Ronald Christ Karabatsos (1933–2012) was an American character actor, who prior to his acting career worked as a Union City police detective.
Ron Karabatsos | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Christ Karabatsos April 22, 1933 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | April 17, 2012 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1981–2004 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2, 4 stepchildren (from Beverly) |
Early life
editKarabatsos was born on April 22, 1933, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA, to Constantine and Antoinette Karabatsos, first-generation immigrants from Greece.[1] He grew up in Union City, New Jersey, where young Ronald graduated from Emerson High School.[citation needed]
Military and police service
editUpon graduating from high school, Karabatsos was drafted in the U.S. Army spending most of his service time in the Korean War. After he was released from the military, he joined the police department of his home city, retiring after 28 years as a homicide detective.[1]
Movie career
editIn 1982, while still on the police force, Karabatsos was approached to act a part in the Sidney Lumet movie Prince of the City.[2] Most New York critics[3] and Roger Ebert[4] wrote positive reviews on the movie. James Wolcott dissented, concluding that the film "[wore] its liberal pieties like a crown of thorns," although he reserved praise for Karabatsos' work, writing that he "carries his hulk with impressive menace as a slime-souled bail bondsman."[3] Critic David S. Machlowitz,[5] though agreeing with Wolcott's take on the movie, wrote that Karabatsos "is superb as [the] bloated, belligerent bail bondsman."
Karabatsos went on to act in some thirty movies and two hundred television shows,[1] moving to live in California. He starred in the 1982 made-for-TV-movie Hear No Evil as Lt. Lew Healy.[6]: 445 [7]: 188 [8]
He died on April 17, 2012, five days before his 79th birthday, in Beaumont, California, from a non-communicable disease, survived by wife Janell, daughter Dawnne Rigsby, and an extended family.[1]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Prince of the City | Dave DeBennedeto | |
| 1983 | Flashdance | Jake Mawby | |
| 1984 | The Cotton Club | Mike Best | |
| 1987 | Cold Steel | Fishman | |
| 1987 | Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife | Aldo | |
| 1989 | Wedding Band | Bruno Kavoles | |
| 1990 | My Blue Heaven | Ritchie | |
| 1990 | Hollywood Heartbreak | L.R. Sharkey | |
| 1991 | Rich Girl | Rocco | |
| 1991 | 29th Street | Philly "The Nap" | |
| 1991 | Where Sleeping Dogs Lie | Stan Reeb | |
| 1991 | Dead in the Water | Mike Welch | |
| 1993 | We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story | Voice | |
| 1993 | Jailbait | Kelso | |
| 1995 | Get Shorty | Momo | |
| 1996 | Baby Face Nelson | Frankie "Big Frankie" | |
| 2000 | The Crew | Pauly "Fat Pauly" | |
| 2004 | Surviving Christmas | Deli Man | (final film role) |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Ronald Christ Karabatsos". NJ.com. Obituary. April 25, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Krebs, Albin; and Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. "Trying to Tell the Heroes from the Villains", The New York Times, July 24, 1981. Accessed August 26, 2023. "But as one of the most villainous characters he cast Ron Karabatsos, a Union City, N.J., detective making his movie debut."
- ^ a b Wolcott, James (October 1981). "Dirty Work". Texas Monthly. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1981). "Prince of the City". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Machlowitz, David S. (December 1981). "Lawyer on the Aisle: The lawyer as puppeteer and puppet". ABA Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). New York City: McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786464777.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). New York City: Zoetrope Publishing. ISBN 978-0918432612.
- ^ "Hear No Evil". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 13, 2018.