Don Calfa

Donald George Calfa (December 3, 1939 – December 1, 2016) was an American film and television character actor whose credits spanned over 40 years, playing both comedic and dramatic roles. Although Calfa appeared in many high-profile films and television series, he was perhaps best known for his turns (in a rare leading role) as mortician Ernie Kaltenbrunner in the 1985 cult zombie horror-comedy The Return of the Living Dead, and the bumbling hitman Paulie in the 1989 slapstick comedy hit Weekend at Bernie's.

Early life and education Calfa was born on December 3, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Ozone Park, Queens and later West Hempstead, Long Island. According to his official biography, Calfa was originally interested in pursuing a career in the fine arts, but diverted his interest to acting after seeing Rebel Without a Cause. He promptly dropped out of high school to join a theater workshop (later finishing his degree through night school), eventually joining both the Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.

Career Before transitioning to film, Calfa worked heavily in theater, appearing in many Off-Off-Broadway productions and having performed on Broadway in 1965 in Mating Dance and in 1971 in Lenny.

Calfa worked steadily in both film and television for over 40 years, and worked alongside such high-profile actors and directors as Warren Beatty, Michael Douglas, Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Although he worked extensively as a dramatic actor, Calfa is perhaps best recognized for his comedic performances in various cult films, including as Paulie in Weekend at Bernie's, Scarface in Foul Play, Harold Grand in Treasure of the Moon Goddess and mad scientist Ralph Willum in Chopper Chicks in Zombietown.

Calfa was perhaps best known for his major role in the 1985 cult horror-comedy The Return of the Living Dead, in which he played the eccentric, gun-toting, and bleached-blonde mortician Ernie Kaltenbrunner. He would later audition for the role of Doc Mandel in the 1988 sequel Return of the Living Dead Part II, which also featured several returning stars from the original, but the part ultimately went to Philip Bruns. In 1993, Calfa was set to play the character Colonel Peck in Return of the Living Dead III, but had to pull out of production for personal reasons. He remained good friends with the rest of the Living Dead cast and crew, and made appearances alongside them at horror conventions and screenings of the film across the United States. Calfa was also interviewed for the 2012 documentary on the film, More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead.

Calfa appeared in many other popular American television series, including Kojak (2 episodes), Baretta, The Streets of San Francisco (3 episodes), The Bionic Woman, Benson, Night Court, Simon & Simon, Hill Street Blues (2 episodes), Matlock, Twin Peaks, Doogie Howser, M.D. (3 episodes), Murder She Wrote (2 episodes), and Beverly Hills 90210 (3 episodes). He played 7 different characters on 7 episodes of Barney Miller.

Personal life and death Calfa was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. two days before his 77th birthday.

Filmography

Film roles Film Year Title Role Notes 1968 No More Excuses Priest Directed by Robert Downey Sr. 1969 Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value Peter DeCola 1970 Pound Italian Terrier Directed by Robert Downey Sr. 1972 Greaser's Palace Morris Directed by Robert Downey Sr.1973 The Rainbow Boys Mazella Cinderella Liberty Lewis Directed by Mark Rydell1974 Rhinoceros Waiter Bank Shot Stosh Gornik Shanks Albert Einstein Directed by William Castle 1975 Peeper Rosie 1976 Nickelodeon Waldo Directed by Peter Bogdanovich 1977 New York, New York Gilbert Directed by Martin Scorsese 1978 Foul Play Scarface 1979 10 Neighbor Directed by Blake Edwards The Rose Don Frank 1941 Telephone operator Directed by Steven Spielberg 1981 The Postman Always Rings Twice Goebel1983 The Star Chamber Lawrence Monk Over Here, Mr. President Wardell Slaughter The Man Who Wasn't There Tohfa 1984 E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind E. 'Nick' Vanacuzzi Starring role 1985 The Return of the Living Dead Ernie Kaltenbrunner Major role 1986 Running Scared Women's Room Lawyer1987 Talking Walls Andre Treasure of the Moon Goddess Harold Grand Major role1988 The Presidio Howard Buckely Blue Movies Max1989 Weekend at Bernie's Paulie Major role Chopper Chicks in Zombietown Ralph Willum Major role 1991 Bugsy Louie Dragna Directed by Barry Levinson1992 Me Myself & I Irving Major role Stay Tuned Wetzel 1993 H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon Mr. Benedict (part 3)1995 Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie City Hall Guard Video Game Toughguy Office Worker #1 Cobs n Roberts Lance1998 Progeny Jimmy Stevens Dr. Dolittle Patient at Hammersmith 2001 Downward Angel Adam 2002 The 4th Tenor Bum #32003 Night Creep Mr. Blunt Corpses Are Forever Jack Stark Credited as Lance Fladoda 2010 Lewisburg Night Clerk 2011 More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead Himself Documentary film 2012 Pablo Himself 2015 Sharkskin Joey 'Snot'

Television roles Television Year Show Role Notes1972 Goodnight, My Love Bananas Made for TV movie The Delphi Bureau Gunjamen Episode: "The White Plague Project" 1973 The Blue Knight Made for TV movie 1974–1975 Kojak Fidelio OrtezBurgess Episode: "Marker to a Dead Bookie"Episode: "A House of Prayer, a Den of Thieves" 1974–1977 The Streets of San Francisco Larry MasonSparrowRandolf J. "Moonshine" Fisher Episode: "Mister Nobody"Episode: "Poisoned Snow"Episode: "A Good Cop...But"1976 Most Wanted Episode: "Pilot" Baretta Corsican Episode: "Aggie" Delvecchio Sergeant MendezNarc Episode: "Contract for Harry"Episode: "The Avenger" 1977–1981 Barney Miller Mr. DiLuccaAngelo DodiLeon BidellCalvin J. KendallGilbert LescoArthur ThompsonEddie Episode: "Group Home"Episode: "Copy Cat"Episode: "Hostage"Episode: "Identity"Episode: "The Desk"Episode: "The Vests"Episode: "Homeless" 1977 Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected Episode: "The Final Chapter"1978 The Bionic Woman Petie "The Weasel" Regan Episode: "Rancho Outcast" The Comedy Company Harry Fenner Made for TV movie Steel Cowboy "Go" Trucker Made for TV movie 1979 The Runaways Sam Episode: "Dreams of My Father" 1980 Nobody's Perfect Rosen Episode: "What's on Third?"1981 Park Place Howie Beech Recurring role (4 episodes) Benson Dr. Death Episode: "The Grass Ain't Greener" 1982 The Day the Bubble Burst Mr. Cinelli Made for TV movie1983 Allison Sydney Harrison Pat Rosetti Made for TV movie Shooting Stars Driscoll Made for TV movie1984 Legmen Oscar Armismendi Episode: "Poseidon Indenture" Hill Street Blues Oscar Foreman Episode: "Eva's Brawn" Night Court Miles Seaver Episode: "Billie and the Cat"1985 Simon & Simon Randall Deeds Episode: "Slither" Our Family Honor Maltz Episode: "Runaway Movie Queen" Amazing Stories Messenger Episode: "The Amazing Falsworth"1986 Blacke's Magic Officer O'Malley Episode: "Wax Poetic" Throb Coyote Man Episode: "My Fair Punker Lady"1987 Private Eye Made for TV movie The Law & Harry McGraw Lou Sandry Episode: "State of the Art" 9 to 5 Janipopolous Episode: "Love and Death" 1988, 1993 Murder, She Wrote Clifford ColesonVinnie Episode: "Mr. Penroy's Vacation"Episode: "The Survivor" 1988 Houston Knights Episode: "Bad Paper" 1989 Mancuso, F.B.I. Episode: "Murder of Pearl"1990 Matlock Andrew Sloan Episode: "Nowhere to Turn" Twin Peaks Vice Principal Greege Episode: "Episode 10 (uncredited) and Episode 17" 1990–1993 Doogie Howser, M.D. Carmine Delpino Recurring role (3 episodes) 1990, 1995 Columbo Rudy Episode: "Strange Bedfellows"Episode: "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo" 1993–1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Mr. Pitts Recurring role (3 episodes) 1994 Boy Meets World Frank Episode: "Who's Afraid of Cory Wolf?" 2003 Less Than Perfect Uncle Nicky Episode: "Save the Squirrel, But Bet the Over/Under"