Richard Romanus, ‘The Sopranos’, ‘Mean Streets’ Star, Dies at 80
In a four-episode stint on “The Sopranos” Romanus portrayed Jennifer Melfi’s husband Richard LaPenna.
American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images
Actor Richard Romanus, who starred as a loan shark in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and as Richard LaPenna in The Sopranos, died last week, his son told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 80.
Romanus’ Mean Streets character Michael Longo famously gets into it with Robert De Niro’s Johnny Civello after the latter refused to pay his debt.
The veteran actor also starred in a host of television series including Mission: Impossible and Strike Force.
In a four-episode stint on The Sopranos Romanus portrayed Jennifer Melfi’s husband Richard LaPenna.
The film and television actor worked lent his voice to many films, including Hey Good Lookin’ (1981) and Heavy Metal (1982).
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He is survived by his son, Robert Romanus, his first wife—the Fast Times at Ridgemont High star Tina Bohlmann—and his second wife, the Oscar-nominated Anthea Sylbert.
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