell him how to act, and Bruno decided he was having none of it. Bruno gave a great interview - he told a story about the Godfather - he worked with an Italian coach but the whole scene had to be redubbed because another Italian consultant didn't like Bruno's accent and wanted him to redo it.