Rick Aviles (October 14, 1952 – March 17, 1995) was an American stand-up comedian and actor of Puerto Rican descent, best remembered for his role as Willie Lopez in the film Ghost.
Career Born in Manhattan, Aviles worked as a street performer and stand-up comedian on the Greenwich Village night-club circuit in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1978, a Variety reviewer called him "a comic with a future".Kirb. "New Acts: Rick Aviles". Variety. Los Angeles. Vol. 290, Iss. 3, (Feb 22, 1978): 90. He was frequently seen in the NYC subways, doing his act for the riders. He made his film debut as Mad Dog in 1981's The Cannonball Run. He went on to work in several other films, including minor parts in Street Smart and The Secret of My Success, both released in 1987. That same year he became the host of It's Showtime at the Apollo, which he continued as host until 1991.New York Times; Movies and T.V.
A Variety review of his stand-up act in 1990 noted, "Utilizing masterful ethnic impersonations and a remarkably rubbery face, Puerto Rican comic Rick Aviles comes off as one of the brightest and most consistently clever stand-ups working the circuit today".Kezi. "Live: Reviews − Rick Aviles". Variety. Los Angeles. Vol. 340, Iss. 13, (Oct 8, 1990): 72.
In 1990, Aviles landed his most memorable role: the hired killer Willie Lopez in Ghost, a smash hit at the box office that received multiple Oscar nominations. He also appeared in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train (1989) as Will Robinson; Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III (1990) as Mask #1; Brian De Palma's Carlito's Way (1993) as Quisqueya; in Waterworld (1995) as the Gatesman, and in Joe's Apartment (1996) as the voice of a cockroach.
Among the television series in which he appeared are Mr. & Mrs. Dracula (1980), The Day Women Got Even (1980), The Carol Burnett Show (1991) and Stephen King's The Stand (1994).
Death Aviles died on March 17, 1995, from heart failure according to Variety. Eleven years later, a 2006 article in Entertainment Weekly listed him as among the celebrities who had contracted HIV and died from complications of AIDS.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1981 The Cannonball Run Mad Dog 1984 Billions for Boris Hector1987 Street Smart Solo The Secret of My Success Maintenance man1988 Mondo New York Comic in park Spike of Bensonhurst Bandana Alternative titles: The Mafia Kid or Throwback!1989 Mystery Train Will Robinson Segment: "Lost in Space" Identity Crisis El Toro1990 Ghost Willie Lopez The Godfather Part III Mask #1 Green Card Vincent1993 The Saint of Fort Washington Rosario Carlito's Way Quisqueya 1995 Waterworld Atoll Gatesman 1996 Joe's Apartment Cockroach Voice onlyTelevision Year Title Role Notes1980 Mr. and Mrs. Dracula Mario Unknown episodes The Day the Women Got Even Pancho Diaz 1987 The Equalizer Scam Episode: "A Place to Stay" 1989 No Place Like Home J.J.1991 Monsters Mr. Vega 1 episode Law & Order Hector (uncredited) Episode: "The Secret Sharers" The Carol Burnett Show Skit characters Unknown episodes 1993 Moon Over Miami Frankie the Rat 1 episode 1994 The Stand Rat man MiniseriesVideo Games Year Title Role Notes 1997 Waterworld: The Quest For Dry Land Atoll Gatesman
See also List of Puerto Ricans List of Puerto Ricans of African descent African immigration to Puerto Rico
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