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**Born:** December 3, 1939 – **Died:** December 1, 2016 Renowned for his distinctive [character roles](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-character-actor) and memorable performances, Don Calfa emerged as a notable figure in the [entertainment](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-entertainment) world. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Queens and Long Island, Calfa's initial interest lay in the fine arts, but he soon found his true calling in [acting](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-acting) after being inspired by classic [films](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-movie-film) like *[Rebel Without a Cause](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-rebel-without-a-cause-1955-film)* His parents and family background, though not extensively documented, evidently played a [role](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-role) in nurturing his early interests. ## Early Life and Career Calfa's journey in the acting world began after he left [high school](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-high-school) to pursue his passion. He studied at Erwin Piscotor's "The Dramatic Workshop" and completed his [education](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-education) in night [school](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-school-). His dedication led him to summer [stock theater](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-stock-threater) which was instrumental in him joining the Actors Equity and eventually obtaining his [Screen Actors Guild](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-screen-actors-guild) card. Calfa's first notable role was in [Broadway's](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-broadway) "Lenny," where his talent began to shine through. The year 1985 marked a significant milestone in Calfa's career with his portrayal of "Ernie Kaltenbrunner" in the [cult classic](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-cult-classic-film) "The Return of the Living Dead." This role not only showcased his acting prowess but also cemented his place in the industry. His versatility was further evidenced in varied roles, including the hit man in "Weekend at Bernie's" (1989) and "Louie Dragna" in "Bugsy" (1991). Throughout his career, Calfa worked with top [directors](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-director-corporate) like Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg, demonstrating his wide-ranging appeal and talent. Calfa's personal life was as colorful as his career. He was [married](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-marriage) to Trixie Flynn from 1977 to 1981. Besides acting, he had interests in the convention circuit and was known for his down-to-earth personality, once describing himself as a "journeyman actor" rather than a [star](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-star-hollywood). Don Calfa's impact on [Hollywood](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hollywood-film-industry) was significant. His unique ability to bring [characters](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-character-film) to life, combined with his dedication to his craft, made him an icon in the entertainment industry. He will always be remembered for his distinctive contributions to film and television, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of [audiences](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-audience) and fellow actors alike. ## Filmography

Year	Title	Role
2015	Sharkskin	Joey 'Snot'
2004	Corpses Are Forever (Video)	Jack Stark (as Lance Fladoda)
2003	Night Creep (Video)	Mr. Blunt
2003	Less Than Perfect (TV Series)	Uncle Nicky
2002	The 4th Tenor	Bum #3
2001	Downward Angel	Adam
1998	Doctor Dolittle	Patient at Hammersmith
1998	Progeny	Jimmy Stevens
1995	Cops n Roberts	Lance
1995	Strange Bedfellows (TV Movie)	Rudy
1995	Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (Video Game)	City Hall Guard
1995	Terrified	Office Worker #1
1994	Boy Meets World (TV Series)	Frank
1993–1994	Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV Series)	Mr. Pitts
1993	Necronomicon: Book of Dead	Mr. Benedict (part 3)
1988–1993	Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)	Vinnie \| Clifford Coleson
1990–1993	Doogie Howser, M.D. (TV Series)	Carmine Delpino
1992	Stay Tuned	Wetzel
1992	Me Myself and I	Irving
1991	Bugsy	Louie Dragna
1990	Twin Peaks (TV Series)	Vice Principal Greege
1990	Matlock (TV Series)	Andrew Sloan
1990	Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo (TV Movie)	Rudy
1989	Mancuso, FBI (TV Series)	Ericson
1989	Chopper Chicks in Zombietown	Ralph Willum
1989	Weekend at Bernie's	Paulie, Vito's Hit Man
1989	Heartbeat (TV Series)	Axel
1988	The Presidio	Howard Buckely
1988	Houston Knights (TV Series)	Philly Braxton
1988	Blue Movies	Max
1988	The Oldest Rookie (TV Series)	Oscar
1987	Treasure of the Moon Goddess	Harold Grand
1987	The New Homeowner's Guide to Happiness (Video)	Howard
1987	The Law and Harry McGraw (TV Series)	Morty
1987	Private Eye (TV Series)	Peppy Roth
1987	Talking Walls	Andre
1987	Nine to Five (TV Series)	Janipopolous
1984–1986	Hill Street Blues (TV Series)	Kenny Armis \| Oscar Foreman
1986	Throb (TV Series)	Coyote Man
1986	Running Scared	Women's Room Lawyer
1986	Blacke's Magic (TV Series)	Tony
1986	The Last Precinct (TV Series)	Unknown
1985	Amazing Stories (TV Series)	Messenger
1985	Our Family Honor (TV Series)	Maltz
1985	Hell Town (TV Series)	Plummer
1985	George Burns Comedy Week (TV Series)	Bruno Whiteland
1985	The Return of the Living Dead	Ernie
1985	Simon & Simon (TV Series)	Randall Deeds
1984	E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind	E. 'Nick' Vanacuzzi
1984	Night Court (TV Series)	Miles Seaver
1984	Legmen (TV Series)	Oscar Armismendi \| Oscar
1983	Allison Sydney Harrison (TV Movie)	Pat Rosetti
1983	The Man Who Wasn't There	Tohfa
1983	Over Here, Mr. President (Short)	Wardell Slaughter
1983	The Star Chamber	Lawrence Monk
1983	Shooting Stars (TV Movie)	Driscoll
1982	The Day the Bubble Burst (TV Movie)	Mr. Cinelli
1982	Private Benjamin (TV Series)	Laszlo Bovitch
1977–1981	Barney Miller (TV Series)	Edward Pratken \| Arthur Thompson \| Gilbert Lesco ...
1981	Benson (TV Series)	Dr. Death
1981	Park Place (TV Series)	Howie Beech
1981	The Postman Always Rings Twice	Goebel
1980	Nobody's Perfect (TV Series)	Rosen
1941	Unknown	Unknown
1979	Telephone Operator	Unknown
1979	The Rose	Don Frank
1979	10	Neighbor
1979	The Runaways (TV Series)	Sam
1978	The Comedy Company (TV Movie)	Harry Fenner
1978	Foul Play	Scarface
1978	Steel Cowboy (TV Movie)	'Go' Trucker
1978	The Bionic Woman (TV Series)	Petie 'The Weasel' Regan
1977	The Beach Girls (TV Movie)	Sonny Pink
1977	Riding High (TV Movie)	Tex
1977	New York, New York	Gilbert
1974–1977	The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series)	Moonshine \| Sparrow \| Larry Mason
1977	Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series)	Mike Kelso
1976	Nickelodeon	Waldo
1976	Delvecchio (TV Series)	Sergeant Mendez \| Narc
1976	Baretta (TV Series)	Corsican
1976	Most Wanted (TV Series)	Arnie
1974–1975	Kojak (TV Series)	Burgess \| Fidelio Ortez
1975	Peeper	Rosie
1974	The Law (TV Movie)	Rod Brainard
1974	Shanks	Einstein
1974	The Bank Shot	Stosh Gornik
1974	Rhinoceros	Waiter
1973	Cinderella Liberty	Lewis
1973	The Blue Knight (TV Movie)	Elmer Johnson
1973	The Rainbow Boys	Mazella
1972	The Delphi Bureau (TV Series)	Gunjamen
1972	Goodnight, My Love (TV Movie)	Bananas
1972	Greaser's Palace	Morris
1970	Pound	Italian Terrier
1969	Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value	Peter DeCola
1969	Putney Swope	Man Helping Mr. Syllables Walk (uncredited)
1968	No More Excuses	Priest

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