# Richard Foronjy

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Richard_Foronjy
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Richard_Foronjy.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Foronjy
> Source revision: 1351852205
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American actor (1937–2024)

Richard Foronjy Publicity photo of Richard Foronjy Born (1937-08-03)August 3, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Died May 19, 2024(2024-05-19) (aged 86) Occupation Actor Years active 1973–2003

**Richard Edward Foronjy** (August 3, 1937 – May 19, 2024) was an American film and television actor.[1][2]

## Early life

Foronjy was born in [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn), New York,[3] to an [Armenian](/source/Armenian_people) family on August 3, 1937.[4] Before becoming an actor, he had an extensive criminal record, including [armed robbery](/source/Armed_robbery). He also worked as a butcher.[5]

## Career

Foronjy saw his first small role as Corsaro in *[Serpico](/source/Serpico)*.[3]

Foronjy was perhaps best known for playing the [mobster](/source/Mobster) Tony Darvo in the 1988 film *[Midnight Run](/source/Midnight_Run)* and the mobster Peter Amadesso in the 1993 film *[Carlito's Way](/source/Carlito's_Way)*.[6] He also played Detective Joe Marinaro in [Sidney Lumet](/source/Sidney_Lumet)'s *[Prince of the City](/source/Prince_of_the_City)*.[3]

In *[Repo Man](/source/Repo_Man_(film))*, Foronjy played Arnold Plettschner, the rent-a-cop who memorably said, "You’re fuckin’ right I'm Plettschner! Arnold Plettschner! Three times decorated in two world wars! I was killing people while you were still swimming around in your father's balls! You little scumbag! I worked five years in a slaughterhouse, and ten years as a prison guard in Attica!"[3]

Foronjy wrote and published a memoir, *From the Mob to the Movies*, in 2020. In retirement, he lived in the [Hudson Valley](/source/Hudson_Valley) of New York.

## Death

Foronjy died on May 19, 2024, at the age of 86.[3][7] At the [97th Academy Awards](/source/97th_Academy_Awards), his name was mentioned in the *[In Memoriam](/source/97th_Academy_Awards#"In_Memoriam")* section.[8]

## Partial filmography

- *[Serpico](/source/Serpico)* (1973) – Corsaro

- *[The Gambler](/source/The_Gambler_(1974_film))* (1974) – Donny

- *[Fun with Dick and Jane](/source/Fun_with_Dick_and_Jane_(1977_film))* (1977) – Landscape Man

- *[The One Man Jury](/source/The_One_Man_Jury)* (1978) – Al

- *[Taxi](/source/Taxi_(TV_series))* (1978) ("A Full House for Christmas") - Louie's brother Nick

- *[The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh](/source/The_Fish_That_Saved_Pittsburgh)* (1979) – Mike

- *[The Jerk](/source/The_Jerk)* (1979) – Con Man

- *[Prince of the City](/source/Prince_of_the_City)* (1981) – Detective Joe Marinaro

- *[True Confessions](/source/True_Confessions_(film))* (1981) – Ambulance Driver

- *[Gangster Wars](/source/Gangster_Wars)* (1981) – Umberto Joe The Boss' Bodyguard (uncredited)

- *[Repo Man](/source/Repo_Man_(film))* (1984) – Plettschner

- *[Once Upon a Time in America](/source/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_America)* (1984) – Officer Whitey aka Fartface

- *[City Heat](/source/City_Heat)* (1984) – Poker Player

- *[Odd Jobs](/source/Odd_Jobs_(1986_film))* (1986) – Mannu

- *The Check Is in the Mail...* (1986) – Tony

- *[The Morning After](/source/The_Morning_After_(1986_film))* (1986) – Sergeant Greenbaum

- *The Galucci Brothers* (1987) – Galucci Brother

- *[Midnight Run](/source/Midnight_Run)* (1988) – Tony Darvo[9]

- *[Ghostbusters II](/source/Ghostbusters_II)* (1989) – Con Ed Supervisor

- *[Oscar](/source/Oscar_(1991_film))* (1991) – Knucky

- *[The Public Eye](/source/The_Public_Eye_(film))* (1992) – Frank Farinelli

- *[Fatal Instinct](/source/Fatal_Instinct)* (1993) – Cy Tarr

- *DaVinci's War* (1993) – Hamlet

- *[Carlito's Way](/source/Carlito's_Way)* (1993) – Pete Amadesso

- *[Man of the House](/source/Man_of_the_House_(1995_film))* (1995) – Murray

- *[Recoil](/source/Recoil_(1998_film))* (1998) – Vincent Sloan

- *Hoods* (1998) – Tony

- *Evasive Action* (1998) – Vince

- *Boss Of Bosses* (2001) - Tommy Bilotti

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Foronjy"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140960089/). *[St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch)*. [St. Louis, Missouri](/source/St._Louis%2C_Missouri). February 4, 1987. p. 89. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Scott, Vernon (January 19, 1987). ["Ex-con becomes successful Hollywood character actor"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/529813444/). *The Tribune*. [Scranton, Pennsylvania](/source/Scranton%2C_Pennsylvania). p. 16. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-variety_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-variety_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-variety_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-variety_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-variety_3-4) ["Richard Foronjy, Character Actor in 'Midnight Run' and 'Serpico,' Dies at 86"](https://variety.com/2024/film/obituaries-people-news/richard-foronjy-dead-midnight-run-serpico-1236012180/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Richard Foronjy"](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/richard_foronjy). *[Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)*. Retrieved December 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Scott's World;NEWLN:From felony to fame"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/20/Scotts-WorldNEWLNFrom-felony-to-fame/1749538117200/). *[United Press International](/source/United_Press_International)*. January 20, 1987. Retrieved May 31, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Pedersen, Erik (May 18, 2021). ["Robert De Niro Remembers His 'Midnight Run' Co-Star Charles Grodin: "As Good A Person As He Was An Actor""](https://deadline.com/2021/05/charles-grodin-dead-robert-de-niro-tribute-midnight-run-1234759697/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved December 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Barnes, Mike (May 21, 2024). ["Richard Foronjy, Convicted Criminal Turned Character Actor, Dies at 86"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/richard-foronjy-dead-criminal-character-actor-1235905793/). *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*. Retrieved May 31, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["In Memoriam"](https://aframe.oscars.org/news/in-memoriam). *[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](/source/Academy_of_Motion_Picture_Arts_and_Sciences)*. Retrieved March 2, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Wilmington, Michael (July 20, 1998). ["Movie Review: Murderous Fun in the 'Midnight Run'"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-20-ca-5813-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150623005649/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-07-20/entertainment/ca-5813_1_midnight-run) from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018 – via [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine).

## External links

- [Richard Foronjy](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286561/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Richard Foronjy](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/64090%7C0/wp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived)

- [Rotten Tomatoes profile](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/richard_foronjy/)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Spain Other IdRef Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Richard Foronjy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Foronjy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Foronjy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.