William Hickey (actor)
| William Hickey | |
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| Born | William Edward Hickey September 19, 1927 Brooklyn, New York, New York City, United States |
| Died | June 29, 1997 (aged 69) New York City, New York |
| Occupation | Actor |
William Edward Hickey (September 19, 1927 – June 29, 1997) was an American actor. He was best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Don Corrado Prizzi in the John Huston 1985 film Prizzi's Honor, as well as the voice of Dr. Finklestein in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).
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[edit] Early life
Hickey was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Nora and Edward Hickey, both of Irish descent.[1] He had an older sister, Dorothy Finn. Hickey began acting on radio in 1938.[2]
[edit] Career
Best known as the ancient Mafia don in Prizzi's Honor (1985), Hickey had a long, distinguished career in film, television, and the stage. He began his career as a child actor on the variety stage and made his Broadway debut as a walk-on in George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" (1951 production, starring Uta Hagen). He performed often during the golden age of television, including appearances on Studio One and Philco Playhouse. His most important contribution to the arts, however, remains his teaching career at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, founded by Hagen and Herbert Berghof. George Segal, Sandy Dennis, and Barbra Streisand all studied under him.
Hickey enjoyed a career in film, television and theater. In addition to his work as an actor, he was a respected teacher of the craft. Notable for his unique, gravely voice and somewhat offbeat appearance, Hickey, in his later years, was often cast in "cantankerous-but-clever old man" roles. His characters, who sometimes exuded an underlying air of the macabre, usually had the last laugh over their more sprightly co-stars.
[edit] Death
Hickey died from emphysema and bronchitis in 1997. He is interred in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn, New York. He died during the filming of Uzo's Better Than Ever, and his role was played by the producer in a pickup shot depicting his character in the hospital. His final movie Knocking on Death's Door (in which he plays the town sheriff) was released nearly two years after his death.
The movie MouseHunt (in which he also starred) is dedicated to his memory.[3]
[edit] Notable credits
[edit] New York City theatre
- Miss Lonelyhearts (1957)
- The Body Beautiful (1958)
- Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1970)
- Small Craft Warnings (1972)
- Mourning Becomes Electra (1972)
- Thieves (1974)
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1986)
[edit] Film
- Better Than Ever (1997): Walter
- Twisted (1997): Andre
- MouseHunt (1997): Rudolf Smuntz
- Love Is All There Is (1996): Monsignor
- The Jerky Boys (1995): "Uncle Freddy"
- Forget Paris (1995): Arthur
- Major Payne (1995): School Dean
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): voice of Doctor Finklestein
- The Runestone (1991): Lars Hagstrom
- Tales From The Crypt (1990) (Season Two, "The Switch") Carlton Webster
- My Blue Heaven (1990): Billy Sparrow
- Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990): Drogan (in the "Cat From Hell" segment)
- Sea of Love (1989): Frank Keller, Sr.
- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989): Uncle Lewis
- Puppet Master (1989): Andre Toulon
- Da (1988): Drumm
- Bright Lights, Big City (1988): Ferret Man
- A Hobo's Christmas (1987): Cincinnati Harold
- One Crazy Summer (1986): Old Man Beckersted
- The Name of the Rose (1986): Ubertino da Casale
- Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985): The Coney Island Barker
- Prizzi's Honor (1985): Don Corrado Prizzi (Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor)
- Wise Blood (1979 (film) A Preacher
- The Sentinel (1977) Perry, a shady locksmith
- Mikey & Nicky (1976) : Sid Fine
- 92 In The Shade (1975) : Mr. Skelton
- Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1971): Looseleaf Harper
- Little Big Man (1970) Historian
- The Boston Strangler (1968) Eugene T O'Rourke
- The Producers (1968): Drunk
- A Hatful of Rain (1957): Apples (film debut)
- Operation Mad Ball (1957): G.I. Sampson
[edit] Television
- Baby Talk – Mr. Fogarty
- Between Time and Timbuktu – Stony Stevenson
- The Equalizer – elderly blind con man
- Moonlighting - Mr. Kendall
- Wings – Carlton Blanchard
- The Adventures of Pete and Pete - Grandpa Wrigley
- Appearances in The Outer Limits (1990s version), L.A. Law, The Phil Silvers Show, Tales from the Crypt, Miami Vice, The Tracey Ullman Show, Tales from the Darkside, and Hallmark Hall of Fame.
[edit] Awards
In addition to his Oscar nomination, Mr. Hickey received runner-up honors from the NSFC and LAFCA for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Don Corrado Prizzi in Prizzi's Honor.
He was also nominated for an Emmy for 'Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series' for his appearance on Tales from the Crypt.
