Paul Comi obit

Paul Comi, character actor – obituary

He was not on the list.

Paul Comi, who has died aged 84, was a prolific Hollywood character actor who made hundreds of appearances over 50 years on stage, radio, television and film.

Often in Army uniform or sporting a stetson, he appeared in television shows such as Star Trek, The Twilight Zone and General Hospital. On the big screen he gave a memorable performance as Private Abbott in The Young Lions (1958), starring Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, appeared with Gregory Peck in Cape Fear (1962), and was Steve McQueen’s right-hand man as fireman Lt Tim in The Towering Inferno (1974).

He also featured in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), Death Wish II (1982) and the Dudley Moore and Eddie Murphy caper Best Defence (1984).

Paul Comi was born on February 11 1932 in Brookline, Massachusetts into an Italian American family. His grandmother, Madelena Cavanna, had introduced the first flavoured cappuccino in Italy, adding Belgian white chocolate and liqueurs to her coffee, calling it “Caffe d’Amore Con un Bacio” – “the coffee of love with a kiss”, and after emigrating she opened coffee houses across America.

As a sergeant with the US Army from 1949 until 1952, Comi served in the Korean conflict, winning three Purple Hearts. During a period in Kyoto, Japan, recovering from injuries, he became involved in arranging entertainment for the troops, booking Hollywood stars and writing skits for theatre shows.

After his discharge he took a bachelor’s and later a master’s degree in Arts at the University of Southern California and, while still a student, became an apprentice at the La Jolla Playhouse. Spotted by a talent scout from 20th Century Fox in the play Career (1957), he was signed to a contract and thrown into his first role in Edward Dmytryk’s Second World War epic Young Lions (1958). “I wasn’t out of work for the next fifty years” Comi recalled in 2007.

The director Philip Dunne cast Comi in Love and War (1958) and he was Luke Friendly in Edward Dmytryk’s western Warlock (1959). Other credits include the Korean War drama Pork Chop Hill, with Gregory Peck and the comedy A Private Affair (both 1959); The Outsider (1961), in which Tony Curtis played a Native American helping Comi and others raise the flag at Iwo Jima, and Cape Fear (1962).

On the small screen he starred in three episodes of The Twilight Zone, and was Stiles in Balance of Terror, an episode of Star Trek. He was a regular as pilot Chuck Lambert in Ripcord and played Yo Yo on Rawhide with Clint Eastwood.

Other television credits included Perry Mason, The Streets of San Francisco, Dallas, Cagney and Lacey, LA Law and Baywatch.

During the 1980s, Como taught acting at the University of California and later at the Pasadena City College.

In later life, Comi went into the coffee business with his wife Eva Mae, whom he married in 1953. She survives him with two daughters and a son.

Partial filmography

    1958: The Young Lions – Pvt. Abbott (uncredited)

    1958: In Love and War – Father Wallensack

    1959: Warlock – Luke Friendly (uncredited)

    1959: Pork Chop Hill – Sgt. Kreucheberg

    1959: Peter Gunn ("The Rifle") – William Erlich

    1959: 77 Sunset Strip ("The Grandma Caper") – Fred

    1960: A Private's Affair – Military Policeman (uncredited)

    1960: The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond – Paul (uncredited)

    1960: Two Faces West – Deputy Johnny Evans

    1960: Men Into Space ("Caves of the Moon") – Major John Arnold

    1960: The Untouchables ("One-Armed Bandits") – George Colleoni

    1960: Wake Me When It's Over – Lt. Malcolm Bressler (uncredited)

    1960: The Dark at the Top of the Stairs – Jenkins (uncredited)

    1961: The Outsider – Sgt. Boyle

    1960–1963: The Twilight Zone ("People Are Alike All Over" / "The Odyssey of Flight 33" / "The Parallel") – Marcusson / 1st Officer John Craig / Psychiatrist

    1961–1962: Ripcord – Chuck Lambert

    1962: Cape Fear – George Garner

    1962: Stoney Burke ("The Scavenger") – Frank Foley

    1962: 40 Pounds of Trouble – Deputy Sheriff Cavanaugh

    1965: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ("The Crimson Witness") – Modeer

    1965: Twelve O'Clock High ("R/X for a Sick Bird") – Major Adams

    1965: Perry Mason ("The Case of the Sad Sicilian") – Father Reggiani

    1965–1968: The F.B.I. ("Act of Violence" / "The Satellite" / "The Escape" / "The Giant Killer") – Crime Scene Special Agent / SAC Harper / Howard Schaal / Major Slidell

    1966: Blindfold - Barker

    1966: The Time Tunnel ("Massacre") – Capt. Frederick Benteen

    1966: Star Trek ("Balance of Terror") – Stiles

    1967: The Invaders ("Storm") – Danny – Sheriff

    1968–1969: Mannix – ("The Playground" / "Another Final Exit") – Rudy / Harry

    1969: All the Loving Couples – Mike Corey

    1971–1973: Cannon ("A Well Remembered Terror" / "No Pockets in the Shroud") – Airline Official / Det. Lou Micelli – LAPD

    1972: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes[19] – 2nd Policeman

    1974: The Towering Inferno – Tim

    1977: The Streets of San Francisco ("Interlude") – Alexander Dichter

    1980: The Killings at Outpost Zeta – Cmdr. Craig

    1981: Longshot – Coleman

    1981: Dallas ("Waterloo at Southfork") – Dr. McWright

    1982: Death Wish II – Senator McLean

    1984: Best Defense – Chief Agent

    1985: Falcon Crest ("False Hope") – Money Scammer

    1985–1990: Knots Landing ("What If?" / "High School Confidential" / "The Emperor's Clothes") – Doctor / Ed Boyce

    1986: Howard the Duck – Dr. Chapin

    1986: Fame ("The Last Dance") – The Minister

    1987: Spies ("The Game's Not Over" / "'Til the Fat Lady Sings")

    1986–1989: Highway to Heaven ("Summer Camp" / "Parents' Day" / "Children's Children") – Phil Lightell / Sgt. Baker / Harvey

    1991: L.A. Law ("Since I Fell for You" / "On the Toad Again") – Detective Douglas French / Detective

    1995: Baywatch ("Leap of Faith") – Mr. Samuels