Vincent Schiavelli, 1948-2005: Movie character actor was gloom personified

By MARTA FALCONI
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROME -- Vincent Schiavelli, the droopy-eyed character actor who appeared in scores of movies, including "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Ghost," died Monday at his home in Sicily. He was 57.

He died of lung cancer, said Salvatore Glorioso, mayor of Polizzi Generosa, the Sicilian village where Schiavelli resided.

The New York-born Schiavelli, whose gloomy look made him perfect to play creepy or eccentric characters, appeared in some 150 film and television productions, according to the Internet Movie Database.

In "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," he played the science teacher Mr. Vargas.

Schiavelli also appeared as Salieri's valet in "Amadeus," as "Cuckoo's Nest" patient Frederickson, the subway ghost in "Ghost," the organ grinder in "Batman Returns" and as Chester in "The People vs. Larry Flynt." He was selected in 1997 by Vanity Fair as one of the United States' best character actors.

Schiavelli studied acting at New York University's School of the Arts.

He also wrote three cookbooks and many food articles for magazines and newspapers, possibly inheriting his love for cooking from his grandfather, who had been a cook for an Italian baron before moving to the United States, the Internet Movie Database said.

His books include "Many Beautiful Things," a compilation of recipes and anecdotes about his visits to Polizzi Generosa.

"He was a great friend, a great chef and a great talker," said Glorioso. "With a smooth, witty conversation, he would make everything look more colorful. I've lost a brother."

RIP

He sure played some memorable roles...

If you are a smoker in your 30's or 40's does seeing all these people drop dead in their mid 50's of lung cancer make you want to quit? I just can't see how a cigarette can be worth 20 years lof living when we only get one go around.

MartyMcFly said:

When I read this I thought it was the husband of Terry Shiavo- or whatever she was called.

CHIC0 said:

Fantastic character actor. He will be missed.

I remember him in Ghost

lovemachine said:

Who says he was a smoker? And anyway... totally irrelevant...

I remember this dude that's some cold shit





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[Edited 12/28/05 4:19am]

luv4u said:

lilgish said:[quote]

The New York-born Schiavelli, whose gloomy look made him perfect to play creepy or eccentric characters,quote]

wow...don't put that in my obituary please