Richard Bright

Richard James Bright (June 28, 1937 – February 18, 2006) was an American actor, known for his role as Al Neri in the Godfather trilogy.

Early life Bright was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Matilda (née Scott) and Ernest Bright, who was a shipbuilder.

Career Bright began his career doing live television in Manhattan at the age of 18, and made his film debut in Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow (1959). He also worked on several movies early in his career with his friend Sam Peckinpah.

In 1965, Bright starred in poet Michael McClure's two-person show The Beard, performing first in San Francisco and later in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. The play involved simulated sex acts. Bright, the producer Robert Barrow and director Robert Gist were arrested in San Francisco and Los Angeles multiple times on charges of lewdness, before winning a restraining order halting the arrests. In granting the restraining order, the California Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protected live theatrical performances.

He had a supporting role in The Getaway (1972) as a con man who tries to ply his trade on Carol McCoy (Ali MacGraw), He was hit by the rear wheel of the bus, and pronounced dead on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital. The driver claimed to have been unaware of the collision until he was notified upon reaching the Port Authority in midtown Manhattan, where he was interviewed by police. Ultimately, no criminal charges were filed, though the bus driver's license was suspended for failing to yield the right of way to Bright, who had been in a marked crosswalk with the walk sign on at the time he was struck. Bright was 68 years old, and was survived by his wife Rutanya Alda, son Jeremy, daughter Diane, and brother Charles.

Filmography Film

1958 Never Love a Stranger as Street Gang Tough Lookout (uncredited) 1959 Odds Against Tomorrow as "Coco" 1969 Lions Love as THE BEARD: Billy The Kid 1971 The Panic in Needle Park as Hank 1972 The Godfather as Al Neri 1972 The Getaway as The Thief 1973 Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid as Holly 1973 Black Harvest 1974 The Sugarland Express as Marvin Dybala (uncredited) 1974 Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia as Bar Patron (uncredited) 1974 The Godfather Part II as Al Neri 1974 The Gun 1975 Rancho Deluxe as Burt 1976 Marathon Man as Karl 1977 Handle with Care as Jack a.k.a. "Smilin' Jack" 1977 Looking for Mr. Goodbar as George 1978 On the Yard as Nunn 1979 Hair as Fenton 1980 The Idolmaker as Uncle Tony 1982 Girls Nite Out as Detective Greenspan 1983 Vigilante as Burke 1983 Two of a Kind as Stuart 1984 Once Upon a Time in America as Joe a.k.a. "Chicken Joe" 1985 Crimewave as Officer Brennan 1985 Cut and Run as Bob Allo 1986 Penalty Phase as Judge Von Karman 1986 Brighton Beach Memoirs as Recruiting Sergeant 1987 The Verne Miller Story as Adam Richetti 1988 Time Out as The Sheriff 1988 Red Heat as Det. Sgt. Max Gallagher 1990 The Ambulance as McClosky 1990 The Godfather Part III as Al Neri 1993 Who's the Man? as Demetrius 1994 The Ref as Murray 1994 Who Do I Gotta Kill? as Belcher 1995 Pictures of Baby Jane Doe as Rudy 1995 Blue Funk as Father 1995 Sweet Nothing as Jack, the Cop 1996 Beautiful Girls as Dick Conway 1996 Night Falls on Manhattan as 64 Precinct Lieutenant 1997 The Hotel Manor Inn 1998 OK Garage as Louis 1998 Jaded as Zack Brown 1998 Anima as Tommy 1999 Joe the King as Roy 1999 Getting to Know You as Elderly Man 2000 The Photographer as Drunk in Bar 2000 Broke Even as Lazarus 2001 Trigger Happy as Quigley 2001 Dead Dog as Cunningham 2006 Day on Fire as Homeless Man (cameo, final film role)

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1958 Studio One Ditch 1 episode 1986 Hill Street Blues Stubby 1 episode 1988 The Equalizer Vegas Episode: "No Place Like Home" 1988 The Equalizer Gropman Episode: "Splinters" 1998 Witness to the Mob Joe "Old Man" Paruta TV movie 2000 Oz Detective Robert Stransky 1 episode 2002 The Sopranos Frank Crisci 1 episode 1992 Law & Order Albert Boxer Episode: Episode: "Cradle to Grave" 1993 Law & Order Mr. Quinn Episode: "Black Tie" 1997 Law & Order Victim's former Police Captain Episode: "Working Mom" 1999 Third Watch Drunk / Alchy Joe 2 episodes 2002 Law & Order Dru Hunt Episode: "True Crime" 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Frank Lowell Episode: "Malignant" 2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Robert Sawyer Episode: "Name"