Richard Romanus, an esteemed actor celebrated for his roles in the iconic film “Mean Streets” and the hit TV series “The Sopranos,” passed away on December 23, 2023, at the age of 80. Romanus died in a private hospital in Volos, Greece. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
He was born on February 8, 1943, in Barre, Vermont, to a Lebanese-American family and was raised in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Romanus earned a philosophy degree in 1964 from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. After briefly attending law school, he chose to pursue acting training at New York’s Carnegie Hall under the legendary Lee Strasberg.
He made a significant impact in Hollywood with his portrayal of tough-guy characters. His most memorable roles include the loan shark Michael in Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” (1973), and the voice of Harry Canyon in the animated film “Heavy Metal” (1981). He voiced roles in the animated works “Wizards” and “Hey Good Lookin’,” directed by Ralph Bakshi.
His acting credits include the portrayal of Richard La Penna, Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s (played by Lorraine Bracco) former spouse, in four episodes of “The Sopranos.”
During the 1970s and 1980s, Romanus appeared in a plethora of television shows, such as “Mission: Impossible,” “The Mod Squad,” “Rhoda,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files,” the original “Hawaii Five-O,” “Starsky and Hutch,” and “MacGyver.”
His filmography also spans a wide range of genres, including roles in “The Gravy Train,” “Protocol,” “The Couch Trip,” “Oscar,” and “Point of No Return.”
Romanus was married twice. His first marriage was to Tina Bohlmann from 1967 to 1980, with whom he had a son. In 1985, he married Oscar-nominated costume designer Anthea Sylbert.
Over two decades ago, the couple moved to Skiathos, Greece. Here, Romanus explored his writing talents, penning his memoir and two novels set in Greece. He and Sylbert also collaborated on writing and producing two Lifetime telefilms: “Giving Up the Ghost” (1998) and “If You Believe” (1999).
His memoir, “Act III: A Small Island in the Aegean,” published in 2011, was short-listed for the International Rubery Book Award in 2012. He also wrote the novels “Chrysalis” (2011) and “Matoula’s Echo” (2014).
Romanus is survived by his son, his second wife Anthea Sylbert, and his younger brother Robert Romanus, known for his role in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
