Bruno Kirby
With his distinctively high-pitched, raspy voice and often agitated performances, Bruno Kirby was one of the most instantly recognizable character actors in film and on television. He broke into TV with a recurring role on the comedy drama "Room 222" (ABC, 1969-1974), and began working in film with small parts in efforts like "Cinderella Liberty" (1973), before gaining wide exposure in Francis Ford Coppola's Academy Award-winning sequel to his Mafia family epic, "The Godfather, Part II" (1974). Kirby enjoyed diverse, if sometimes brief, portrayals in the features "Where The Buffalo Roam" (1980), "This is Spinal Tap" (1984), and "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987). It was, however, for two separate roles - in each of which he played Billy Crystal's best friend - that Kirby would be most remembered: in the oft-quoted romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally" (1989), followed by "City Slickers" (1991). He continued to work extensively, returning to the mob in such projects as "Donnie Brasco" (1997), and as a high-profile defense attorney in the made-for-TV movie "American Tragedy" (CBS, 2000), before succumbing to the effects of leukemia in 2006. Kirby's highly regarded career served as the perfect reverse illustration to the age-old theater axiom that there are no small roles, only small actors. By all accounts, Kirby never gave a small performance in his regrettably brief life.
Photos
Bruno Kirby
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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Played | Unknown (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
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Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
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One Eyed King | Mickey (Character) | - | 2001 |
27% |
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A Slipping-Down Life | Kiddie Arcades Manager (Character) | $95.4K | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
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History Is Made at Night | Max Fisher (Character) | - | 1999 |
67% |
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Stuart Little | Mr. Stout (Voice) | $140.0M | 1999 |
88% |
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Donnie Brasco | Nicky (Character) | $42.0M | 1997 |
73% |
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Sleepers | Lorenzo's Father (Character) | $53.3M | 1996 |
47% |
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The Basketball Diaries | Swifty (Character) | $2.1M | 1995 |
0% |
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Golden Gate | Agent Ron Pirelli (Character) | $395.1K | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mastergate | Unknown (Character) | - | 1992 |
89% |
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City Slickers | Ed Furillo (Character) | $119.8M | 1991 |
94% |
|
The Freshman | Victor Ray, Carmine's Nephew (Character) | $20.7M | 1990 |
48% |
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We're No Angels | Deputy (Character) | $10.0M | 1989 |
89% |
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When Harry Met Sally... | Jess (Character) | $90.4M | 1989 |
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Nitti: The Enforcer | Unknown (Character) | - | 1988 |
90% |
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Good Morning, Vietnam | 2nd Lt. Steven Hauk (Character) | $123.9M | 1987 |
82% |
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Tin Men | Mouse (Character) | $25.3M | 1987 |
86% |
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Flesh & Blood | Orbec (Character) | - | 1985 |
84% |
|
Birdy | Renaldi (Character) | - | 1984 |
96% |
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This Is Spinal Tap | Tommy Pischedda (Character) | $188.8K | 1984 |
83% |
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Modern Romance | Jay (Character) | - | 1981 |
19% |
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Where the Buffalo Roam | Marty Lewis (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet |
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Borderline | Jimmy Fante (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Almost Summer | Bobby DeVito (Character) | - | 1978 |
94% |
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Between the Lines | David Entwhistle (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Baby Blue Marine | Pop Mosley (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet |
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Superdad | Stanley (Character) | - | 1974 |
96% |
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The Godfather, Part II | Young Peter Clemenza (Character) | - | 1974 |
56% |
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Cinderella Liberty | Alcott (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet |
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The Harrad Experiment | Harry Schacht (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | All My Darling Daughters | Anthony Stephanelli (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet |
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The Young Graduates | Les (Character) | - | 1971 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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65% | 82% | Entourage | Rhil Rubenstein (Guest Star) | 2006 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Jury | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
92% | No Score Yet | The Beat | Director | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Unknown (Voice) | 1999 |
100% | 69% | The Larry Sanders Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mad About You | Virgil (Guest Star) | 1996 |
91% | 90% | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
95% | 95% | Frasier | Marco (Guest Voice) | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fallen Angels | Tony Reseck (Character) | 1993 |
82% | 90% | Tales From the Crypt | Unknown (Character) | 1991 |
97% | 85% | Hill Street Blues | Louis (Guest Star) | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fame | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kojak | Keith Wicks (Guest Star) | 1973-1976 |
No Score Yet | 81% | Columbo | Sergeant George Kramer (Guest Star) | 1973-1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Room 222 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971-1972 |