Frank Pesce obit

Frank Pesce, ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ‘Top Gun’ Actor, Dies at 75

 

He was not on the list.

Frank Pesce, a character actor who appeared in the first two “Beverly Hills Cop” movies, “Top Gun,” “Midnight Run” and “Miami Vice,” died on Feb. 6 due to dementia complications. He was 75.

Born in 1946 in New York City, Pesce’s circle of friends included Sylvester Stallone, Tony Danza and Robert Forster, among others. Known for his big smile and colorful personality, Pesce first appeared on screen in 1976 as a guest star on “Police Story.” Throughout his career, he appeared on other series such as “Kojak,” “Knight Rider,” “Blue Thunder,” “The Greatest American Hero,” “Matlock,” “Who’s the Boss?” and “The Master.”

Pesce landed small roles in Stallone films “Rocky” and “Paradise Alley,” as well as Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer’s smash hits “Flashdance” and “Top Gun.”

In a statement to Variety, Pesce’s girlfriend Tammy Scher said, “I met Frank at a very low point in my life. He always said he saved me and he was right. I’d never met anyone like him. Frank was a force larger than life or any fictional character, always entertaining, intriguing and fascinating. Unafraid to approach anyone and immediately make an acquaintance. Celebrities flocked to be near him as he had an encyclopedia of knowledge about music and movies.”

With James Franciscus, Pesce wrote the story of George Gallo’s 1991 movie “29th Street,” which is based on Pesce’s own early life story as a New York City lottery winner. Pesce starred in the movie as his real-life older brother Vito, while Dan Aiello played his father and Anthony LaPaglia starred as Frank.

David Permut, who produced the film, said of Pesce: “To say Frank was one of a kind would be a gross understatement. We shared our love and passion for film. He claimed to see more movies than Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert combined.”

Along with Scher, Pesce is survived by his brother, Vito Pesce; nieces Vanessa Pesce and Danielle Pesce; and sister-in-law Catherine Pesce. He will be buried in New York on Feb. 18 at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx.

Actor (90 credits)

  Street Justice (pre-production)

Police Sergeant

 2018 Nasty (Short)

Sheriff Conway

 2015/II Creed

Mickey's Gym Doorman

 2014 Reach Me

Frank's Henchman

 2014 The Expendables 3

Fight Watcher

 2013 Grudge Match

Journalist #4

 2013 Man Life Crisis (TV Series)

Frank

- Episode #1.1 (2013) ... Frank

- Episode #1.5 (2013) ... Frank

- Episode #1.4 (2013) ... Frank

- Episode #1.3 (2013) ... Frank

- Episode #1.2 (2013) ... Frank

 2011 Tower Heist

Riker's Prison Guard

 2009 Citizen Jane (TV Movie)

Virgil Jackman

 2009 Middle Men

Bar Patron

 2007 Final Approach (TV Movie)

FAA Official Russo

 2005 Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part (TV Movie)

Rocco Galletta

 2003-2004 Karen Sisco (TV Series)

Sonny

- He Was a Friend of Mine (2004) ... Sonny

- Dog Day Sisco (2004) ... Sonny

- Dear Derwood... (2003) ... Sonny

- The One That Got Away (2003) ... Sonny

- Blown Away (2003) ... Sonny

 2004 The Whole Ten Yards

Policeman #1 (as Franck Pesce)

 2003 Where's Angelo? (Short)

Frank

 2002 On the Edge

Bo

 2001 Double Take

Vito

 2000 Down 'n Dirty

Kingpin

 2000 Falcone (TV Series)

Bodyguard #1

- Pilot (2000) ... Bodyguard #1

 1999/I Black & White

Joey

 1997 Night Vision

Mike Mahoney

 1997 The Tony Danza Show (TV Series)

Guy

- Pilot (1997) ... Guy

 1997 Donnie Brasco

Wiseguy

 1997 The Single Guy (TV Series)

Cabbie

- Starting Over (1997) ... Cabbie (as Frankie Pesce)

 1996 The Cottonwood

 1996 Uncle Sam (Video)

Barker

 1996 Original Gangstas

Detective Waits

 1994 Trapped in Paradise

Caesar Spinoza

 1994 The Pamela Principle 2

Ralph

 1994 Ice

Mobster

 1994 North & South: Book 3, Heaven & Hell (TV Mini Series)

Luis

- Summer 1865 - Autumn 1865 (1994) ... Luis

 1994 Another Midnight Run (TV Movie)

Vito

 1993 Mirror Images II (Video)

Clerk

 1993 South Beach

Jimmy

 1993 Blindsided (TV Movie)

Detective

 1993 Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (TV Movie)

Rehab Patient

 1992 Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence

Tribble

 1992 Ring of the Musketeers (TV Movie)

Joey Gardner

 1992 The Pamela Principle (Video)

Eddie Breeding

 1991-1992 Jake and the Fatman (TV Series)

Barkeep / Jerry

- Mickey Daytona (1992) ... Barkeep

- We'll Meet Again (1991) ... Jerry

 1992 In the Shadow of a Killer (TV Movie)

Torelli

 1985-1992 Who's the Boss? (TV Series)

Dave / Bailiff / The Workman / ...

- Mr. Micelli Builds His Dream House (1992) ... Dave

- Car and Driver (1987) ... Bailiff

- Forgive Me, Tony (1986) ... The Workman

- Custody: Part 2 (1985) ... Waiter

 1992 Reasonable Doubts (TV Series)

Taliaferro

- Fish out of Water (1992) ... Taliaferro

- The Discomfort Zone (1992) ... Taliaferro

 1991 29th Street

Vito Pesce

 1991 Steel and Lace

Patroni

 1990 Maniac Cop 2

Strip Club M.C.

 1990 Bar Girls (TV Movie)

Joe

 1989 The Kill Reflex

Pond

 1989 Relentless

Marra

 1989 Lock Up

Johnson

 1989 Hit List

Quigley

 1989 The Cover Girl and the Cop (TV Movie)

Assistant Director

 1988 Matlock (TV Series)

Bailiff

- The Ambassador: Part 2 (1988) ... Bailiff

- The Ambassador: Part 1 (1988) ... Bailiff

 1988 Midnight Run

Carmine

 1988 Cameron's Closet

Ed Wallace

 1988 Maniac Cop

Watchman

 1987 Beverly Hills Cop II

Carlotta (as Frank J. Pesce)

 1986 The Messenger

Man 1

 1986 Cagney & Lacey (TV Series)

Perp

- Role Call (1986) ... Perp

 1986 Hollywood Harry

Peter the Producer

 1986 Doing Life (TV Movie)

Red Hot

 1986 Top Gun

Bartender

 1985 Airwolf (TV Series)

Ray

- The Deadly Circle (1985) ... Ray

 1985 Miami Vice (TV Series)

Benny

- The Home Invaders (1985) ... Benny

 1984 Beverly Hills Cop

Cigarette Buyer

 1984 Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series)

Valet

- Ties My Father Sold Me (1984) ... Valet

 1984 The Master (TV Series)

Officer Thomas

- Rogues (1984) ... Officer Thomas

 1984 Blue Thunder (TV Series)

Guard / Gunner

- Payload (1984) ... Guard / Gunner

 1983 The Big Score

J.C.

 1983 Emergency Room (TV Movie)

Dusted Man

 1983 Eureka

Stefano

 1983 The Greatest American Hero (TV Series)

Bartender

- Vanity, Says the Preacher (1983) ... Bartender

 1983 Flashdance

Mawby's Regular

 1983 Knight Rider (TV Series)

Director

- Give Me Liberty... or Give Me Death (1983) ... Director

 1982 Vigilante

Blueboy

 1982 Young Doctors in Love

The Gangsters - Rocco

 1980 Marilyn: The Untold Story (TV Movie)

 1980 Maniac

T.V. Reporter (voice)

 1980 Defiance

Herbie

 1980 American Gigolo

Suspect #4

 1979 Killer Fish

Warren

 1979 Tilt

Rock Manager (Carrots)

 1978 The One Man Jury

Freddie

 1978 Paradise Alley

Skinny the Hand

 1978 Fingers

Carmine (as Frank Pesch)

 1977-1978 Kojak (TV Series)

Jerry Gerson / Spencer

- Chain of Custody (1978) ... Jerry Gerson

- Tears for All Who Loved Her (1977) ... Spencer (as Frankie Pesce)

 1977 The Godfather Saga (TV Mini Series)

Extra (uncredited)

 1977 Sorcerer

Married Man (uncredited)

 1976 Rocky

Spectator (uncredited)

 1976 Police Story (TV Series)

Frank

- Eamon Kinsella Royce (1976) ... Frank

Producer (5 credits)

  They Kill (producer) (pre-production)

 2014 Watertown (Short) (producer)

 2013 Man Life Crisis (TV Series) (associate producer - 5 episodes)

- Episode #1.1 (2013) ... (associate producer)

- Episode #1.5 (2013) ... (associate producer)

- Episode #1.4 (2013) ... (associate producer)

- Episode #1.3 (2013) ... (associate producer)

- Episode #1.2 (2013) ... (associate producer)

 2001 Double Take (co-producer)

 1991 29th Street (associate producer)

Writer (1 credit)

 1991 29th Street (story)

Stunts (1 credit)

 1989 She's Out of Control (stunts)