Richard Romanus, the esteemed character actor celebrated for his tough guy roles in film and television, has passed away at the age of 80 in a hospital in Volos, Greece. The cause of his death was not specified, as confirmed by his son, Robert.
Romanus carved out a remarkable career with a series of memorable roles. Notably, he portrayed Harry Canyon, the cab driver in Heavy Metal, and Richard LaPenna, the husband of Dr. Melfi in “The Sopranos.” He brought to life the character of loanshark Michael Longo in Mean Streets.
His extensive television repertoire includes appearances on Mission: Impossible, Starsky and Hutch, Hawaii Five-0, The Rockford Files, Kojak, Strike Force, and more throughout the ’70s.
In the realm of cinema, Romanus graced films such as Sitting Ducks (1980), Protocol (1984), The Couch Trip (1988), Oscar (1991), Point of No Return (1993), Cops and Robbersons (1994), Nailed (2001), and The Young Black Stallion (2003).
In his later years, Romanus and his wife relocated to the Greek town of Skiathos, documenting their experiences in Act III: A Small Island in the Aegean, published in 2011. He also authored two novels set in the country, 2011’s Chrysalis and 2014’s Matoula’s Echo.
As a creative force, Romanus and his wife collaborated on two Lifetime telefilms, 1998’s Giving Up the Ghost and 1999’s If You Believe, earning the latter a WGA nomination.
He is survived by his second wife, Oscar-nominated costume designer Anthea Sylbert (Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown, Julia), whom he married in August 1985; a son, Robert; and younger brother Robert Romanus, renowned for his role as Mike Damone in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Richard Romanus leaves behind a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment, and his contributions will be remembered with admiration and respect.
