- Paul Fix, Force of Evil, 1948. Change of Bill Ficco in the numbers racket thriller headed by ambitious lawyer John Garfield. More important this was the stunning debut of auteur Abraham Polonsky and due to the horrendous black-list, he didn’t helm another movie until Robert Redford OKed him for Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here… a shameful 21 years later!
- Joe Mantegna, The Simpsons #39: Bart the Murderer, TV, 1991. Since its 1989 birth, the yellowtoon family Simpson smashed records for episodes, audiences, and the most guest stars (as themselves or others). From Buzz Aldrin, Glenn Close (Homer’s Mom), Dennis Franz (Evil Homer!), George Harrison, Stephen Hawking, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hope, Eric Idle to Paul and Linda McCartney, Conan O’Brien (a Simpsonswriter made good), Michelle Pfeiffer, Mickey Rooney, Ringo Starr, Meryl Streep plus Barry (and Betty) White! Not all celebs played ball. Leonard, The Dick Van Dyke Show producer for crissakes, had long since finished doing mobsters. Enter: Mantegna as Anthony “Fat Tony” D’Amico, the Godfather of Springfield. It became Joe’s longest running role. He insisted on voicing the character every time he’s on. “If Fat Tony sneezes, I want to be there Nothing interferes with my doing The Simpsons.”
Birth year: 1907Death year: Other name: 1997Casting Calls: 2