Billy Drago (1945–2019), character actor known for “The Untouchables
He was not on the list.
Billy Drago, a prolific character actor who was best known for playing villains, notably in Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables” and Clint Eastwood’s “Pale Rider,” died on Monday in Los Angeles. He was 73.
His son Darren said the cause was complications of heart failure.
In “The Untouchables” (1987), Mr. Drago played Frank Nitti, a white-suited henchman for Al Capone (Robert De Niro), armed with a gun permit handwritten by the mayor of Chicago. In a memorable scene, Nitti is ultimately thrown from a roof by the Prohibition agent Eliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner. (In real life, Nitti’s death was a suicide.)
The film was based on a book of the same name written (with Oscar Fraley) by Ness, who led a famous team of Chicago agents known as the Untouchables. (The book had also been the basis of a television series, starring Robert Stack as Ness, that ran from 1959 to 1963.)
While shooting the movie in Chicago, Mr. Drago got to know Nitti’s descendants, who took him on a tour of the city’s blues clubs. They “started treating me like I really was Frank Nitti,” he recalled in an interview posted by the online magazine The Void.
He added: “They made sure my back was to the wall, so I could see everybody, and all the young Italian turks would come by to pay their respects, and they’d all say, ‘Sooooo, playin’ Uncle Frank, huh? Lookin’ good, lookin’ good.’ ”
In “Pale Rider” (1985), a western about a mysterious preacher (Mr. Eastwood) who arrives to protect a village from a cruel mining company, Mr. Drago played a loyal but lowdown deputy to the villain of the story, Marshal Stockburn (John Russell).
Before becoming an actor, Mr. Drago (pronounced DRAH-go) was a radio journalist and a popular disc jockey in Kansas whose show was nationally syndicated. One of his sponsors was a traveling theater company, which, after a successful audition, he joined.
When the tour was over, he continued to pursue stage acting in New York City, gaining small parts, including one in a production at Lincoln Center. He later moved to Los Angeles to try his hand at acting in movies.
He was born Billy Eugene Burrows on Nov. 30, 1945, in Hugoton, in southwestern Kansas, to William and Gladys Marie (Wilcox) Burrows. He attended the University of Kansas.
Mr. Drago appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including several episodes of the popular series “Charmed” in the early 2000s. In 2001 he played a bad-guy deputy to a briefly seen Marlon Brando in the music video for Michael Jackson’s “You Rock My World.” A fan of the 1977 horror movie “The Hills Have Eyes,” Mr. Drago was given a role in the 2006 remake.Mr. Drago’s marriage to Edith Hunt ended in divorce. In addition to his son Darren, he is survived by another son, Derrick; a sister, Patty; a brother, Steve; and eight grandchildren.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1979 The Chisholms Teetontah / Teetonkah TV mini-series
1979 No Other Love Brian TV movie
1980 Windwalker Crow Scout
1981 Cutter's Way Garbage Man
1982 Johnny Belinda Cutter TV movie
1984 Hunter Roscoe Ganther Episode: Pen "Pals"
1985 Pale Rider Deputy Mather
Invasion U.S.A. Mickey
Moonlighting Gangster In Leather Coat Episode: "My Fair David"
1986 Hunter LeClair Episode: "War Zone"
North and South, Book II 'Rat' TV mini-series
Vamp 'Snow'
Hunter's Blood 'Snake'
1987 In Self Defense Edward Reeves TV movie
The Untouchables Frank Nitti
Banzai Runner Syszek
1988 Hero and the Terror Dr. Highwater
Freeway Edward Anthony Heller
Dark Before Dawn Cabalista Leader
Friday the 13th: the Series Edgar Van Horne Episode: "Read My Lips"
1989 True Blood Billy 'Spider' Masters
China White Scalia
Prime Suspect Cyril
1990 Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection Ramon Cota
1991 Diplomatic Immunity 'Cowboy'
Martial Law 2: Undercover Captain Krantz
1992 Secret Games Mark Langford
Death Ring Danton Vachs
Guncrazy Hank Fulton
1993 Lady Dragon Diego
The Outfit 'Lucky' Luciano
Deadly Heroes Jose Maria Carlos
Cyborg 2 Danny Bench
1993–1994 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. John Bly TV Series, 6 episodes
1994 Never Say Die Reverend James
The Takeover Daniel Stein
1995 Lunarcop Kay
Phoenix Kilgore
Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur Anthony
Drifting School Thomas King
1996 Blood Money Agent Pierce
Mad Dog Time Wells
Sci-Fighters Adrian Dunn
Blue Devil, Blue Devil Macintower
1997 Assault on Devil's Island Carlos Gallindo
Convict 762 Mannix
A Doll in the Dark Keith
1998 Monkey Business Branson
1999 Soccer Dog: The Movie Damon Fleming, The Dog Catcher
Lima: Breaking the Silence General Monticito Frantacino
1999–2004 Charmed Barbas TV Series, 6 episodes
2000 The X-Files Orel Peattie Episode: "Theef"
Very Mean Men Dante
Mirror, Mirror IV: Reflection Frederick Champion
2001 Death Game 'Shakes' Montrose
2002 Desert Rose Unknown
The Circuit Lenny
Welcome to America Crazy Old Man
2004 Tremors 4: The Legend Begins 'Black Hand' Kelly
Fort Doom Mr. Fallow
Mysterious Skin Zeke
2005 Demon Hunter Asmodeus
Blood Relic Harry
2006 Masters of Horror Christopher Episode: "Imprint"
Seven Mummies Drake
The Hills Have Eyes Papa Jupiter
Soul Searchers Unknown
Lime Salted Love Zephyr's Stepdad
2007 El Muerto The Old Indian
Moving McAllister The Lady
Revamped Vladimus
Zombie Hunters Dr. Frankfurt
2008 Supernatural 'Doc' Benton Episode: "Time Is on My Side"
Copperhead Jesse Evans TV movie
Rounds Edward
2009 Dark Moon Rising Thibodeaux
Ghost Town Reb Halland TV movie
The Ritual The Man In Black
2010 Downstream Edward
2011 Children of the Corn: Genesis Preacher
Balls to the Wall Belthagor
2013 Night of the Templar Shauna, The Chef
2014 Low Down Lew
The Dance The Stranger Final film role
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