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Bruno KirbyAmerican television and film actor
Date of Birth: 28.04.1949
Country:  USA |
Biography of Bruno Kirby
Early Life and Career
Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr., known professionally as Bruno Kirby, was born on April 28, 1949, in New York City. He came from a family with a background in the entertainment industry, as his father was a well-known character actor named Bruce Kirby. Growing up in the famous Italian and Irish immigrant neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, Bruno attended school and became friends with basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also suffered from leukemia. Bruno's brother, John, is a renowned acting coach. In the late 1960s, Bruno and his family moved to California, where his acting career began in the early 1970s.
Breakthrough Role
Bruno gained significant attention in 1974 for his role as young Peter Clemenza in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather Part II." Interestingly, Richard Castellano, who played the older Peter Clemenza in the first "Godfather" film, portrayed Bruno's character's father in the TV series "The Super." Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kirby was considered a popular character actor, known for his New York charm and distinctive personality. He appeared in a series of comedies, playing aggressive, quarrelsome, and loquacious characters who still managed to evoke sympathy from the audience.
Notable Works
Some of Kirby's notable roles include Albert Brooks' colleague in "Modern Romance" (1981), a talkative limousine driver in "This Is Spinal Tap" (1984), an hilariously jealous US Army officer in "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987), and a cunning assistant to Marlon Brando's character in "The Freshman" (1990), which parodied his role in "The Godfather." On television, Kirby portrayed agent Brad Brillnick in the sitcom "It's Garry Shandling's Show" and also appeared in Billy Crystal's films "When Harry Met Sally" (1989) and "City Slickers" (1991).
Later Career and Personal Life
In 1991, Bruno made his Broadway debut, replacing Kevin Spacey in the play "Lost in Yonkers." He also lent his unforgettable voice to the character in the children's film "Stuart Little" (1999). In the last decade of his life, Kirby focused more on television, appearing in "American Tragedy" and the series "Entourage." Sadly, Bruno Kirby passed away on August 14, 2006, in Los Angeles at the age of 57. He died from complications related to leukemia, which was diagnosed shortly before his death. Kirby was married to actress Lynn Sellers and was a passionate fan of Frank Sinatra.
