Richard Libertini
Encyclopedia
Richard Libertini is an American
stage, film
and television
actor
known for playing numerous character
roles and his ability to speak in numerous accents.
Libertini was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. He was an original cast member of the "The Mad Show
," a 1966 Off-Broadway
musical-comedy produced by MAD Magazine. Two of his more memorable film roles came in the comedies Fletch
, in which he played Chevy Chase
's doubting editor, a role he repeated in the 1989 sequel Fletch Lives
, and The In-Laws, in which he played General Garcia, an insane Latin-American dictator whose closest advisor was a cartoon face drawn on his own hand. He also played a traveling vaudevillian in Terence Malick's Days of Heaven
(1978), the cobbler George W. Geezil
in Robert Altman
's Popeye
(1980), a Hispanic priest in Best Friends
(1982), the bandit Dijon
in Walt Disney
's child cartoon DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
(1990), spiritual advisor Prahka Lasa ("Back in de bowl!") in All of Me (1984), and a rabbi in Lethal Weapon 4
(1997). On television, he guest starred on several episodes of Soap
as The Godfather, in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
episode "Accession
" as a Bajoran
called Akorem Laan, who believes himself to be the Emissary and in the Sonny with a Chance
episode "Dakota's Revenge" as Izzy, an insane mechanic. He also voiced Wally Llama on Animaniacs
, and was a regular on two short-lived sitcoms, The Fanelli Boys
, as an Italian priest, and Pacific Station
, as a police detective.
Beginning in the fall of 2011, he appeared on Broadway as a rabbi in Relatively Speaking
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
known for playing numerous character
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
roles and his ability to speak in numerous accents.
Libertini was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. He was an original cast member of the "The Mad Show
The Mad Show
The Mad Show is an Off-Broadway musical revue based on Mad Magazine. The music is by Mary Rodgers, the book by Larry Siegel and Stan Hart. The show's various lyricists include Siegel, Marshall Barer, Steven Vinaver, and Stephen Sondheim.-Production:...
," a 1966 Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
musical-comedy produced by MAD Magazine. Two of his more memorable film roles came in the comedies Fletch
Fletch (film)
Fletch is a 1985 comedy film about a wisecracking investigative newspaper reporter, Irwin M. Fletcher , who writes under the name of Jane Doe...
, in which he played Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
's doubting editor, a role he repeated in the 1989 sequel Fletch Lives
Fletch Lives
Fletch Lives is a 1989 comedy film starring Chevy Chase. It was directed by Michael Ritchie with a screenplay by Leon Capetanos based on the character created by Gregory Mcdonald. Fletch Lives was released by Universal Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1985 film Fletch.- Plot :Chevy Chase once again...
, and The In-Laws, in which he played General Garcia, an insane Latin-American dictator whose closest advisor was a cartoon face drawn on his own hand. He also played a traveling vaudevillian in Terence Malick's Days of Heaven
Days of Heaven
Days of Heaven is a 1978 American romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard and Linda Manz. Set in the early 20th century, it tells the story of two poor lovers, Bill and Abby, as they travel to the Texas Panhandle to harvest...
(1978), the cobbler George W. Geezil
George W. Geezil
George W. Geezil, also known as simply Geezil, is a comic strip character created by E.C. Segar for the Thimble Theatre strip.-Comics:...
in Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
's Popeye
Popeye (film)
Popeye is a 1980 live-action film adaptation directed by Robert Altman and adapted from E. C. Segar's Thimble Theatre aka Popeye comic strip.Marketed with the tagline, "The sailor man with the spinach can!", the film is a musical...
(1980), a Hispanic priest in Best Friends
Best Friends (film)
Best Friends is a 1982 feature film starring Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. It is loosely based on the true story of the relationship between its writers, Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin. The film is a drama as well as a romantic comedy.-Plot:...
(1982), the bandit Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
in Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's child cartoon DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp is a 1990 American animated feature film based on the animated children's television series DuckTales. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures on August 3, 1990. Although it was a theatrically released animated film, it was the first feature outside...
(1990), spiritual advisor Prahka Lasa ("Back in de bowl!") in All of Me (1984), and a rabbi in Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 American action film directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and Jet Li. It is the third sequel in the Lethal Weapon series of films. -Plot:...
(1997). On television, he guest starred on several episodes of Soap
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
as The Godfather, in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode "Accession
Accession (DS9 episode)
"Accession" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the sixteenth episode of the fourth season. It is rated 4.4/5 on the official Star Trek Website.-Plot:...
" as a Bajoran
Bajoran
In the Star Trek science-fiction franchise, the Bajorans are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor. They were first introduced in the 1991 episode "Ensign Ro" of Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequently also featured in episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and...
called Akorem Laan, who believes himself to be the Emissary and in the Sonny with a Chance
Sonny With a Chance
Sonny with a Chance is an American children's sitcom which aired on Disney Channel, created by Steve Marmel, that follows the experiences of teenager Sonny Munroe, portrayed by Demi Lovato, who becomes the newest accepted cast member of her favorite live comedy show, So Random!.The series debuted...
episode "Dakota's Revenge" as Izzy, an insane mechanic. He also voiced Wally Llama on Animaniacs
Animaniacs
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as simply Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros. Television and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The cartoon was the second animated series produced by the collaboration of Steven...
, and was a regular on two short-lived sitcoms, The Fanelli Boys
The Fanelli Boys
The Fanelli Boys is an American sitcom that aired on NBC as part of its 1990-91 prime time schedule. The series was created by the team of Barry Fanaro, Mort Nathan, Kathy Speer, and Terry Grossman, all of whom previously worked on The Golden Girls....
, as an Italian priest, and Pacific Station
Pacific Station
The Pacific Station, often referred to as the Pacific Squadron, was one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities...
, as a police detective.
Beginning in the fall of 2011, he appeared on Broadway as a rabbi in Relatively Speaking
Relatively Speaking
Relatively Speaking was a game show that aired in syndication from September 5, 1988 to June 23, 1989. The series was hosted by comedian John Byner, with John Harlan announcing....
.