Frank Campanella R.I.P.

[Reza]

January 6, 2007
Frank Campanella, Character Actor, 87, Dies
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (AP) ­ Frank Campanella, a hulking character actor
who played tough guys in more than 100 films and television shows, died
Dec. 30 at his home in the San Fernando Valley. He was 87.

His family announced his death. The younger brother of the actor Joseph Campanella, he was 6 feet 5 inches tall. One of Frank Campanella's most distinctive roles was his first, Mook the Moon Man on the television series ''Captain Video and His Video Rangers'' in 1949.

His movie credits included parts in ''Dick Tracy'',''Pretty Woman'',''Beaches'',''Overboard'' and ''The Flamingo Kid''.

Mr. Campanella appeared on television shows like St. Elsewhere,The Love Boat,Maude,The Rockford Files,All in the Family, Kojak and Route 66.

Born in New York on March 12, 1919, he enrolled at Manhattan College as a drama major. During World War II he worked as a civilian interpreter, deciphering Italian and Sicilian dialects for the United States government. Later Mr. Campanella helped Robert De Niro with Sicilian dialogue in The Godfather Part II.