Bruce Kirby (actor) explained

Bruce Kirby
Birth Name:Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu
Birth Date:28 April 1925
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1950–2009
Children:2, including Bruno Kirby

Bruce Kirby (born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu; April 28, 1925 – January 24, 2021) was an American character actor.[1]

Career

Bruce Kirby started his television career in the 1950s with appearances in Goodyear Television Playhouse. During the 1960s, he appeared in I Dream of Jeannie, The Nurses, The Defenders, Car 54, Where Are You? (in nine episodes), Hogan's Heroes (in three episodes), and The Patty Duke Show among others. He played in Bonanza (in three episodes), Ironside (in three episodes), Barney Miller (in three episodes), The Rockford Files (in three episodes), The Marcus-Nelson Murders, Kojak (in six episodes), M*A*S*H and Alice during the 1970s. In the 1980s, he appeared in Remington Steele, Hunter (in five episodes), Night Court, Matlock, Hill Street Blues, Lou Grant and Punky Brewster. His 1990s television credits include The Golden Girls, L.A. Law, In the Heat of the Night, Murphy Brown, Murder, She Wrote (in two episodes) and Chicago Hope. During 1999 to 2000, he appeared in eight episodes of the soap opera Days of Our Lives. During the 2000s, he appeared in The Sopranos, The Agency, Scrubs and The West Wing.

Kirby appeared a total of nine times in the long-running series Columbo, most notably in the role as the Sergeant George Kramer in six episodes.[2] In 1981–1982, he appeared as San Francisco police officer Schmidt in the crime drama Shannon. He played the part of District Attorney Bruce Rogoff in thirteen episodes of L.A. Law from 1986 until 1991. He also played minor roles in some films, including the film classics Catch-22 (1970) and Stand by Me (1986). He also appeared in the 1971 movie called How to Frame a Figg with Don Knotts and the 1972 comedy Another Nice Mess with Rich Little. A notable later appearance was as Pop Ryan, father of Officer John Ryan (played by Matt Dillon) in the 2005 film Crash. Kirby was also active as an actor on New York's Broadway, appearing in Diamond Orchid (1965) and Death of a Salesman (1984).[3]

Personal life

Kirby had two sons, including Bruno Kirby (1949–2006) who was also an actor. Bruno appeared in one Columbo episode with his father, as Cadet Morgan (credited as B. Kirby, Jr.) in "By Dawn's Early Light".

Kirby died in Los Angeles on January 24, 2021, at the age of 95.[4]

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1970Catch-22Doctor
1971How to Frame a FiggDale Groat
1971J. W. CoopDiesel Tanker Driver
1972Another Nice MessAdolph
1976The CommitmentSimon Benson
1979FyreFather
1979The Muppet MovieThe Gate Guard
1985Sweet DreamsArthur Godfrey
1986Stand by MeMr. Quidacioluo
1986Armed and DangerousPolice Captain
1987Happy New YearTaxi Driver
1987Throw Momma from the TrainDetective DeBenedetto
1988The In CrowdMorris
1988Lady in WhiteCabbie
1989The Big PictureBusinessman
1990Bad JimCustomer
1992Another Time, Another PlaceCotton Traynor
1993Mr. WonderfulDante
1994Rave ReviewMilton Mandler
1997CadillacAugustine
1998Interlocked: Thrilled to DeathWalter
2000Vinnie and Angela's Beauty Salon and Funeral ParlorBig Tony
2004CrashPop Ryan
20082:22Norman Penn

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1955Goodyear Television PlayhouseAideEpisode: "Visit to a Small Planet"
1956–1957The Phil Silvers ShowIce Cream Parlor Assistant / Gregory Chickering2 episodes
1961–1963Car 54, Where Are You?Officer Kissel9 episodes
1961–1965The DefendersTaxi Driver / Detective #2 / Italian Record3 episodes
1965The Doctors and the NursesJackEpisode: "Sixteen Hours to Chicago"
1965The Patty Duke ShowMr. Haley / Theatre Manager2 episodes
1968I Dream of JeanniePassengerEpisode: "Jeannie and the Top Secret Secret"
1968The Mothers-in-LawBill Trumbull3 episodes
1968–1971BonanzaMr. Loomis / Simms / Chad
1969Judd, for the DefenseArthur KellyEpisode: "The Poisoned Tree"
1969Night GalleryArtistEpisode: "Pilot"
1969Adam-12Mike FendelEpisode: "Log 123: Courtroom"
1969Mission: ImpossibleTV NewsmanEpisode: "The Amnesiac"
1969, 1971The Courtship of Eddie's FatherOfficer Gifford / Harry2 episodes
1969–1970Hogan's HeroesOtto Baum / Gestapo Man / Franz3 episodes
1970The Other ManDr. BrooknerTelevision film
1970–1971IronsideNick Kirby / Ben / Buyer3 episodes
1970–1971Room 222Lester Considine / Frank Muzak / Arnold Stopps
1971The Mary Tyler Moore ShowBertEpisode: "Hi!"
1971LongstreetTruck DriverEpisode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist"
1971ThiefBeffyTelevision film
1971Monty NashMr. MillerEpisode: "Where Have All the Children Gone?"
1971The Doris Day ShowVito CarlottiEpisode: "Happiness Is Not Being Fired"
1971, 1974Marcus Welby, M.D.Fred Bowers / Lou Rienzi2 episodes
1972Me and the ChimpCop # 1Episode: "My Pet, the Thief"
1972BanacekCollierEpisode: "Project Phoenix"
1972The Mod SquadCol. BroidyEpisode: "Taps, Play It Louder"
1972, 1973McCloudDesk Clerk / PR Man2 episodes
1972–1973Medical CenterHenderson / Policeman / Patrolman Hildon3 episodes
1973The Marcus-Nelson MurdersSgt. Dan McCartneyTelevision film
1973The New Perry MasonHank CarollEpisode: "The Case of the Wistful Widower"
1973The Bob Newhart ShowDr. KleinEpisode: "Fit, Fat and Forty One"
1973–1976KojakSgt. Al Vine6 episodes
1973–1995ColumboVarious9 episodes
1974Chopper OnePeteEpisode: "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
1974Man on the Outside ScullyTelevision film
1974–1978The Rockford FilesSid Loft / Aaron Friedler / Carl Lemay3 episodes
1975Chico and the ManOfficer KirbyEpisode: "Out of Sight"
1975The Streets of San FranciscoCarl SevernEpisode: "Ten Dollar Murder"
1975M*A*S*HSergeant KimbleEpisode: "Hey, Doc"
1975Harry OFAA ChiefEpisode: "Mayday"
1975America, You're OnCharles RalstonTelevision film
1975Conspiracy of TerrorSgt. Brisbane
1976DelvecchioMoretti2 episodes
1976–1977Holmes & YoyoCapt. Harry Sedford13 episodes
1977McNamara's BandGaffneyTelevision film
1978Operation PetticoatAdmiral Bob LawsonEpisode: "The Best of Enemies"
1978The Eddie Capra MysteriesLt. Floyd2 episodes
1978–1979Barney MillerFrank Rossman / Franklin Claymore / Lt. Rossmore3 episodes
1979AliceMr. LloydEpisode: "Tommy's First Love"
1979TurnaboutAl Brennan5 episodes
1979ABC Afterschool SpecialTom DenisEpisode: "Which Mother Is Mine?"
1979MarieEdgar MertonUnsold pilot
1980VegasJoe Culley2 episodes
1981The Other VictimMeadTelevision film
1981The Greatest American HeroShorty RobinsonEpisode: "The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fast Ball"
1981–1982ShannonDet. George Schmidt9 episodes
1981, 1982Lou GrantCaptain Shackley / Gus Murray2 episodes
1982Code RedBert SimmonsEpisode: "Trial by Fire"
1982Tucker's WitchHarmonyEpisode: "The Corpse Who Knew Too Much"
1982Remington SteeleMichael DominickEpisode: "Steele Trap"
1983Hill Street BluesJack DonleavyEpisode: "Moon Over Uranus"
1983Lovers and Other StrangersPriestTelevision film
1983Branagan and MapesBarney Sutter
1984Three's a CrowdSgt. CollinsEpisode: "A Matter of Money"
1985Stir CrazyLou FlandersEpisode: "The Magnificent Repossesion"
1985, 1987Night CourtSgt. Braverman / Herb Gilpin2 episodes
1986–1991L.A. LawD.A. Bruce Rogoff13 episodes
1987Down and Out in Beverly HillsMaury Rodman2 episodes
1987–1988HunterChief Edward Stanmore5 episodes
1987, 1988Punky BrewsterMr. Frank2 episodes
1988Frank Nitti: The EnforcerAnton CermakTelevision film
1989Anything but LoveLeo Miller4 episodes
1989Have FaithSgt. RizzoEpisode: "The Confession"
1989MatlockAbe ForesterEpisode: "The Ex"
1989It's Garry Shandling's ShowEddy KingEpisode: "Dinner at Eddy King's House"
1990Ann JillianMarsh PearsonEpisode: "It's a Mall World After All"
1990In the Heat of the NightDep. Chief Harlan Cassidy2 episodes
1990The Fanelli BoysUncle DomEpisode: "The Two Doms"
1990Hull HighWansleyEpisode #1.6
1990, 1996Murder, She WroteJeremy Woods / Andy Butler2 episodes
1991Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion Det. Lt. BrennanTelevision film
1991The Golden GirlsBillEpisode: "From Here to the Pharmacy"
1991–1992Reasonable DoubtsDon Morris2 episodes
1993ZelnickTelevision film
1994Blue SkiesSidEpisode: "Cat's in the Bag"
1994Madman of the PeopleBenny DeLorenzoEpisode: "What a Big Mouth You Have, Grammy"
1995Bless This HouseBillEpisode: "A Woman's Work Is Never Done"
1995The Single GuyUncle MikeEpisode: "Gift"
1995One West WaikikiEarl ReynoldsEpisode: "Past Due"
1995–2000Days of Our LivesMarco / Mr. Panetta / Doctor12 episodes
1996Murphy BrownJudgeEpisode: "Old Flames"
1996Caroline in the CityMannyEpisode: "Caroline and the Comic"
1996A Different Kind of ChristmasSanta ClausTelevision film; uncredited
1997The SentinelHerman FranklinEpisode: "His Brother's Keeper"
1997, 1998Tracey Takes On...Dean2 episodes
1998PlayersFrank MacekEpisode: "Con-strained"
1998Chicago HopeGarner HoverstenEpisode: "One Hundred and One Damnations"
2000Blood MoneyUncle JoeTelevision film
2001The West WingBarney LangEpisode: "The Women of Qumar"
2004The SopranosDr. Russ FegoliEpisode: "Marco Polo"
2007NumbersNumb3rsEpisode: "Burn Rate"
2007ScrubsMr. BilbrayEpisode: "My Cold Shower"

Notes and References

  1. http://www.allmovie.com/artist/bruce-kirby-p196551 Bruce Kirby at Allmovie
  2. http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/kirby.htm Bruce Kirby at the Columbo Site
  3. http://www.ibdb.com/Person/View/85316 IBDB
  4. Web site: Barnes . Mike . Bruce Kirby, Veteran Character Actor and 'Columbo' Cop, Dies at 95 . The Hollywood Reporter . January 26, 2021 . January 26, 2021.