Ralph Foody
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013) |
Ralph Foody | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ralph Wesley Foody November 13, 1928 |
| Died | November 21, 1999 (aged 71) Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lexington Cemetery, Lexington |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1965–1992 |
Ralph Wesley Foody (November 13, 1928 – November 21, 1999)[1] was an American character actor.
Early life
Foody was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 13, 1928.
Career
He has several screen credits from the 1980s, but is probably best known for portraying 1930s mobster Johnny in the 1990 film Home Alone and its 1992 sequel.[2] As Johnny, Foody appears in two black-and-white gangster films-within-the-films Angels with Filthy Souls and its sequel Angels with Even Filthier Souls (both are a parody of the 1938 film Angels with Dirty Faces by Warner Bros.).[3] His appearances are notable for the famous catchphrases 'Keep the change ya filthy animal' and 'Merry Christmas ya filthy animal — and a Happy New Year'.[4] His appearance in Home Alone 2 was also his final film role.
Foody also played "Det. Cragie", the alcoholic and the negligent Chicago cop in Code of Silence, as well as the police dispatcher in The Blues Brothers. He was also known for his incredible wit and was often referred to as "The Witster" on set.
Death
Foody died of cancer in 1999 at age 71.[5]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Mickey One | Police Captain | Arthur Penn | |
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Police Dispatcher | John Landis | |
| 1981 | Chicago Story | Sergeant Hesper | Harvey S. Laidman & Jerry London | Made-for-TV movie |
| 1984 | The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck | Bit Role | Simon Langton | Made-for-TV movie |
| 1985 | Lady Blue | Howe | Gary Nelson | Made into TV series |
| Lady Blue | Captain Flynn | Various | 14 episodes | |
| Code of Silence | Detective Cragie | Andrew Davis | Chuck Norris film | |
| 1986 | Raw Deal | Captain Sam Joyce | John Irvin | |
| Vice Versa | Doorman | Brian Gilbert | ||
| 1988 | Above the Law | Federal Clerk | Andrew Davis | |
| Betrayed | Lyle | Costa-Gavras | ||
| 1989 | The Package | Building Manager | Andrew Davis | |
| Music Box | Pawn Broker | Costa-Gavras | ||
| Cold Justice | Ernie | Terry Green | ||
| 1990 | Gabriel's Fire | Hot Dog Vendor | Robert Lieberman | Episode; "Gabriel's Fire" |
| Home Alone | Gangster Johnny | Chris Columbus | In the scene from a film on TV "Angels with Filthy Souls" | |
| 1991 | Curly Sue | Drifter | John Hughes | |
| 1992 | Straight Talk | Desk Clerk | Barnet Kellman | |
| The Babe | Pittsburgh Man | Arthur Hiller | Bit role | |
| Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | Gangster Johnny | Chris Columbus | In the scene from a film on TV "Angels with Even Filthier Souls" (final acting role) |
References
- ^ "Ralph Foody". ancestry.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ King, Darryn (December 21, 2015). ""Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal": Inside the Making of Home Alone's Fake Gangster Movie". Vanity Fair.
- ^ Parker, Ryan (November 23, 2020). "'Home Alone' Film 'Angels with Filthy Souls' Turns 82 — Kind Of". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Tisdale, Jennifer (December 24, 2021). "We're Gonna Give You Till the Count of 10 to Tell Us if 'Angels With Filthy Souls' Is Real". Distractify.
- ^ "Ex-actor, arts patron Ralph Foody dies at 71". Kentucky Room. Archived from the original on 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
External links
- Ralph Foody at IMDb
- Ralph Foody at the TCM Movie Database