Paul Picerni

Horacio Paul Picerni (December 1, 1922 – January 12, 2011) was an American actor in film and television, perhaps best known today in the role of Federal Agent Lee Hobson, second-in-command to Robert Stack's Eliot Ness, in the ABC hit television series, The Untouchables.

Early years Picerni was born in New York City to an Italian family. Raised in Corona, Queens, he was an Eagle Scout in his youth and adolescence. After high school, Picerni studied drama at Loyola University.

Military service Picerni joined the United States Army Air Forces during World War II

He was part of a mission that attacked and destroyed the actual bridge made famous in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). After the Japanese surrendered, Picerni became a Special Services officer in India. Following his discharge, he enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Television Regular roles

After Italian organizations began to complain about the use of Italian gangsters on ABC's The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack as G-man Eliot Ness, Picerni joined the cast in 1960 as Ness's number-one aide, Lee Hobson, a role that he played for the duration of the series. (He was also seen in the program's pilot, playing Tony Liguri.) He also portrayed Ed Miller on O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971–1972) and was featured as Dan Garrett on The Young Marrieds (1964–66)

Guest appearances In 1954, Picerni was cast as the outlaw Rube Burrow in the syndicated western television series Stories of the Century, starring and narrated by Jim Davis. That same year, he had a role in the pilot episode for the 1957-58 NBC detective series, Meet McGraw.

Picerni appeared in two episodes, "Gun Hand" and "Badge to Kill" of the syndicated western series 26 Men (1957–59). He also appeared in the episode "Gypsy Boy" of Tales of the Texas Rangers. In 1957, he played a deserter in an episode of the syndicated Boots and Saddles.

Personal life and death Picerni married former ballet dancer Marie Mason, in 1947. They settled in Tarzana, California to raise their family; they had eight children and ten grandchildren. Two of Picerni's children predeceased him.

He died from a heart attack in Palmdale, California, on January 12, 2011, at the age of 88. Picerni is interred at the Roman Catholic San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1946 In Fast Company Street Extra Uncredited 1946 Don't Gamble with Strangers Gambling Casino Patron Uncredited 1948 Beyond Glory Second Detective Uncredited 1949 Twelve O'Clock High Bombardier Uncredited 1949 D.O.A. Assistant Photographer Uncredited 1950 When Willie Comes Marching Home Kerrigan Scenes deleted 1950 The Secret Fury Dr. Roth Uncredited 1950 A Lady Without Passport Italian Uncredited 1950 Saddle Tramp Denver 1950 I'll Get By Marine Sergeant Uncredited 1950 Three Secrets Sergeant Uncredited 1950 Dial 1119 Interpreter-Detective Uncredited 1950 Breakthrough Private Edward P. Rojeck 1950 The Killer That Stalked New York Health Department Investigator Uncredited 1951 Operation Pacific Jonesy 1951 I Was a Communist for the FBI Joe Cvetic 1951 Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison Jeff Riordan 1951 Fort Worth Joe Castro 1951 Force of Arms Sheridan 1951 Jim Thorpe – All-American Man on Speaker's Platform Uncredited 1951 The Tanks Are Coming Danny Kolowicz 1952 Mara Maru Steven Ranier 1952 The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima 'Red' Agitator Uncredited 1952 Cattle Town Pepe 1952 Operation Secret Captain Armand Dupree 1953 She's Back on Broadway Jud Kellogg 1953 House of Wax Scott Andrews 1953 The System David Wiley 1953 The Desert Song Hassan 1953 The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Trailer Commentator Uncredited 1953 The Charge at Feather River Sergeant Scenes deleted 1954 His Majesty O'Keefe Spanish Ship Owner Uncredited 1954 Drive a Crooked Road Carl 1954 Riding Shotgun Bob Purdee Uncredited 1954 Pushover Masher in Ann's Hallway Uncredited 1954 The Shanghai Story Mr. Emilio De Verno 1954 The Bounty Hunter Jud 1954 The Adventures of Hajji Baba Nurel-Din 1955 Dial Red O Norman Roper 1955 Hell's Island Eduardo Martin 1955 Lord of the Jungle Paul Cabot 1955 Wiretapper Herbie 1955 To Hell and Back Valentino 1955 Bobby Ware Is Missing Alfred Gledhill 1956 Miracle in the Rain Priest 1956 The Come On Jannings, Assistant District Attorney 1956 Flight to Hong Kong Michael Quisto 1957 The Shadow on the Window Bigelow 1957 The Big Caper Harry 1957 Operation Mad Ball Private Bullard Uncredited 1957 Omar Khayyam Commander 1957 The Brothers Rico Gino Rico 1958 The Deep Six Merchant Marine Uncredited 1958 Return to Warbow Deputy Sheriff Uncredited 1958 Marjorie Morningstar Philip Berman 1958 The Man Who Died Twice George 1958 Torpedo Run Lieutenant Burt Fisher 1959 The Young Philadelphians Louis Donetti 1960 The Apartment Patron in bar 1960 Strangers When We Meet Arthur Gerandi 1962 Pages of Death Lead Cop Short film 1964 The Age of Violence Gangster 1968 The Scalphunters Frank 1969 Che! Hector 1970 Land Raiders Carney / Arturo (as H.P. Picerni) 1970 Airport Dr. Compagno 1970 Kelly's Heroes M.P. Sergeant Scenes deleted 1971 Kotch Dr. Ramon Caudillo 1971 The Fearmaker Kent Davis 1978 Capricorn One Jerry 1979 Escape to Athena Zeno's Man 1979 Beyond the Poseidon Adventure Kurt 2007 Three Days to Vegas Jim

Television Year Title Role Notes 1951 The Living Christ Series James Television miniseries 1953–1954 Dragnet Rios / Hymie 2 episodes 1954 Fireside Theatre Flores Episode: "Retribution" 1954 The Public Defender Albert DeMarco Episode: "Lost Cause" 1954 The Lone Wolf Chick Walsi Episode: "The Italian Story" 1954 Mr. and Mrs. North Bert Conroy Episode: "The Girl in Cell 13" 1954 Lux Video Theatre Dr. Murger Episode: "Blind Fury" 1954 My Little Margie Episode: "Vern's Guilty Feeling" 1954 Studio 57 Bill Darrow Episode: "So False and So Fair" 1954 Climax! Episode: "Sorry, Wrong Number" 1954–1955 Four Star Playhouse Laramie Cole / Freddie 2 episodes 1954–1957 Cavalcade of America Principal John Norton / James Ohio Pattie 2 episodes 1954–1958 The Loretta Young Show Stanley Reed / Darius / Toby / Laurence Delaney 4 episodes 1955 Big Town Episode: "The Grand Almost" 1955 Stories of the Century Rube Burrows - The Alabama Wolf Episode: "Rube Burrows" 1955 Goodyear Television Playhouse Episode: "End of the Mission" 1955 Navy Log Frenchy Episode: "The Phantom of the Blue Angels" 1955 Waterfront Chris Pimmentel / Mario Ferrera / Chris Piemental 3 episodes 1955 Passport to Danger Eddie Matera Episode: "Naples" 1956 Ford Television Theatre Detective Episode: "The Clay Pigeon" 1956 Ford Star Jubilee Episode: "A Bell for Adano" 1956 The Count of Monte Cristo Patrini Episode: "The Sardinian Affair" 1956–1958 The Gale Storm Show Bengali / Sebastian 2 episodes 1957 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Assissi #19 Season 2 Episode 21: "Number Twenty Two" 1957 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Nick Roper Season 2 Episode 24: "The Cream of the Jest" 1957 Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Jaffar Kul Sidri / Latiff Faroze 2 episodes 1957 Panic! Marvin Henderson Episode: "The Airline Hostess" 1957 Circus Boy Julio Gaetano Episode: "Little Vagabond" 1957 Broken Arrow Major Gregory Markson / Zele 2 episodes 1957 The Eve Arden Show Mr. Turner Episode: "White Elephant Sale" 1957 The Life of Riley Ricardo Episode: "Babs and the Latin" 1957 Tales of the Texas Rangers Philip Conzog Episode: "Gypsy Boy" 1957 The Millionaire Lawrence W. Smart Episode: "The Story of Steve Logan" 1957 Matinee Theatre Episode: "A Cloud for Jeni" 1957 Code 3 Fred Davis Episode: "Sunset Strip" 1957–1958 The Silent Service Lieutenant John H. Eichman / Lieutenant Commander Thomas Burton Klakring / Executive Officer Alan Bergner / Lieutenant David H. McClintock 4 episodes 1957–1958 Boots and Saddles Private Grimes / Trooper Grimes 2 episodes 1957–1960 Colt .45 Duke Blaine / Jose / Quito 3 episodes 1958 26 Men Ranger Ben Thorpe / Ben Thorpe 2 episodes 1958 Zorro Pedro Murrietta 2 episodes 1958 Maverick Rene Gireaux Episode: "Escape to Tampico" 1958 The Donna Reed Show Milkman Episode: "The Foundling" 1958 Flight Episode: "Sky Hook" 1958–1963 Perry Mason Walter Jefferies / Sergeant Joseph Dexter / Charles Gallagher 3 episodes 1959 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Jaffar Husein Episode: "Star of India" 1959 Behind Closed Doors Mike Perrera Episode: "The Quemoy Story" 1959 Northwest Passage Guy Perro Episode: "Stab in the Back" 1959 M Squad Al Samson Episode: "The Star Witness" 1959 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Chief Bullhead Episode: "Horse Race" 1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Tony Liguri / Funzy 3 episodes 1959 Playhouse 90 Lieutenant Alfredo Episode: "The Killers of Mussolini" 1959–1960 Fury Tupelo / Bob 2 episodes 1959–1963 The Untouchables Lee Hobson / Tony Liguri 91 episodes 1960 Hawaiian Eye Lanakila Episode: "The Kamehameha Cloak" 1960 Bonanza Sanchez Episode: "The Spanish Grant" 1960 The Rebel Lee Ricker / Manuel Flynn / Clee 3 episodes 1960 Rawhide Bahari Episode: "Incident of the Dancing Death" 1960 Sugarfoot Gian-Paolo Fregoso Episode: "The Corsican" 1960 Shotgun Slade Quinn Episode: "The Fabulous Fiddle" 1960 Bourbon Street Beat Antonio Rossi Episode: "Wagon Show" 1960 Markham Police Captain Mascotti Episode: "Escorts a La Carte" 1960 Men into Space Bob King Episode: "Into the Sun" 1961 Whispering Smith Enrico Spanato Episode: "The Interpreter" 1963 77 Sunset Strip Bruno Cestari Episode: "5: Part 3" 1964 The Fugitive Sergeant DeSantis Episode: "Search in a Windy City" 1964 The Greatest Show on Earth Marco the Magnificent Episode: "The Night the Monkey Died" 1964 The Great Adventure Pierre Lafitte Episode: "The Pirate and the Patriot" 1964–1966 The Young Marrieds Dr. Dan Garret 158 episodes 1964–1974 Insight Tony Guzzo 3 episodes 1965–1967 My Three Sons Jack / Paul Owlfeather 2 episodes 1966 The Big Valley Peterson Episode: "The Iron Box" 1966 Combat! Private Harold Vincent Episode: "The Furlough" 1967 Batman Brown 2 episodes 1967 The Time Tunnel Mongol Warrior Episode: "Attack of the Barbarians" 1967 Hogan's Heroes Jack Williams Episode: "One in Every Crowd" 1967 The Virginian Parks Episode: "The Fortress" 1967–1974 Gunsmoke The New Marshal / Grimes / Ganns / McGee 4 episodes 1968 Lancer Provost Marshal Episode: "The Prodigal" 1968 Hawaii Five-O Charley Mangan Episode: "Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born" 1968–1969 Felony Squad Mark Hewitt / Walt Petrie 2 episodes 1968–1974 The F.B.I. Dom Giannelli, SAC / Fred Cochella / Joey Walters 3 episodes 1969 Bracken's World Bob Lederer Episode: "The Sweet Smell of Failure" 1970 The Name of the Game Roper Episode: "So Long, Baby, and Amen" 1970 The Old Man Who Cried Wolf Detective Green Television film 1970–1971 Here's Lucy IRS Agent / Reporter / Frank Williams / Father Lambros 4 episodes 1970–1974 Adam-12 Bill Johnson / Officer Boyd 2 episodes 1970–1975 Mannix Donegan / Sergeant Les Packer / Detective O'Fallon / Roger Stack / Sheriff 5 episodes 1971 The Immortal Klabo Episode: "Sanctuary" 1971 Love, American Style Alfred Segment: "Love and Murphy's Bed" 1971 Medical Center Reinart Episode: "Danger Point" 1971 The Partners Carter Episode: "New Faces" 1971–1972 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Bill Clark / Inspector Ed Miller 3 episodes 1972 Room 222 Fred Buchanan Episode: "Lift, Thrust and Drag" 1973 Emergency! Ed Duran Episode: "The Professor" 1973 Circle of Fear Dr. Richardson Episode: "Graveyard Shift" 1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. Dr. Arthur Oliver Episode: "A Question of Fault" 1974 Banacek Detective Ed Winslow Episode: "The Vanishing Chalice" 1974 Big Rose: Double Trouble Blass Television film 1974 Run, Joe, Run Fisherman Episode: "Bon Voyage" 1974 Ironside Armand Episode: "Run Scared" 1974–1978 Kojak Vic Whitley / Detective Albert Cohen 2 episodes 1975 Kolchak: The Night Stalker Humane Society Man Episode: "Primal Scream" 1975 Lucy Gets Lucky Packy West Television film 1975 Police Story Captain Gus Shambray Episode: "Officer Needs Help" 1975 McCloud Gregory's Thug Episode: "Park Avenue Pirates" 1975 McCoy Glen Phillips Episode: "Double Take" 1975–1977 Barnaby Jones Stan Toland / Anthony Calvelli 2 episodes 1976 Special Treat Dominick Episode: "Papa and Me" 1976 Alice Vinny Randazzo Episode: "The Dilemma" 1976–1977 Starsky & Hutch Patsy Cairo / Johnny Doors 3 episodes 1977 Something for Joey Joe Paterno Television film 1977 The Red Hand Gang Fred Norris 4 episodes 1977 The Last Hurrah Dr. Mike Santangelo Television film 1978 Project U.F.O. Ed Mason Episode: "Sighting 4005: The Medicine Bow Incident" 1978 Sam Episode: #1.4 1978 Sword of Justice Burcella Episode: "The Gemini Connection" 1979 Fantasy Island Nick Largo Episode: "Photographs/Royal Flush" 1979 Women in White Technician Television film 1979 Marciano John Addelli Television film 1979 The French Atlantic Affair Panama Hat Television miniseries 1979 The Incredible Hulk Jim Episode: "Captive Night" 1980 Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Lieutenant Lagason Television film 1980 Vegas Deputy Episode: "Christmas Story" 1981 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. DePalma Episode: "A Family Affair" 1981 Quincy, M.E. Sloan Episode: "Memories of Allison" 1981 The Fall Guy Al Maglia Episode: "The Rich Get Richer" 1982 Strike Force Dr. Bernardo Episode: "The John Killer" 1982 Gavilan Petros Episode: "Destination Hero" 1982–1983 T. J. Hooker Rossi / The Clerk 2 episodes 1983 Capitol Colonel Amir 1983–1985 Matt Houston Dr. Perlin 2 episodes 1986 Sledge Hammer! Cop Announcer Episode: "They Shoot Hammers, Don't They?" 1986 Simon & Simon Maynard Press Episode: "Like Father, Like Son" 1987 The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission Ernesto Ferruci Television film 1998–2000 Diagnosis: Murder Chris Benway / Judge Kenyon 2 episodes