sielwolf's Journal: Bruno Kirby dead at 57

Bruno Kirby, a veteran character actor known for playing the best friend in two of Billy Crystal's biggest comedies "When Harry Met Sally" and "City Slickers," has died. He was 57.

Damn... turns out he just got diagnosed with Leukemia. Really, the guy was on this season of Entourage! He was still out there grinding!

I think Bruno Kirby was up there with a lot of the other great "That Guy" actors like Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore). Not only was he great in the above mentioned movies but he brought stuff to the table in movies like Donnie Brasco (where he was Pacino's buddy who they wrongly killed for thinking he was an informant) or Good Morning, Vietnam (where he played a wang to a T).

Of course the role I'll remember him most for was as the Young Clemenza in The Godfather II. That scene where he "pays back" young Vito by going over to his "friend's" house and stealing the rug? Classic. Of course the best way to see it is in The Godfather Saga, the merging of the first two movies in chronological order. You get a couple extra scenes not in the theatrical releases of the first two movies, one of which is a great sequence of the Young Clemenza selling the dresses he and Vito nicked. Clemenza's selling them the old fashioned way: door to door. Of course he runs into a fille and without any money he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Ahh, classic.

Anyway, a toast: we are worse with him gone; we are better for having him.

hear hear!

[btlzu2]

so long bruno! i'm so sad to hear this. absolutely thought of clemenza first, then when harry met sally. he was a wonderful actor and will be missed.