Richard Libertini facts for kids

Richard Joseph Libertini (born May 21, 1933 – died January 7, 2016) was an American actor. He performed in plays, movies, and TV shows.

Richard was famous for playing interesting characters and for being able to speak with many different accents. Some of his well-known movies include Catch-22 (1970), The In-Laws (1979), Popeye (1980), All of Me (1984), Fletch (1985), and Dolphin Tale (2011).

Richard Libertini's Early Life

Richard Libertini was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He later graduated from Emerson College in Boston.

During his younger years, Richard worked in New York City and Chicago. In the 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles to start his acting career.

Richard Libertini's Acting Career

Richard Libertini was one of the first actors in The Mad Show. This was a musical comedy from 1966 that was inspired by Mad magazine.

Richard Libertini's First Movie Roles

His first movie appearances were in The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), Don't Drink the Water (1969), and Catch-22 (1970).

Memorable Movie Characters Richard Libertini Played

Richard had two very memorable roles in comedy movies. In Fletch (1985), he played the doubting editor of Chevy Chase's character. He played this role again in the sequel, Fletch Lives (1989).

In The In-Laws (1979), he played General Garcia. This character was a funny, over-the-top dictator from Latin America. His closest friend was a cartoon face drawn on his own hand!

Richard also played Nosh in Sharky's Machine (1981). Nosh was an electronics expert and the childhood best friend of the main character, played by Burt Reynolds.

Other Notable Movie Roles

Richard Libertini played many different characters. He was a traveling performer in Days of Heaven (1978). He played the greengrocer George W. Geezil in Popeye (1980).

He also appeared as a Hispanic priest in Best Friends (1982). In Unfaithfully Yours (1984), he was the servant Giuseppe. He played a spiritual advisor named Prahka Lasa in All of Me (1984).

Richard voiced the bandit Dijon in Disney's animated movie DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990). He also played a rabbi in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).

Richard Libertini's Television Appearances

On television, Richard was a regular actor in the first season of Soap. He played the Godfather in that show. He also appeared as three different characters in episodes of Barney Miller.

He was a guest star in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Accession". He played a Bajoran named Akorem Laan. He also appeared in the Sonny with a Chance episode "Dakota's Revenge" as Izzy, a funny mechanic.

Richard also voiced Wally Llama on Animaniacs. He starred in three TV shows that did not last very long:

• Family Man (1988): He played a comedy writer who became a father later in life.
• The Fanelli Boys (1990–1991): He played an Italian priest.
• Pacific Station (1991–1992): He played a police detective.

Richard Libertini also appeared on the TV show Supernatural. His last movie role was as a fisherman in the 2011 film Dolphin Tale. From 2011 to 2012, he acted on Broadway as a rabbi in a play called "Honeymoon Motel."

Richard Libertini's Personal Life

Richard Libertini married actress Melinda Dillon on September 30, 1963. They had one child together, a son named Richard. They later divorced in 1978.

Richard Libertini passed away on January 7, 2016, in Venice, California. He was 82 years old. He had been diagnosed with cancer two years before his death.

See also

In Spanish: Richard Libertini para niños