'Godfather,' 'Fame' Actor Carmine Caridi Dies at 85
"The Godfather Part II" and "Part III" actor Carmine Caridi has died at age 85.
The actor's death was confirmed to TMZ by his actor-director friend Chazz Palminteri. The publication initially reported that Caridi died from complications from a bad fall on Thursday. His rep later told TMZ that the actor had been hospitalized for almost a month for back injuries and recently developed pneumonia. The actor "passed peacefully, surrounded by friends and family," according to his manager.
Caridi was known for playing Carmine Rosato in "The Godfather Part II," and then taking on the role of Albert Volpe in "The Godfather Part III." He also appeared in a variety of TV shows over the years, including, "Fame," "Starsky and Hutch," and "NYPD Blue." His "Fame" co-star Lee Curreri paid tribute to him via Twitter on Wednesday, saying that his TV dad will be "sorely missed."
RIP my TV Dad, Carmine Caridi. You will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/WhtA2q9BD5
— Lee Curreri (@leecurreri) May 29, 2019
Carmine also caught attention in 2004 when he became the first (and only) member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be expelled for sharing screeners of films sent to voters for Oscar consideration. He told THR in 2017 that he loaned them to a friend, only to later find out that man was pirating them.
"I was doing a guy a favor, and he screwed me," Caridi told THR.
Caridi was able to move on from the scandal and continued to work in Hollywood. As his manager told TMZ following his death, "Carmine spent over six decades entertaining audiences, and nothing made him happier."
[via: TMZ]
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