‘Mean Streets’ Star Richard Romanus Dead at 80

Richard Romanus — well-known from his memorable function in “Mean Streets” — has died.

The actor’s son, Robert, broke the unhappy information this weekend, telling THR his father had handed away Dec. 23 at a personal hospital in Volos, Greece. The precise circumstances of his loss of life stay unclear, and an official trigger has but to be introduced.

Romanus hadn’t acted in a lot because the early 2000s, along with his final credited function being in Disney’s “The Young Black Stallion” from 2003. Nonetheless, his profession was noteworthy … particularly his flip because the villain in one in every of Scorsese‘s first movies.

In fact, he performed Michael the mortgage shark in ‘MS’ … his character grows impatient with Robert De Niro‘s Johnny Boy after continuously ducking/dodging him on a fats debt owed.

Followers may also bear in mind him for taking part in Richard La Penna in just a few episodes of “The Sopranos” … to not point out roles in different massive exhibits like “Tenspeed and Brown Shoe,” “Foul Play,” “Strike Force,” “Hill Street Blues,” “The A-Team,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “Johnny Bago” and extra.

Outdoors of “Mean Streets,” Romanus’ film credit embrace … “Wizards,” “Sitting Ducks,” “Heavy Metal,” “Pandemonium,” “Strangers Kiss,” “Protocol,” “Murphy’s Law,” “Oscar” and lots of others.

He is survived by his son, his spouse and his well-known youthful brother, Robert. Romanus was 80.