Very sad; Mr. Carey was very much a part of my youth--my father watched Barney Miller religiously (some of my most distinct childhood memories of him are of how red he would become while laughing during the show).
Ron Carey, 71; was known for roles in 'Barney Miller,' Mel Brooks films
By Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer
January 19, 2007
Ron Carey, the short and puckish comedic actor who played Officer Carl Levitt on the hit situation comedy "Barney Miller" and was a member of Mel Brooks' comedy troupe in films such as "High Anxiety" and "Silent Movie," has died. He was 71.
Carey died of a stroke Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said Michael Ciccolini, a relative.
"Ron Carey was truly talented, very funny and one of the dearest men I've ever worked with," Brooks, who also cast Carey as Swiftus in the Roman-era segment of "History of the World: Part I," said in a statement Thursday.
The 5-foot-7 Carey became a semi-regular on ABC's "Barney Miller" in 1976, the second year of the sitcom that starred Hal Linden in the title role, and remained with the show until it ended in 1982.
As Levitt, Carey was the patrolman who was eager to transfer into the detective squad room of the 12th Precinct station house.
A former stand-up comic, Carey broke into films playing a Boston cab driver in "The Out of Towners," the 1970 comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.
Carey's film credits also include playing Dom DeLuise's brother in the 1980 comedy-drama "Fatso," which was written and directed by Anne Bancroft.
He had small roles in the TV sit-coms "The Montefuscos" (1975) and "The Corner Bar" (1972-73).
Carey, who also appeared in scores of commercials, took pride in being a supporting player and a character actor.
"Stars are stars," he told Newsday in 1989. "But without us, the show wouldn't go on."
Carey was born Ronald Joseph Cicenia on Dec. 11, 1935, in Newark, N.J. He launched his stand-up comedy career in New York after earning a bachelor's degree in communications from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., in 1956.
He made his first national TV appearance a decade later, on "The Merv Griffin Show." Appearances on "The Tonight Show" and the "Ed Sullivan Show" followed.
"He's from a huge Italian family, so his stand-up was about being lost in this huge family and about being raised Roman Catholic, et cetera, and all the guilt," Ciccolini said.
DeLuise, who first met Carey about 1970, fondly remembers Carey's comedy act, particularly when he would come out dressed like a priest and deliver a "sermon" in which he'd rail against the sin of gambling — then end by reminding his parishioners "that there will be bingo on Wednesday night."
Carey is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his brother, Jimmy Cicenia.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 624 N. Rossmore Ave., Los Angeles.
Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, c/o St. Vincent Foundation, 2222 Ocean View Ave., Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90057.
RIP Ron Carey
Whether they are behind the camera or in front of it, this is the place to discuss all filmmakers regardless of their role in the filmmaking process.
Jump to
- Announcements
- ↳ General Announcements
- Introductions
- ↳ Let Me Introduce Myself...
- The Academy Awards
- ↳ The 10th Decade
- ↳ 97th Academy Awards
- ↳ 96th Academy Awards
- ↳ 95th Academy Awards
- ↳ 94th Academy Awards
- ↳ 93rd Academy Awards
- ↳ 92nd Academy Awards
- ↳ 91st Academy Awards
- ↳ The 9th Decade
- ↳ 90th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 90th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 89th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 89th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 88th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 88th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 87th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 87th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 86th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 86th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 85th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 85th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 84th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 84th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 83rd Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 83rd Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 82nd Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 82nd Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 81st and Other 9th Decade Discussions
- ↳ The 8th Decade
- ↳ The Damien Bona Memorial Oscar History Thread
- ↳ Other Oscar Discussions
- General Film Discussions
- ↳ 2020s
- ↳ Coming Soon
- ↳ 2024
- ↳ 2023
- ↳ 2022
- ↳ 2021
- ↳ 2020
- ↳ 2010s
- ↳ 2019
- ↳ 2018
- ↳ 2017
- ↳ 2016
- ↳ 2015
- ↳ 2014
- ↳ 2013
- ↳ 2012
- ↳ 2011
- ↳ 2010
- ↳ 2000s
- ↳ 2009
- ↳ 2008
- ↳ 2000 - 2007
- ↳ The First Century
- ↳ Dream Projects
- ↳ The People
- ↳ Other Film Discussions
- Miscellaneous Discussions
- ↳ Help Forum
- ↳ DVD Discussions
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ Broadcast Media
- ↳ The Cam Dagg Memorial Theatre and Literature Forum
- ↳ General Off-Topic