Ralph Foody

Ralph Wesley Foody (November 13, 1928 – November 21, 1999) was an American character actor, known to film audiences for his roles in various Chicago-shot productions during the 1980s and 1990s. He was best known for playing the 1930s gangster Johnny in Home Alone and its first sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).

Early life and education Ralph Wesley Foody was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 13, 1928. He graduated with a journalism degree from Marquette University and studied acting at the Goodman Theatre.

One of his more prominent film parts was as the alcoholic and negligent Detective Cragie in the Chuck Norris action movie Code of Silence. Foody also played a police dispatcher in The Blues Brothers and a police captain in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Raw Deal. He appeared in three films directed by Andrew Davis, and two by Costa-Gavras.

Foody played 1930s mobster Johnny in the 1990 film Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in 1992. As Johnny, Foody appears in two black-and-white gangster films-within-the-films Angels with Filthy Souls and its sequel Angels with Even Filthier Souls (both are a parody of the 1938 film Angels with Dirty Faces by Warner Bros.). His appearances are notable for the famous catchphrases 'Keep the change ya filthy animal' and 'Merry Christmas ya filthy animal – and a Happy New Year'. His appearance in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was also his final acting role. Originally, he was intended to play Snakes, the character whom Johnny kills in the first Angels with Filthy Souls and Michael Guido was intended to play Johnny. However, having just undergone a knee replacement surgery, he was unable to do the death scene where Snakes drops to his knees, leading to the roles being reversed.

Personal life Foody married his wife Jan in 1956, the couple had two children.

After 1991, Foody retired from show business and moved with his wife to Lexington, Kentucky, where the two helped found the Ballet Theatre.

Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes 1965 Mickey One Police Captain Arthur Penn 1980 The Blues Brothers Chicago Police Dispatcher John Landis 1981 Chicago Story Sergeant Hesper Harvey S. Laidman & Jerry London Made-for-TV movie 1984 The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck Bit Role Simon Langton Made-for-TV movie 1985 Lady Blue Howe Gary Nelson Made into TV series Lady Blue Captain Flynn Various 14 episodes Code of Silence Detective Cragie Andrew Davis Chuck Norris film 1986 Raw Deal Captain Sam Joyce John Irvin 1988 Vice Versa Doorman Brian Gilbert Above the Law Federal Clerk Andrew Davis Betrayed Lyle Costa-Gavras 1989 The Package Building Manager Andrew Davis Music Box Pawn Broker Costa-Gavras Cold Justice Ernie Terry Green 1990 Gabriel's Fire Hot Dog Vendor Robert Lieberman Episode; "Gabriel's Fire" Home Alone Gangster Johnny Chris Columbus In the scene from a film on TV "Angels with Filthy Souls" 1991 Curly Sue Drifter John Hughes 1992 Straight Talk Desk Clerk Barnet Kellman The Babe Pittsburgh Man Arthur Hiller Bit role Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Gangster Johnny Chris Columbus In the scene from a film on TV "Angels with Even Filthier Souls" and final acting role