Carl Ciarfalio Explained
Carl Ciarfalio |
Birth Name: | Carl Nick Ciarfalio |
Birth Date: | 12 November 1953 |
Birth Place: | Alhambra, California, U.S. |
Occupation: | Actor, stuntman |
Yearsactive: | 1979–present |
Carl Nick Ciarfalio (born November 12, 1953) is an American actor and stuntman. He has appeared in over 300 film and television projects. He is best known for portraying the Thing in the Roger Corman produced, but unreleased movie The Fantastic Four.
Career
Carl Ciarfalio started his career as a plumber's associate when he was invited by one of his wrestling associates to join him at Knott's Berry Farm as they were looking for big and tall actors to perform for audiences. Ciarfalio took the job for the summer, but he found himself enjoying it. "[W]ithin a couple of months I had a cowboy hat and a gun and I was on stage and people were applauding and laughing, and I told my parents, 'I'll go back to school one day'." He never did. He began appearing in numerous film and television projects over the years such as Fight Club, and The Amazing Spider-Man.[1]
In 1993, Ciarfalio received a call to appear in a Roger Corman production. "They were looking for a stunt man. They were looking for somebody about six feet tall and weighed about 220 pounds or so...So, I went to the audition and we talked a little bit and they thought I was the guy, which was, you know, very cool." While the actor who was playing Ben Grimm (Michael Bailey Smith) was tall, he was unable to fit in the Thing suit and thus Ciarfalio found himself wearing the costume which he found "the hottest fucking thing" he ever wore.[2]
On October 20, 2014, Ciarfalio launched a Kickstarter campaign to have a biography book published. He reached his goal at $11,055 and in September 2015 published Stars, Stunts and Stories: A Hollywood Stuntman's Fall to Fame. The book was co-written by Teri Ryan.[3] [4]
Filmography
Stunts
Television rolesYear | Title | Note |
1979 | B.J. and the Bear | Episode: "The Eyes of Texas"; Stunt performer; uncredited |
1984 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Episode: "Fearless Dotty"; Stunt performer |
1985 | Wes Craven's Chiller | TV movie; Stunt double: Paul Sorvino |
1985 | J.O.E. and the Colonel | TV movie; uncredited |
1988 | In the Heat of the Night | Episode: "Road Kill"; uncredited |
1988 | Simon & Simon | Episode: "First, Let's Kill All the Lawyers"; uncredited |
1989 | Fair Game | TV Pilot; Stunt performer; uncredited |
1990 | The Great Los Angeles Earthquake | TV movie |
1991 | They Came from Outer Space | Episode: "Play Doctor"; uncredited |
1991 | The Flash | Episode: "Alpha"; uncredited |
1991–1995 | Murder, She Wrote | 3 episodes; uncredited |
1992 | Quantum Leap | 2 episodes; uncredited |
1995 | Family Matters | Episode: "The Substitute Son"; uncredited |
1995 | | TV movie |
1998 | | TV movie |
1998 | | TV movie; uncredited |
1999 | Velocity Trap | TV movie |
2001 | 2001 ABC World Stunt Awards | TV special; Stunt coordinator |
2001–2003 | The Wayne Brady Show | 7 episodes; Stunt coordinator |
2003 | The Bold and the Beautiful | 1 episode; Stunt double |
2005 | The O.C. | Episode: "The O.C. Confidential"; Stunt performer |
2006 | ER | Episode: "Twenty-One Guns"; Stunt performer |
2006 | Without a Trace | Episode: "The Calm Before"; Stunt performer |
2012 | Fact Checkers Unit | Episode: "James Franco Is Preggers"; Stunt coordinators |
2014 | Isa | TV movie; Stunt coordinator |
2014 | | TV movie; Utility stunts |
2014–2015 | Justified | 2 episodes; Stunt performer |
2015 | Community | Episode: "Modern Espionage"; uncredited |
2015 | Rellik | TV movie |
2016 | Westworld | Episode: "Dissonance Theory"; uncredited |
2019 | The Adventures of Gin and Sapphy | Episode: "Pharoahs Catacomb Part Two"; Stunt Supervisor | |
Actor
Television rolesYear | Title | Role | Note |
1980 |
1980 | The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) | Biker | Season 3: episode 15: "Long Run Home" uncredited |
1980 | The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) | Swingtime Patron | Season 4: episode 4: "Dark Side" uncredited |
1981 | The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) | Brad's friend | Season 4: episode 13: "The First: Part 2" uncredited |
1984 | The Fall Guy | Unknown | Episode: "Baja 1000" |
1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Henchman #1 | Episode: "A Relative Situation" |
1985 | Shadow Chasers | Thompson | Episode: "Parts Unknown" |
1986 | Magnum, P.I. | Scott, Second Hitman | Episode: "Summer School" |
1986 | Misfits of Science | Joe | Episode: "The Avenging Angel" |
1986 | The New Mike Hammer | Reed | Episode: "Mike's Baby" |
1986 | MacGyver | Gorman | Episode: "Silent World" |
1987 | | Unknown | TV movie |
1987 | 1st & Ten | Mark | Episode: "The Bulls Change Hands" |
1987 | The Golden Girls | Black Crow | Episode: "The Housekeeper" |
1987 | Sledge Hammer! | Sokolsky | Episode: "Comrade Hammer" |
1987 | Man In Restaurant | Episode: "Vertical"; uncredited |
1987 | Party Guest | Episode: "Hammer Hits the Rock" |
1987 | Unknown | Episode: "Hammeroid" |
1988 | Beauty and the Beast | Hopkins | Episode: "Temptation" |
1988 | The Incredible Hulk Returns | Barner | TV movie |
1988 | Dynasty | Truck Driver | Episode: "Broken Krystle" |
1988 | Falcon Crest | Fireman #2 | Episode: "Dust to Dust" |
1989 | Nick Knight | Pure Melrose | TV movie |
1989 | Falcon Crest | Deputy Sheriff #1 | Episode: "Charley" |
1989 | The Nutt House | Sailor #1 | Episode: "The Nutt Cracker Suite" |
1990 | | Colin | TV movie |
1990 | The New Adam-12 | Gunman | Episode: "211 Cabs" |
1991 | They Came from Outer Space | Bruno | Episode: "Play Doctor" |
1991 | Jake and the Fatman | Rick | Episode: "Every Time We Say Goodbye" |
1992 | Married... with Children | Man | Episode: "Rites of Passage" |
1992 | Step by Step | Ted Davis | Episode: "Stuck on You" |
1992 | Baywatch | Riggs | Episode: "Princess of Tides" |
1992 | Red Shoe Diaries | Biker | Episode: "Double or Nothing" |
1993 | The Fire Next Time | Claude | Miniseries |
1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Gergen | Episode: "End Run" |
1994 | Babylon 5 | Poker Participant | Episode: "The Quality of Mercy"; uncredited |
1995 | Family Matters | Arm Wrestler | Episode: "The Substitute Son" |
1995 | Vanishing Son | Unknown | Episode: "Jersey Girl" |
1995 | The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise | Brother Bob | TV movie |
1995 | Renegade | Parking Supervisor | Episode: "Another Place and Time" |
1995 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Sanders | Episode: "On Sacred Ground" |
1995 | Walker Texas Ranger | Computer Chip Dealer | Episode: "Whitewater Part 1"; uncredited |
1996 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Garrett | Episode: "If You Love Someone..." |
1996 | Baywatch Nights | Thug #1 | Episode: "Thin Blood" |
1996 | Sisters | Thug #2 | Episode: "Dreamcatcher" |
1996 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Bood Holland | Episode: "Lucky" |
1997 | Dark Skies | Supervisor | Episode: "The Last Wave" |
1997 | Melrose Place | Security Guard | Episode: "Screams from a Marriage" |
1997 | Spy Game | Roth | Episode: "What, Micah Worry?" |
1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Riley | Episode: "A Woman's Place" |
1998 | Babylon 5 | Drazi Vendor | Episode: "Meditations on the Abyss" |
1998 | | Bar Patron | TV movie; uncredited |
1998 | Seven Days | Cadre Member #1 | Pilot: Part 1 |
1998 | The Practice | Officer #3 | Episode: "Line of Duty" |
1999 | Sons of Thunder | Cowboy Guy | Episode: "Daddy's Girl" |
1999 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Murphy | Episode: "Team Cherokee: Part 1" |
2000 | McKnight | Episode: "Turning Point" |
2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Sal Primavera | Episode: "A Family Upside Down"; uncredited |
2001 | The Practice | Morris | Episode: "Vanished: Part 1" |
2002 | Alias | Vatican Guard | Episode: "The Prophecy"; uncredited |
2002 | Charmed | Huntsman | Episode: "Happily Ever After"; uncredited |
2002 | 24 | Marshall Goren | Episode: "Day 2: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m." |
2003 | | Slim, The Henchman | TV movie |
2003 | The Agency | Sammy Banachi | Episode: "Spy Finance" |
2004 | Monk | First Goon | Episode: "Mr. Monk Meets the Godfather" |
2006 | The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman | Gunman | Episode: "Turning Manure Into Soy" |
2006 | Heroes | Jumpsuit | Episode: "Chapter Two 'Don't Look Back'" |
2007 | Day Break | Bus Driver | Episode: "What If It's Him?"; uncredited |
2007 | | Hank Connors | Episode: "Leapin' Lizards" |
2010 | The Forgotten | Eric Boden | Episode: "Patient John" |
2011 | Mega Python vs. Gatoroid | Billy | TV movie |
2011 | | Carlo | Episode: "Party Down" |
2011 | The Mentalist | Officer #1 | Episode: "Strawberries and Cream: Part 1" |
2011 | The Whole Truth | Rikers Guard | Episode: "The End" |
2013 | Cleaners | 'Scarface' | Episode: "It's a Classic" |
2014 | Extant | Service Truck Driver | Episode: "A Pack of Cards" |
2015 | Community | Cook #2 | Episode: "Modern Espionage" |
2015 | Ominous | Cook | TV movie |
2016 | The GPS Zone | Randy | TV movie |
2020 | Shoot from the Hip | The Cooler | Episode: "Rage of the Phantom" | |
Video game roleYear | Title | Role |
1993 | | Card Player #2 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: The Unsung Stuntman: Carl Ciarfalio Takes a Bow. Beverly in Movieland. January 13, 2013. April 25, 2019.
- Web site: Interview with stunt actor/coordinator Carl Ciarfalio. Keeping It Reel. Wordpress. Fowlie. David J.. October 11, 2016. April 25, 2019.
- Web site: Stars, Stunts and Stories: One Man's Fall to Fame. Kickstarter. Ciarfalio. Carl. October 17, 2015 . April 25, 2019.
- Book: Ciarfalio. Carl. Ryan. Teri. August 18, 2015. Stars, Stunts and Stories: A Hollywood Stuntman's Fall to Fame. Ryan Publishing Group. 9780986155277.