Bruno Kirby

Native New Yorker and Italianate 'Bruno Kirby' (qv) tended towards assertive, pushy, streetwise characters and was armed with a highly distinctive scratchy tenor voice that complemented his slim eyes and droopy puss and accentuated his deadpan comedic instincts on film and TV. The well-regarded character actor was born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu on April 28, 1949, in New York City, the son of Lucille (Garibaldi) and actor 'Bruce Kirby' (qv). He was raised in NY's Hell's Kitchen section.In the late 1960s he moved with his family to California. His career began to rev up in the early 1970s with a part in the TV pilot episode of _M*A*S*H (1972)_ (qv) and roles in the films _The Young Graduates (1971)_ (qv), _The Harrad Experiment (1973)_ (qv), _Cinderella Liberty (1973)_ (qv) and _Superdad (1973)_ (qv). Most notable of all, however, was his featured part as Young Clemenza alongside 'Robert De Niro' (qv)'s young Vito Corleone in _The Godfather: Part II (1974)_ (qv). Bruno also played 'Richard S. Castellano' (qv)'s son in the short-lived ethnic sitcom _The Super (1972)_ (qv). Coincidentally, Castellano played older Clemenza in the original _The Godfather (1972)_ (qv).On stage in the 1980s and 1990s, Bruno appeared in "On the Money" (1983) and "Geniuses" (1985) and later replaced 'Kevin Spacey' (qv) on Broadway in "Lost in Yonkers" in 1991. In 1997 he showcased off-Broadway, playing writer 'Alan Zweibel' (qv) in "Bunny Bunny," Zweibel's tribute to comedienne 'Gilda Radner' (qv) and their close 14-year friendship.Bruno's close association with director 'Rob Reiner' (qv) and actor 'Billy Crystal' (qv) arguably led to the apex of his film career. In the early 1980s he chummed around with both Reiner and Crystal on a softball team, along with writer/actor/director 'Christopher Guest' (qv). Bruno wound up playing Crystal's best buddy in two of Crystal's biggest box-office hits -- _When Harry Met Sally... (1989)_ (qv) and _City Slickers (1991)_ (qv). He also appeared in Reiner's cult hit _This Is Spinal Tap (1984)_ (qv). Other important film roles for him included his humorless lieutenant in _Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)_ (qv), the refined salesman named "Mouse" in _Tin Men (1987)_ (qv) and 'Marlon Brando' (qv)'s nephew in _The Freshman (1990)_ (qv), that more or less amusingly parodied the "Godfather" association.Bruno was equally effective in taut, heavier stories and supported such up-and-coming stars as 'Leonardo DiCaprio' (qv) in the dark and downbeat _The Basketball Diaries (1995)_ (qv) and 'Johnny Depp' (qv) in the mob family-styled drama _Donnie Brasco (1997)_ (qv). On TV he was a regular on _It's Garry Shandling's Show. (1986)_ (qv), played dogged prosecutor 'Vincent Bugliosi' (qv) in the miniseries _Helter Skelter (2004)_ (qv), which was a reenactment of the 'Charles Manson' (qv) family horror, and appeared on the more popular shows of the day, such as _Entourage (2004)_ (qv). He was married for the first time to actress 'Lynn Sellers' (qv) in 2004 at age 55. His brother John is a well-known acting coach. An occasional TV director to boot, Bruno was diagnosed with leukemia shortly before his death on August 14, 2006, after having completed his part in the film _Played (2006)_ (qv) starring 'Gabriel Byrne' (qv).::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]