Rodney Harvey
Encyclopedia
Rodney Michael Harvey was an American actor
and model
.
, Harvey was discovered by director Paul Morrissey
in 1984. Morrissey cast Harvey in two of his films Mixed Blood
(1985) and Spike of Bensonhurst
(1988). After signing with an agent, Harvey moved to Los Angeles
where he continued acting and also began modeling. He appeared in a layout for Life
magazine featuring Madonna
photographed by Bruce Weber
, and worked for Calvin Klein
.
In 1990, he landed the role of Sodapop Curtis in the Fox
series The Outsiders
. After the series ended after one season, Harvey guest starred on Twin Peaks
, followed by a role in the Gus Van Sant
film My Own Private Idaho
. He made his last onscreen appearance in 1996 with a role in drama God's Lonely Man
overdose on April 10, 1998 at the Hotel Barbizon in Los Angeles
.
After his death, photos of him in the depths of heroin addiction appeared in an Office of Drug Control Policy (Partnership for a Drug-Free America) public service announcement.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
.
Career
Born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Harvey was discovered by director Paul Morrissey
Paul Morrissey
Paul Morrissey is an American film director, best-known for his association with Andy Warhol.Morrissey attended Ampleforth College, a private Roman Catholic boarding school and Fordham University, both Roman Catholic schools, and later served in the United States Army...
in 1984. Morrissey cast Harvey in two of his films Mixed Blood
Mixed Blood (film)
Mixed Blood is a 1985 film directed by Paul Morrissey. It marked the first credited film role for John Leguizamo.-Plot:Rita La Punta leads a gang of underaged Brazilian kids in an attempt to seize control of New York's Lower East Side's drug trade from a Puerto Rican gang.-Principal...
(1985) and Spike of Bensonhurst
Spike of Bensonhurst
Spike of Bensonhurst is a 1988 comedy-drama and mafia film directed by Paul Morrissey and starring Sasha Mitchell. The film also features Ernest Borgnine, Maria Pitillo, Dave Bettge, and Talisa Soto.-Plot:...
(1988). After signing with an agent, Harvey moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he continued acting and also began modeling. He appeared in a layout for Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine featuring Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
photographed by Bruce Weber
Bruce Weber (photographer)
Bruce Weber is an American fashion photographer and occasional filmmaker. He is most widely known for his ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Pirelli, Abercrombie & Fitch, Revlon, and Gianni Versace, as well as his work for Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Elle, Life, Interview, and Rolling Stone...
, and worked for Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
.
In 1990, he landed the role of Sodapop Curtis in the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
series The Outsiders
The Outsiders (TV series)
The Outsiders is an American drama series that aired in 1990 on Fox. Based on the characters from the 1967 novel of the same title by S. E. Hinton, the series was executive produced by the 1983 film's director Francis Ford Coppola.-Synopsis:...
. After the series ended after one season, Harvey guest starred on Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
, followed by a role in the Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
film My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, and starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves...
. He made his last onscreen appearance in 1996 with a role in drama God's Lonely Man
Death
During the making of My Own Private Idaho, Harvey began using heroin. After several stints in jail and attempts to get clean, he died of a heroin and cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
overdose on April 10, 1998 at the Hotel Barbizon in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
After his death, photos of him in the depths of heroin addiction appeared in an Office of Drug Control Policy (Partnership for a Drug-Free America) public service announcement.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Delivery Boys Delivery Boys Delivery Boys is a 1984 film directed by Ken Handler. It concerns a group of pizza delivery boys who start a break dancing team.Mario Van Peebles, Scott Thompson Baker, Samantha Fox and Annabelle Gurwitch have cameo roles.... |
Fast Action | |
| 1985 | Mixed Blood Mixed Blood (film) Mixed Blood is a 1985 film directed by Paul Morrissey. It marked the first credited film role for John Leguizamo.-Plot:Rita La Punta leads a gang of underaged Brazilian kids in an attempt to seize control of New York's Lower East Side's drug trade from a Puerto Rican gang.-Principal... |
Jose | Alternative title: Cocaïne |
| 1987 | Initiation | Danny Molloy | Alternative title: Zoomstone |
| 1987 | Five Corners | Castro | |
| 1988 | Salsa Salsa (1988 film) Salsa is a 1988 romance film about a lower-class Puerto Rican dancer who decides to improve his lot in life by entering a salsa dancing contest. The film was directed by Boaz Davidson, and stars Robi Rosa, Rodney Harvey, and Angela Alvarado... |
Ken | |
| 1988 | Spike of Bensonhurst Spike of Bensonhurst Spike of Bensonhurst is a 1988 comedy-drama and mafia film directed by Paul Morrissey and starring Sasha Mitchell. The film also features Ernest Borgnine, Maria Pitillo, Dave Bettge, and Talisa Soto.-Plot:... |
Frankie | Alternative titles: The Mafia Kid Throw Back! |
| 1990 | Silent Love | Giulio | Alternative title: La bocca |
| 1990 | Twin Peaks Twin Peaks Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer... |
Biker Scotty | Episode: Pilot |
| 1990 | The Outsiders The Outsiders (TV series) The Outsiders is an American drama series that aired in 1990 on Fox. Based on the characters from the 1967 novel of the same title by S. E. Hinton, the series was executive produced by the 1983 film's director Francis Ford Coppola.-Synopsis:... |
Sodapop Curtis | 13 episodes |
| 1991 | My Own Private Idaho My Own Private Idaho My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, and starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves... |
Gary | |
| 1992 | Guncrazy Guncrazy Guncrazy is a 1992 American crime/drama/thriller film starring Drew Barrymore. It was directed by Tamra Davis and written by Matthew Bright. It is a loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name.- Plot :... |
Tom | |
| 1996 | God's Lonely Man | Glen | |