Rick Aviles
Rick Aviles | |
---|---|
Born | Richard Anthony Aviles October 14, 1952 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
Died | March 17, 1995 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 42)
Occupation(s) | Actor, Stand-up comedian |
Years active | 1980–1995 |
Rick Aviles (October 14, 1952 – March 17, 1995) was an American stand-up comedian and actor of Puerto Rican descent, best remembered for portraying the villainous Willie Lopez in the film Ghost.
Career
In the 1970s and 1980s, Aviles worked as a stand-up comedian on the Greenwich Village night-club circuit in New York. In 1981, he landed the role of Mad Dog in the film The Cannonball Run. He went on to act in fourteen more film productions. In 1987, Aviles landed a small part as the maintenance man in the film The Secret of My Success, starring Michael J. Fox. That same year he became the host of It's Showtime at the Apollo, and continued as host until 1991.[1]
In 1990, Aviles landed his most memorable role: Willie Lopez in the film Ghost, a smash hit at the box office that received multiple Oscar nominations. He also appeared in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train (film) (1989) as Will Robinson; Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III (1990) as Mask #1; Brian De Palma's Carlito's Way (1993) as Quisqueya; in Waterworld (1995) as the Gatesman, and in Joe's Apartment (1996) as the voice of a cockroach.[1]
Among the television series in which he appeared are Mr. & Mrs. Dracula (1980), The Day Women Got Even (1980), The Carol Burnett Show (1991) and Stephen King's The Stand (1994).
Death
Having contracted HIV through heroin use, Aviles died on March 17, 1995 in Los Angeles, California, from complications of AIDS.[2]
Filmography
Film[3] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1981 | The Cannonball Run | Mad Dog | |
1984 | Billions for Boris | Hector | |
1987 | Street Smart | Solo | |
The Secret of My Success | Maintenance man | ||
1988 | Mondo New York | Comic in park | |
Spike of Bensonhurst | Bandana | Alternative titles: The Mafia Kid or Throwback! | |
1989 | Mystery Train | Will Robinson | Segment: "Lost in Space" |
Identity Crisis | El Toro | ||
1990 | Ghost | Willie Lopez | |
The Godfather Part III | Mask #1 | ||
Green Card | Vincent | ||
1993 | The Saint of Fort Washington | Rosario | |
Carlito's Way | Quisqueya | ||
1995 | Waterworld | Atoll Gatesman | |
1996 | Joe's Apartment | Cockroach | Voice only |
Television | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1980 | Mr. and Mrs. Dracula | Mario | Unknown episodes |
The Day the Women Got Even | Pancho Diaz | ||
1989 | No Place Like Home | J.J. | |
1991 | Monsters | Mr. Vega | 1 episode |
The Carol Burnett Show | Skit characters | Unknown episodes | |
1993 | Moon Over Miami | Frankie the Rat | 1 episode |
1994 | The Stand | Rat man | Miniseries |
Video Games | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1997 | Waterworld: The Quest For Dry Land | Atoll Gatesman |
See also
References
- ^ a b New York Times; Movies and T.V.
- ^ Tucker, Hannah (2006-06-09). "25 years of AIDS in Hollywood -- We remember the lost stars of movies, TV and art". Entertainment Weekly. p. 2. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
- ^ http://www.inbaseline.com/person.aspx?person_id=140929
External links
- Rick Aviles at IMDb