George Memmoli (August 3, 1938 – May 20, 1985) was an actor and founding member of the improv troupe Ace Trucking Company.
Career
Memmoli was a friend and frequent collaborator of director Martin Scorsese, appearing as a pool hall owner in Mean Streets, and also appearing in New York, New York and American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince.
In other roles, Memmoli played Philbin in Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise, Jenkins in Paul Schrader's Blue Collar, the engineer Earl in the first season of the McLean Stevenson sitcom Hello, Larry, and a small but memorable role in Rocky as the ice rink worker who allows Rocky and Adrian their first date on the ice.
While on the set of Blue Collar, co-star Richard Pryor hit Memmoli's head with a chair and fractured his skull. As a result, Memmoli filed a $1 million lawsuit against Pryor.
Memmoli's last TV appearance was as Paul "the Wall" Srignoli in the Hill Street Blues episode "The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall," which aired on December 6, 1984. His final screen appearance was in the 1985 film The Sure Thing, as Uncle Nunzi.
Death
In 1975, Memmoli suffered an injury during a stunt while filming a scene for The Farmer,Vernon Scott, "Actor is not happy being fat," United Press International, June 3, 1979 and had to turn down a role in Taxi Driver during his recovery period.
Memmoli died on May 20, 1985, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 46. In a 2007 interview, Scorsese attributed Memmoli's death to the injury he received on set.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1971 Dynamite Chicken Himself - Ace Trucking Company 1973 The Harrad Experiment Ace Trucking Company Uncredited1973 Mean Streets Joey 1974 Harrad Summer Larry 1974 Phantom of the Paradise Philbin 1975 I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? Nurse Dagon 1975 Hustle Foot Fetish Man 1976 Hot Potato Leonardo Pizzarelli / White Rhino 1976 St. Ives Shippo 1976 Rocky Ice Rink Attendant 1977 The Farmer Frank Passini 1977 The Domino Principle Cab Driver Uncredited1977 Hot Tomorrows Man in mortuary 1977 New York, New York Nicky 1977 The World's Greatest Lover Truck Driver 1978 Blue Collar Jenkins 1979 Americathon Pinky Fun 1979 Swap Meet Luke 1981 Lunch Wagon Andy 1985 The Sure Thing Man in Bar (final film role)
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