Portnow, Richard 1947–

views updated

Portnow, Richard 1947–

PERSONAL

Born January 26, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, NY. Education: Brooklyn College, City University of New York, degree in speech and theatre (with high honors). Avocational Interests: Collecting American furniture, clothing, paintings, and other objects.

Addresses: Agent—Don Buchwald and Associates, 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Career: Actor. Performed with the experimental theatre group Cafe La MaMa, New York City; operated nightclubs in London, England and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Worked as an antiques dealer.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

First New York wino, Roadie, United Artists, 1980.

Party guest, Desperately Seeking Susan, Orion, 1985.

Carly, Tin Men, Buena Vista, 1987.

Dan "The Man" Levitan, Good Morning, Vietnam, Buena Vista, 1987.

Guard, Weeds, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1987.

Mr. Lessig, Hiding Out (also known as Adult Education), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1987.

Ruben, The Squeeze, TriStar, 1987.

Sy, Radio Days, Orion, 1987.

Chop shop owner, Twins, Universal, 1988.

Mr. Crabneck, Meet the Hollowheads (also known as Life on the Edge), Moviestore Entertainment, 1988.

Agent Stewart, Say Anything … (also known as Say … Anything …), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989.

Captain Salazar, Kindergarten Cop, Universal, 1990.

Dr. Debner, Chattahoochee, Hemdale Releasing, 1990.

Mike MacClaney, Havana, Universal, 1990.

Uncle Luke, Tune In Tomorrow … (also known as Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter), Cinecom International, 1990.

Al (tuxedo salesperson), Father of the Bride, Buena Vista, 1991.

Detective Mastrionotti, Barton Fink, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991.

Milt (man at the recording studio), For the Boys, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991.

Marty Rollins, There Goes the Neighborhood (also known as Paydirt), Paramount, 1992.

Willy, Sister Act, Buena Vista, 1992.

Edgar Kaplan, Night Eyes III (also known as Night Eyes III: On Guard), Prism Entertainment, 1993.

Max Marco, Heart and Souls, Universal, 1993.

Detective Vorkopich, The Lipstick Camera, Triboro Entertainment Group, 1994.

Gerald Parsley, S.F.W. (also known as So Fucking What?), Gramercy Pictures, 1994.

Leo Greco, Trial by Jury, Warner Bros., 1994.

Dr. Beardsley, Se7en (also known as Seven), New Line Cinema, 1995.

Joey Renda, Man of the House (also known as Pals Forever), Buena Vista, 1995.

Roy, Across the Moon, Hemdale Releasing, 1995.

Al, Guy, Gramercy Pictures, 1996.

M. Clay Thrasher, Bogus, Warner Bros., 1996.

Sid Higgins, The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man (and His Faithful Sidekick Tadpole) (also known as Brittle Glory), Northern Arts Entertainment/Shoreline Entertainment, 1996.

Ben Stern, Private Parts (also known as Howard Stern's "Private Parts"), Paramount, 1997.

Brackett's agent, Mad City, Warner Bros., 1997.

Naked in the Cold Sun, Duranhgo Pictures, 1997.

Lieutenant Parker, Milo, MDF Productions, 1998.

Nicky Kaplan, Fallen Arches, Saraghina Film Company, 1998.

The producer, My Giant, Columbia, 1998.

Wine colored tuxedo, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, MCA/Universal, 1998.

Ballad of the Nightingale, August Entertainment, 1998.

Arnold Zigman, Zigs (also known as Double Down), Lions Gate Films/Trimark Pictures, 1999.

Jack Shelby, Lured Innocence, Artisan Entertainment, 1999.

Mr. Charboneau, Road Kill, Trident Releasing, 1999.

Tommy Matolla, The Unscarred (also known as Everybody Dies), Storm Entertainment, 1999.

Vito Ungaro, Choose Life (short film), 1999.

Agent Cicarelli, The Mystery of Spoon River (also known as The Ghost of Spoon River), Artist View Entertainment, 2000.

Handsome Frank, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (also known as Der Weg des Samurai, Ghost Dog—Der Weg des Samurai, and Ghost Dog, la voie du samourai), Artisan Entertainment, 2000.

Lieutenant Shatkin, Double Bang, New City Releasing, 2001.

Toupee Jay, Poolhall Junkies, Samuel Goldwyn/Gold Circle Films, 2002.

Emergency radio announcer, Stereotypes (short film), 2003.

Jerry Kaminski, Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits, 2004.

Minks, Under the City, Hyde Park Entertainment, 2004.

Vinnie Black, Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding, 2004.

Max Novardis, Find Me Guilty, Crossroads Entertainment, 2005.

Some sources cite an appearance in the film In Dangerous Company, Sandstar, 1988.

Television Appearances; Series:

Detective Frank Collero, EZ Streets, CBS, 1996–97.

Pallermo, Ryan Caulfield: Year One, Fox, 1999.

Attorney Harold "Mel" Melvoin, The Sopranos, HBO, beginning 1999.

Voice of Ben Stern, Howard Stern: The High School Years (animated; also known as Howard Stern: The Teenage Years), Spike TV, beginning 2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Tony Moreno, Bella Mafia, CBS, 1997.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Bartender, Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer (also known as Trackdown), CBS, 1983.

Frankie Ce De Baca, Courage, 1986.

Harry Long, Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam, NBC, 1987.

Ed Jablonski, A Deadly Silence, 1989.

Spiros, Peter Gunn, ABC, 1989.

Vincent, Original Sin, NBC, 1989.

Dave Barrett, Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (also known as The Case of the Maligned Mobster), NBC, 1991.

Disturbing caller, Based on an Untrue Story, Fox, 1993.

Detective Dryden, Dragstrip Girl, 1994.

Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice, NBC, 1994.

Hal Cooney, Donor Unknown (also known as Dangerous Heart), USA Network, 1995.

Judge George, Indictment: The McMartin Trial (also known as Naked Movie Star Games and Nothing but the Truth: The McMartin Story), HBO, 1995.

Monaghan, Ed McBain's "87th Precinct: Lightning," NBC, 1995.

Dr. Nicholas Brink, The Postal Worker (also known as Going Postal), Cinemax, 1999.

Marvin Helm, Shadow of Doubt (also known as Reasonable Doubt), NBC, 1999.

(Uncredited) Niko, Witness Protection, HBO, 1999.

Trip, Happy Accidents, Independent Film Channel, 1999.

Vincent Lo Russo, The Substitute III: Winner Takes All, HBO, 1999.

Harry Prince, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Showtime, 2001.

Mayor Ed Koch, Trump Unauthorized, ABC, 2005.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Billy Einhorn, "The House of Blue Leaves," American Playhouse, PBS, 1987.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1990.

Robert Ripley, The Incredible Life and Times of Robert Ripley: Believe It or Not! (documentary), TBS, 1993.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Police lieutenant, "Desperately," The Equalizer, CBS, 1985.

Police lieutenant, "The Lock Box," The Equalizer, CBS, 1985.

Police lieutenant, "Dead Drop," The Equalizer, CBS, 1986.

Curtis, "Everybody Needs a Little Love," Tales from the Darkside (also known as HBO's "Tales from the Darkside"), HBO, 1987.

Naj, "A Children's Story," Beauty and the Beast, CBS, 1987.

Nicky, "Almost Partners," WonderWorks, PBS, 1987.

"Blues for Danny Welles," Hooperman, ABC, 1987.

"Hot Wired," Hooperman, ABC, 1987.

Jimmy "Blue Eyes" (Eddie's former boss), "Gladiator," Something Is Out There, NBC, 1988.

Louis Cabra, "Blood Dance," Wiseguy, CBS, 1988.

Dear John, NBC, 1988.

Cameron Prince, "The Movie Mystery," Father Dowling Mysteries, ABC, 1990.

Maurice, "Our's Not to Reason Why Shmy," Singer & Sons, NBC, 1990.

Lieutenant William Murphy, "A Killing in Vegas," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1991.

Voice of Mel Luster, "The Mating Dance," Dinosaurs, ABC, 1991.

Voice of Mr. Ugh, "Hurling Day," Dinosaurs, ABC, 1991.

Jerry DeSantos, "The Naked and the Wed," Civil Wars, ABC, 1992.

Voice of Mel Luster, "The Clip Show," Dinosaurs, ABC, 1992.

Actor and announcer, Homefront, ABC, 1992.

Middle Ages, CBS, 1992.

Ray, "The Handicap Spot," Seinfeld, NBC, 1993.

Vic, Home Free, NBC, 1993.

Benny (Rachel's cousin), "Benny," The Commish, ABC, 1994.

Phillipe Cohen, "A Star Is Unborn," The Nanny, CBS, 1994.

Barry Barker, "Whine, Whine, Whine," Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (also known as Lois and Clark and The New Adventures of Superman), ABC, 1995.

Ed Foley, "The Episode Formerly Known as Prince," Double Rush, CBS, 1995.

Ed Foley, "Lower East Side Story," Double Rush, CBS, 1995.

Harry Bernstein, "Innuendo," NYPD Blue, ABC, 1995.

Malkov, "A Dime a Dance," Fallen Angels, Showtime, 1995.

Walter Pell, "Twice Dead," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1995.

Arthur, "The Glue People," Mad about You (also known as Loved by You), NBC, 1996.

Leon, "Loves Me Like a Rock," Dave's World, CBS, 1996.

Irving Rothbart, "Trial of LaRue," Walker, Texas Ranger, CBS, 1997.

Mr. Paterno, Spin City (also known as Spin), ABC, 1997.

Sibby Lonegro, "Ghost Ship," JAG, CBS, 1997.

Himself, Howard Stern, E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Stan, "Can I Help to Cheer You?," Boy Meets World, ABC, 1999.

Anthony Guardino, Jr., "Two Eyes for an Eye," 18 Wheels of Justice, The National Network, 2000.

Assistant attorney general Charles Novotny, "The Out-of-Towners," Judging Amy, CBS, 2000.

Lou Barlow, "The Naked and the Nude" (also known as "Growers, Show-ers, and Overthrowers"), Going to California, Showtime, 2001.

Jim Wright, "Cherrypoppers," The Shield, FX Channel, 2002.

Judge Phillip Harding, "Change of Course," Boston Legal, ABC, 2004.

Mr. Calderello, "Bobbi Broderick," Nip/Tuck, FX Channel, 2004.

Howard Segal, "Moving Day," NYPD Blue, ABC, 2005.

Judge Peter Harding, "Let Sales Ring," Boston Legal, ABC, 2005.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Detective Frank Collero, EZ Streets, CBS, 1996.

Pallermo, Ryan Caulfield: Year One, Fox, 1999.

Stage Appearances:

Moonchildren, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1970.

Bleacher Bums, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1978.

Jeff Baird, Merton of the Movies, Equity Library Theatre, Master Theatre, New York City, 1980.

The Front Page, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Philadelphia, PA, 1980–81.

Harry McMichael, Not Now, Darling, Equity Library Theatre, Master Theatre, 1982.

The Dresser, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, OH, c. 1982.

A Loss of Roses, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge, MA, 1984.

Sabrina Fair, Berkshire Theatre Festival, 1984.

Matt, Talley's Folly, Merrimack Regional Theatre, Lowell, MA, 1984–85.

A Grand Romance (workshop), Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, c. 1985.

The House of Blue Leaves, Lincoln Center, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, New York City, 1986, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York City, beginning 1986, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1987.

Peter, A Month of Sundays, Ritz Theatre, New York City, 1987.

Murray, Oscar and Felix: A New Look at The Odd Couple, Geffen Playhouse, Westwood, CA, 2002.

Max, Writer's Block, Atlantic Theater, New York City, 2003.

Appeared in The Chopin Playoff and Szechuan Dynasty, both off-Broadway productions.