Bruno Kirby (born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr.; April 28, 1949 – August 14, 2006) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles in: City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally..., Good Morning, Vietnam, The Godfather Part II, The Freshman, Sleepers, Donnie Brasco and This Is Spinal Tap. He voiced Reginald Stout in Stuart Little.
Career
Kirby was a character actor whose career spanned 35 years. In 1971, he made his screen debut in the drama The Young Graduates. His role three years later as the young Peter Clemenza in the epic crime film The Godfather Part II raised his profile in Hollywood. In the summer of 1972, in one of his early television appearances, Kirby portrayed Anthony Girelli, the son of Richard Castellano's character Joe Girelli, in The Super. Castellano had previously played the older Peter Clemenza in The Godfather. In 1973, he appeared in The Harrad Experiment.
His other television appearances included Room 222 and the pilot episode of M*A*S*H, portraying the character Boone (he had no lines). He also appeared in the 1974 Columbo episode "By Dawn's Early Light", alongside his father Bruce Kirby, and in the season 2 episode "Seance" of Emergency!, where he was credited as "B. Kirby Jr."
Described by Leonard Maltin as the "quintessential New Yorker or cranky straight man", Kirby appeared in a series of comedies, typically playing fast-talking, belligerent yet likable characters. His best-known roles include a colleague of Albert Brooks' film editor in Modern Romance; a talkative limo driver in This Is Spinal Tap; the jealous, comedically impaired Lieutenant Hauk in Good Morning, Vietnam; and a shifty assistant to Marlon Brando—a parody of Brando's Godfather role—in The Freshman.
Kirby balanced comedies with dramatic roles like Donnie Brasco as a double-dealing mobster. Kirby appeared with Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... (1989) and City Slickers (1991). Both featured Kirby's character as the opinionated best friend to Crystal's character. Due to his strong horse allergies, Kirby refused to sign on for City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold unless script changes were made, and was subsequently replaced by Jon Lovitz.
In 1996, Bruno guest-starred on an episode of Mad About You. In 1991, Kirby made his Broadway debut when he replaced Kevin Spacey in Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers. In the last decade of his life, he had success in Stuart Little and was increasingly working in television. He starred as Barry Scheck in the 2000 CBS drama American Tragedy, played a paroled convict in a season three episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, and also directed an episode of that show.
He appeared on the HBO TV series Entourage in season 3, episode 4, "Guys and Doll", as movie mogul Phil Rubinstein.
In 2006, he was invited to be a member of the Actors Studio, less than six months before his death.
Personal life He shared the same birthday, April 28, with his father, actor Bruce Kirby, who was born in 1925. Kirby attended Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan. He had one brother, John Kirby, who was an acting coach. Kirby went to high school with NBA player Kareem Abdul Jabbar.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Son Helps Him Deal with Cancer Diagnosis, People, November 10, 2009
Kirby grew up in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.
Like his character in This Is Spinal Tap, Kirby was a fan of Frank Sinatra.Revealed in an interview on Bob Costas' Later show He was strongly allergic to horses and needed daily allergy shots on the set of City Slickers. This was part of the reason he declined to return for City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold.
In the 1970s, Kirby was in a relationship with actress Annette O'Toole. He married actress Lynn Sellers on September 29, 2003. They remained married until his death, in 2006.
Death Kirby died on August 14, 2006, at age 57, from complications related to leukemia, having been diagnosed three weeks prior.Bruno Kirby: A Man of Many Scenes, NPR, August 19, 2006
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1971 The Young Graduates Les Credited as B. Kirby Jr. 1973 The Harrad Experiment Harry Schacht Superdad Stanley Schlimmer Cinderella Liberty Alcott 1974 The Godfather Part II Young Peter Clemenza Credited as B. Kirby Jr. 1976 Baby Blue Marine Pop Mosley 1977 Between the Lines David Entwhistle 1978 Almost Summer Bobby DeVito 1980 Where the Buffalo Roam Marty Lewis Borderline Jimmy Fante 1981 Modern Romance Jay 1982 Kiss My Grits Flash 1984 This Is Spinal Tap Tommy Pischedda Birdy Phil Renaldi 1985 Flesh and Blood Orbec 1987 Tin Men Mouse Good Morning, Vietnam Lt. Steven Hauk 1989 Bert Rigby, You're a Fool Kyle DeForest When Harry Met Sally... Jess Fisher We're No Angels Deputy 1990 The Freshman Victor Ray 1991 City Slickers Ed Furillo 1992 Hoffa Nightclub Comic Uncredited 1993 Golden Gate Agent Ron Pirelli 1995 The Basketball Diaries Swifty 1996 Sleepers Mr. Carcaterra 1997 Donnie Brasco Nicky Santora 1999 A Slipping-Down Life Kiddie Acres Manager Spy Games Max Fisher Alternate title: History Is Made at Night Stuart Little Reginald "Reggie" Stout (voice) 2001 One Eyed King Mickey 2006 Played Detective Allen Final film appearance
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1969–1973 Room 222 Herbie Considine 5 episodesCredited as B. Kirby Jr. 1972 The SuperAnthony Girelli10 episodes M*A*S*HPvt. Lorenzo BooneEpisode: "Pilot" 1973 Emergency!KenEpisode: "Seance" 1974 Columbo Cadet Morgan Episode: "By Dawn's Early Light" 1975 Kojak Keith Wicks Episode: "Acts of Desperate Men" 1976 DelvecchioEpisode: "Board of Rights"; uncredited 1979 Detective SchoolMarvinEpisode: "The Bank Job" 1981 ABC Afterschool SpecialOfficialEpisode: "Run, Don't Walk" 1982 Million Dollar Infield Lou BuonomatoTelevision movie FameMarty ShwartzEpisode: "Homecoming" 1983 Hill Street Blues LouisEpisode: "The Russians Are Coming" 1984 Buchanan HighMr. Prescott2 episodes 1989–1990 It's Garry Shandling's ShowBrad Brillnick8 episodes 1991 Tales from the CryptBilly PalomaEpisode: "The Trap" 1992 Mastergate Abel LambTelevision movie 1993 Fallen Angels Tony ReseckEpisode: "I'll Be Waiting" FrasierMarco (voice)Episode: "Call Me Irresponsible" 1993–1998 The Larry Sanders ShowHimself5 episodes 1994 Late Show with David LettermanCop on the Edge1 episode 1995 Homicide: Life on the Street Victor Helms Episode: "The Gas Man" 1996 Mad About YouVirgilEpisode: "The Gym" 1999 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child The Great One (voice) Episode: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" 2000 American Tragedy Barry Scheck Television movie 2001 Between the Lions Sad Dad Episode: "The Sad Dad" BiographyNarratorEpisode: "Bobby Darin: I Want to Be a Legend" 2004 Helter Skelter Vincent Bugliosi Television movie The JuryCarmen PintozziEpisode: "Too Jung to Die" 2006 Entourage Phil Rubenstein Episode: "Guys and Doll"Final television appearance
Awards and nominations YearResultAwardCategoryFilm or series1992NominatedAmerican Comedy AwardsFunniest Supporting ActorCity Slickers
References
External links
MSNBC article on Kirby's death Washington Post obituary