Don Amendolia Explained

Don Amendolia
Birth Place:Glassboro, New Jersey
Occupation:Actor

Don Amendolia (born February 1, 1945, in Glassboro, New Jersey) is an American actor.

Career

He played Big Al Kennedy in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach and had recurring roles on Twin Peaks, Night Court, and It's Garry Shandling's Show. He also guest-starred on Cheers, Newhart, Family Ties, Life Goes On, Valerie, Perfect Strangers, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Ellen, Seinfeld, and Law & Order.[1]

He appeared in movies like Wayne's World (1992), Fearless (1993), Ed Wood (1994), Boogie Nights (1997), and Bounce (2000).[2]

Amendolia directed one episode of Growing Pains and two episodes of Harry and the Hendersons. He has appeared on Broadway in 33 Variations, Stepping Out, and My One and Only. He directed the rotating cast of the Off-Broadway show, Wicked.[3] He also played the Wizard on the second national tour of the musical Wicked. He played his first performance on December 9, 2009, replacing Tom McGowan.[4]

Amendolia gave acting lessons and assigned workouts to the cast of the film Purple Rain.[5]

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1983Without a TracePolice Officer
1987The Secret of My SuccessExecutive
1992Wayne's WorldAnnouncer
1993FearlessMale Survivor
1994Ed WoodSalesman
1994Twin SittersPa Falcone
1995A Walk in the CloudsFather Coturri
1997Boogie NightsBank Worker
2000BounceInfinity Attorney
2001Skeletons in the ClosetDetective CarlsonDirect-to-video
2014Lucky StiffUncle Tony

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981Ryan's HopeHarry Quindy3 episodes
1982The Country GirlRalphTelevision film
1983CheersHenry 'Hank' ZenzolaEpisode: "Affairs of the Heart"
1983An Uncommon LoveRomaineTelevision film
1984Mama MaloneDino Forresti13 episodes
1988Eisenhower and LutzVitoEpisode: "Pride and Prejudice"
1988Family TiesTomEpisode: "Beyond Therapy"
1988NewhartArtEpisode: "Goonstruck"
1988, 1992Night CourtJohnny Dugan / Mr. Barsotti3 episodes
1989–1990It's Garry Shandling's ShowRichie
1990Designing WomenEdEpisode: "Tough Enough"
1990FramedEllisTelevision film
1990Cop RockDr. WatoonEpisode: "Happy Mudder's Day"
1990Twin PeaksEmory Battis5 episodes
1991ValeriePhil MortonEpisode: "A Sneaking Suspicion"
1991Perfect StrangersKing FerdinandEpisode: "Weekend at Ferdinand's"
1991The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirMr. CummingsEpisode: "Something for Nothing"
1991Life Goes OnProducerEpisode: "The Smell of Fear"
1993L.A. LawPeter SwillingEpisode: "Where There's a Will"
1993Precious VictimsJudgeTelevision film
1994FrasierGuardEpisode: "Travels with Martin"
1994–1995Days of Our LivesJames Murchison / Maurice3 episodes
1995My Brother's KeeperFather GardinerTelevision film
1996SeinfeldDennisEpisode: "The Rye"
1996EllenMr. KoundakianEpisode: "Ellen: With Child"
1997Sunset BeachBig Al Kennedy7 episodes
2002In-LawsJoeEpisode: "Crown Vic"
2003Michael CarlingEpisode: "But Not Forgotten"
2004Law & OrderGregory FinneyEpisode: "Cut"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Don Amendolia . 2023-05-25 . TVGuide.com . en.
  2. Web site: Don Amendolia . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802112340/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba6edc69a . dead . August 2, 2017 . 2023-05-25 . BFI . en.
  3. Web site: Don Amendolia Theatre Credits . BroadwayWorld.com . 2011 . August 14, 2011.
  4. Web site: Wicked conjures an elaborate witch's view of Oz before Dorothy . Li . Nicholls . . July 23, 2011 . August 14, 2011 . July 25, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110725013852/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/Wicked+conjures+elaborate+witch+view+before+Dorothy/5148695/story.html?cid=megadrop_story . dead .
  5. Book: Ro . Ronin . Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks . 2011 . St. Martin's Publishing Group . 978-1429950732 . 87 . 13 November 2019.