William Hickey was an overlooked, unappreciated and an absolutely wonderful character actor that never seemed to get the praise and glory that he so well deserved.
Late in his career he was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the aging crime boss, Don Corrado Prizzi, in the gangster comedy Prizzi's Honor, but that didn't seem to help the movie going public remember his name, as he was known mostly as Oh, that guy, he's good.
With roles that were often smaller than the supporting ones, William Hickey managed to upstage the stars in just about everything he did with his realistic and often creepy portrayals. These roles ranged from a pervert who stole woman's purses in The Boston Strangler to Carlton Blanchard, the old guy with all the strange questions on Wings, as well as numerous drunks, bums and old quirky characters.
And while the public rarely knew his name, Hollywood did, as he was more famous as a respected acting teacher then he was as an actor. But whether he was in front of a classroom or a camera, William Hickey was always noticed, which makes him my pick of the day for Not Very Famous...but should be.
Late in his career he was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the aging crime boss, Don Corrado Prizzi, in the gangster comedy Prizzi's Honor, but that didn't seem to help the movie going public remember his name, as he was known mostly as Oh, that guy, he's good.
With roles that were often smaller than the supporting ones, William Hickey managed to upstage the stars in just about everything he did with his realistic and often creepy portrayals. These roles ranged from a pervert who stole woman's purses in The Boston Strangler to Carlton Blanchard, the old guy with all the strange questions on Wings, as well as numerous drunks, bums and old quirky characters.
And while the public rarely knew his name, Hollywood did, as he was more famous as a respected acting teacher then he was as an actor. But whether he was in front of a classroom or a camera, William Hickey was always noticed, which makes him my pick of the day for Not Very Famous...but should be.
I remember Hickey as the whizzened old father in MOUSE HUNT. He had the funniest funeral I can ever remember. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to take a look at your film, Mike. Promise to do so in the New Year.
I hope you and your family will have a Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year.
Thank you, Yvette. Merry Christmas to you as well. I really enjoy your blog. I hope 2013 is good to you.
ReplyDeleteHickey took a wonderful star turn in a Public Television special called "From Time to Timbuktu," a surreal film drawn from several Kurt Vonnegut stories. No one other than Hickey could have portrayed Stony Stevenson, an addled every-man who composes poetry for a breakfast cereal contest and wins a trip into a chrono synclastic infundibulum.
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