Jilly Rizzo
Jilly Rizzo | |
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Born | Ermenigildo Rizzo May 6, 1917 New York City, U.S. |
Died | May 6, 1992 | (aged 75)
Cause of death | Car accident |
Resting place | Desert Memorial Park |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Restaurateur and entertainer |
Children | 3 |
Ermenigildo "Jilly" Rizzo (May 6, 1917 – May 6, 1992) was an American restaurateur and entertainer.
Career
As a young man, Rizzo worked with his father delivering Italian ice to cafes. Rizzo opened Jilly's Saloon, a lounge on West 49th Street, then moved to 256 West 52nd Street at the intersection with Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. Jilly's Saloon was a popular celebrity hangout in the 1960s. Rizzo's long-time friend Frank Sinatra frequented the lounge.[1] Rizzo later became one of Sinatra's chief aides, and was even referenced in Sinatra's adapted lyrics for Mrs. Robinson to avoid using the name "Jesus". Rizzo was also a frequent guest on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, where he would recite one liners in his monotone New York accent.
In 1990, Rizzo and five other men were convicted of fraud in relation to an $8 million loan scheme. He was given 1,000 hours of community service.[2]
Death
On May 5, 1992, Jilly Rizzo had spent hours preparing for his birthday party, a soiree the next day that was to include his friend Frank Sinatra and other Rat Pack luminaries. A few minutes after midnight, he got into his car and headed for his girlfriend's house. After a few minutes, Rizzo was killed when his car was hit by Jeffrey Perrotte, a 28-year-old alcoholic in Rancho Mirage. Perrotte ran home as Rizzo burned to death on his 75th birthday.[3] He is buried in Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.[4]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1962 | The Manchurian Candidate | Jilly | Uncredited |
1967 | Tony Rome | Card player | Uncredited |
1968 | The Detective | Bartender | Uncredited |
1984 | Cannonball Run II | Jilly | |
1985 | Year of the Dragon | Schiro | |
1987 | The Pick-up Artist | Casino Floor Manager | |
1990 | Eternity | Jilly | (final film role) |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970–1971 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | Himself | 8 episodes |
1977 | The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra | Himself | Television special |
1974–1978 | Kojak | Various roles | 2 episodes |
See also
References
- ^ Talese, Gay (April 1966). "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold". Esquire. No. Wikipedia describes the article here. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Jilly Rizzo, Close Aide To Sinatra, Killed at 75". New York Times. 1992-05-07. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ "Parole battle pits Sinatra family against killer of singer's right-hand man". Los Angeles Times. 2010-07-17. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ Ap (1992-05-07). "Jilly Rizzo, Close Aide To Sinatra, Killed at 75". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
External links
- Jilly Rizzo at IMDb
- 1917 births
- 1992 deaths
- American male film actors
- American people of Italian descent
- American restaurateurs
- American television personalities
- Burials at Desert Memorial Park
- Businesspeople from New York City
- Road incident deaths in California
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American musicians
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- Television personalities from New York City
- American business biography, 1910s birth stubs
- American entertainer stubs