Paul Picerni: Difference between revisions
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== Biography == |
== Biography == |
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He was a first lieutenant and [[Bombardier (air force)|bombardier]] during [[World War II]] assigned to the [[Asia]]n theatre. |
He was and Eagle Scout and a first lieutenant and [[Bombardier (air force)|bombardier]] during [[World War II]] assigned to the [[Asia]]n theatre. He flew 25 combat missions and received the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]]. He was also the bombardier on the plane that bombed and destroyed the real bridge made famous in the film [[The Bridge on the River Kwai]](1957). |
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After peace was declared he became special services officer in India. Following the war he enrolled at [[Loyola Marymount University]] at [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]. |
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As a young actor returning from the war, he appeared in military pictures: in ''[[Twelve O'Clock High]]'' (1949) as a bombardier and as Private Edward P. Rojeck in ''[[Breakthrough]]''. This led to a [[Warner Brothers]] contract for Picerni and a succession of roles at that studio including a starring turn as the hero in the 1953 horror classic ''[[House of Wax (1953 film)|House of Wax]]''. After his departure from Warners, he appeared with Audie Murphy in Universal's ''[[To Hell and Back]]''. |
As a young actor returning from the war, he appeared in military pictures: in ''[[Twelve O'Clock High]]'' (1949) as a bombardier and as Private Edward P. Rojeck in ''[[Breakthrough]]''. This led to a [[Warner Brothers]] contract for Picerni and a succession of roles at that studio including a starring turn as the hero in the 1953 horror classic ''[[House of Wax (1953 film)|House of Wax]]''. After his departure from Warners, he appeared with Audie Murphy in Universal's ''[[To Hell and Back]]''. |
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In 1964, he portrayed [[Pierre Lafitte]] in ''[[The Great Adventure (TV series)|The Great Adventure]]''. |
In 1964, he portrayed [[Pierre Lafitte]] in ''[[The Great Adventure (TV series)|The Great Adventure]]''. |
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For many years beginning in the 1960s he was the public address announcer for Los Angeles Rams home games. |
For many years beginning in the 1960s he was the public address announcer for Los Angeles Rams home games. |
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Picerni, an [[Italian American]], married former ballet dancer Marie Mason in 1947; they have eight children. |
Picerni, an [[Italian American]], married former ballet dancer Marie Mason in 1947; they have eight children and 10 grandchildren. Many of their children and family are employed as Hollywood stunt people including son Paul V. Picerni Jr., grandson Rick Picerni and sister Paula Picerni. |
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For over 30 years until they moved to Anaheim, California, he was half time master of ceremonies for the Loas Angeles Rams |
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His autobiography "Steps to Stardom: My Story," written with the help of Tom Weaver, was published by BearManor Media in 2007. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 19:53, 24 July 2009
Paul Picerni | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | actor |
| Years active | 1946–2007 |
| Spouse | Marie Mason 1947–present |
Paul Picerni (born December 1 1922) is an American actor, born in New York City, New York.
Biography
He was and Eagle Scout and a first lieutenant and bombardier during World War II assigned to the Asian theatre. He flew 25 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also the bombardier on the plane that bombed and destroyed the real bridge made famous in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai(1957). After peace was declared he became special services officer in India. Following the war he enrolled at Loyola Marymount University at Los Angeles.
As a young actor returning from the war, he appeared in military pictures: in Twelve O'Clock High (1949) as a bombardier and as Private Edward P. Rojeck in Breakthrough. This led to a Warner Brothers contract for Picerni and a succession of roles at that studio including a starring turn as the hero in the 1953 horror classic House of Wax. After his departure from Warners, he appeared with Audie Murphy in Universal's To Hell and Back.
In 1954, he appeared as Rube Burrows in the syndicated western television series Stories of the Century, hosted and narrated by Jim Davis. Picerni appeared in two episodes, "Gun Hand" and "Badge to Kill" of the 1957-1959 syndicated western series 26 Men, true stories of the Arizona Rangers, starring Tristram Coffin. In 1959, he appeared in an episode of NBC's Northwest Passage adventure series about Major Robert Rogers's exploits during the French and Indian War.
When Italian organizations began to complain about the use of Italian gangsters on TV's The Untouchables starring Robert Stack as G-man Eliot Ness, Picerni joined the cast of the show as Ness's number one aide, Lee Hobson, from 1960-63.
In 1964, he portrayed Pierre Lafitte in The Great Adventure. For many years beginning in the 1960s he was the public address announcer for Los Angeles Rams home games. Picerni, an Italian American, married former ballet dancer Marie Mason in 1947; they have eight children and 10 grandchildren. Many of their children and family are employed as Hollywood stunt people including son Paul V. Picerni Jr., grandson Rick Picerni and sister Paula Picerni.
For over 30 years until they moved to Anaheim, California, he was half time master of ceremonies for the Loas Angeles Rams
His autobiography "Steps to Stardom: My Story," written with the help of Tom Weaver, was published by BearManor Media in 2007.
External links
- Paul Picerni at IMDb
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