Allen Garfield

Allen Garfield
Born
Allen Goorwitz

(1939-11-22)November 22, 1939
DiedApril 7, 2020(2020-04-07) (aged 80)
OccupationActor
Years active1968–2002

Allen Garfield (born Allen Goorwitz; November 22, 1939 – April 7, 2020) was an American film and television actor.[2][3]

Early life

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Garfield was born in Newark, New Jersey, to a Jewish family, the son of Alice (née Lavroff) and Philip Goorwitz.[4][5] He had one sister, Lois. A 1957 graduate of Weequahic High School,[6] he was a sports reporter and Golden Gloves boxer before becoming an actor. He attended The Actors Studio in New York City, studying with both Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan, and worked on stage before acting in film.[2]

Career

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Garfield appeared in over 100 films and television shows. He is known for having played nervous villains, corrupt businessmen and politicians. In addition he appeared in two art films by German director Wim Wenders, Der Stand der Dinge and Bis ans Ende der Welt. Quentin Tarantino studied with Garfield at the beginning of his career as an actor.[7][8] Garfield's lead roles included the 1971 film Cry Uncle!, the 1978 film Skateboard with Leif Garrett and the 1982 film Get Crazy. He appeared in the Tales from the Darkside episode The Deal (1988).

Personal life and death

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For a year after his father's death and in tribute to him, Allen used his family name, Goorwitz, for his screen credits.[9]

When Garfield suffered a stroke before filming his role in The Ninth Gate (1999), director Roman Polanski opted to use Garfield's paralyzed face for his character rather than conceal it or recast the role. Garfield suffered another massive stroke in 2004 and thereafter was a long-term nursing care resident at The Motion Picture Home.

Garfield died of complications related to COVID-19 and his previous strokes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on April 7, 2020, at age 80.[2]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1968 Orgy Girls '69
Greetings Smut Peddler [10]: 143 
1969 Putney Swope Elias, Jr.
1970 The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful Moreno
Hi, Mom! Joe Banner [10]: 130 
The Owl and the Pussycat Dress Shop Proprietor
1971 Roommates Martin Axborough
Taking Off Norman
Bananas Man on Cross [11]
Cry Uncle! Jake Masters
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat Herby Moss
The Organization Benjy
Believe in Me Stutter
1972 Top of the Heap Taxi Driver
The Candidate Klein [12]
Get to Know Your Rabbit Vic [10]: 139 
1973 Slither Vincent J. Palmer
Deadhead Miles Juicy Brucey Uncredited
1974 Busting Carl Rizzo
The Conversation Bernie Moran [13]
The Front Page Kruger
1975 Nashville Barnett [12]
1976 The Commitment
Gable and Lombard Louis B. Mayer [14]
Mother, Jugs, and Speed Harry Fishbine
Paco Padre
1978 Skateboard Manny Bloom
The Brink's Job Vinnie Costa [12]
1979 Sketches of a Strangler Jack Garvey
Fyre Preacher
1980 The Stunt Man Sam [12]
One Trick Pony Cal van Damp
1981 Continental Divide Howard McDermott
1982 One from the Heart Restaurant Owner
Der Stand der Dinge Gordon [13]
1983 The Black Stallion Returns Kurr
Get Crazy Max Wolfe [15]
1984 Irreconcilable Differences Phil Hanner
Teachers Carl Rosenberg [12]
The Cotton Club Abbadabba Berman [12]
1986 Desert Bloom Mr. Mosol [12]
Sins Adam Gore
1987 Beverly Hills Cop II Harold Lutz [16]
My Best Friend's Birthday Entertainment Magnate
1989 Night Visitor Zachary Willard
Let It Ride Greenberg [17]
1990 Dick Tracy Reporter #1
Club Fed Harrison Farnsworth IV
1991 Until the End of the World Gebrauchtwagenhändler [18]
1992 Miracle Beach Magnus O'Leary
Jack and His Friends Jack [19]
1993 Family Prayers Cantor [20]
Cyborg 2 Martin Dunn
1994 The Patriots Eagleman [21]
1995 Stuart Saves His Family Maitre D'
Wild Side Dan Rackman
Destiny Turns on the Radio Vinnie Vidivici [22]
1996 Diabolique Leo Katzman [23]
1997 Obsession Simon Frischmuth [24]
The Elf Who Didn't Believe Twisp [25]
1998 Get a Job Mr. Berger / Psychiatrist
1999 The Ninth Gate Witkin
2001 The Majestic Leo Kubelsky [26]
2002 White Boy Mr. Rosen
2016 Chief Zabu Ben Sydney Final film role; filmed in 1986 [27]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Mod Squad Charles Weaver Episode: "Welcome to Our City"
The Young Lawyers Bernie Yoakum Episode: "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs"
Bonanza Charlie Episode: "The Iron Butterfly"
1972 McCloud Ralphie Episode: "A Little Plot at Tranquil Valley"
Search Marty Zackarian Episode: "One of Our Probes is Missing"
Banyon Henry Spear Episode: "A Date with Death"
Love, American Style Gork Segment: "Love and the First Kiss"
1973 The Bob Newhart Show The Manager Episode: "Let's Get Away from It Almost"
Kojak Mario Portello Pilot film: "The Marcus-Nelson Murders"
Adam's Rib Attinger Episode: "The Unwritten Law"
Ironside Baxter Flynn Episode: "Double-Edged Corner"
1975 Rhoda David Bloom Episode: "Strained Interlude"
Gunsmoke Henry DeCory Episode: "The Fires of Ignorance"
Kate McShane Marty Goodman Episode: "Accounts Receivable"
1976 McCoy J. Carter Sloan Episode: "In Again, Out Again"
Serpico The Professor/Redman 2 episodes
1980 Trapper John, M.D. Brody (as Allen Goorwitz) Episode: "Warning: I May Be Hazardous to You Health"
1982 Taxi Mr. Ratledge (as Allen Goorwitz) Episode: "Crime and Punishment"
1983 Lottery! (as Allen Goorwitz) Episode: "Being a Winner"
1986 Sins Adam Gore (as Allen Goorwitz) Miniseries
1987 The Magical World of Disney Howie Episode: "You Ruined My Life"
1988 Tales from the Darkside Donald/Kingsley Diamond/Michael Rudnick/The Devil Episode: "The Deal"
1990 Matlock Detective Richard Cox Episode: "The Informer"
1991 Equal Justice Sam (uncredited) Episode: "In Confidence"
Stat Episode: "The Wilding"
Eddie Dodd Benny Schaeffer Episode: "Welcome Home"
Palace Guard Sy Hertzog 4 episode
1992 Law & Order Carl Berg Episode: "Vengeance"
Citizen Cohn Abe Feller TV film
1993 Jack's Place Tommy Episode: "Play It Again, Jack"
1994-1995 Chicago Hope Dr. Raymond Kadalski 4 episodes
1997 Michael Hayes Donal Morris Episode: "The Doctor's Tale"
1998 Dharma & Greg Stan Gottlieb Episode: "Do You Want Fries With That?"
1999 The Lot Harry Sylva 3 episodes
2000 Sports Night Chuck "The Man" Kimmel Episode: "The Cut Man Cometh"
The West Wing Roger Becker Episode: "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part II"

References

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  1. ^ Haring, Bruce (8 April 2020). "Allen Garfield Dies: Veteran Film Actor Had COVID-19 Complications, Was 80". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Barnes, Mike (April 7, 2020). "Allen Garfield, Actor in 'The Conversation,' 'The Stunt Man' and 'Nashville,' Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (April 8, 2020). "N.J. actor Allen Garfield from 'Nashville' and 'The Conversation,' former Star-Ledger reporter, dies of coronavirus". The Star-Ledger. Newark.
  4. ^ "Allen Garfield Biography (1939-)". Filmreference.com. accessed July 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Allen Garfield Biography, Yahoo.com; accessed July 9, 2017. Archived May 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Distinguished Weequahic Alumni". Weequahic High School Alumni Association. Accessed December 19, 2019. "Allen (Goorvitz) Garfield (1957) an actor who has appeared in over 100 films and television shows."
  7. ^ Peary, Gerald (1998). Quentin Tarantino. University Press of Mississippi. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-5780-6051-1. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  8. ^ Holm, D.K. (December 1, 2004). Quentin Tarantino: The Essential Pocket Guide. Summersdale Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-8483-9866-5. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  9. ^ Blank, Ed (1980-11-06). "'Stunt Man' Departure For 'Trendy' Director". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D-8. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  10. ^ a b c Greven, David (2013). Psycho-Sexual: Male Desire in Hitchcock, De Palma, Scorsese, and Friedkin. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-74202-4. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  11. ^ Girgus, Sam B. (2002). The Films of Woody Allen. Cambridge University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-521-00929-4. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Goldstein, Patrick (February 24, 1986). "Allen Garfield Sheds His Heavy Reputation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Peary, Gerald (2013). Quentin Tarantino: Interviews, Revised and Updated. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-61703-876-1. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  14. ^ Ebert, Roger (March 9, 1976). "Gable and Lombard movie review (1976)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via rogerebert.com.
  15. ^ Maslin, Janet (October 14, 1983). "'Get Crazy,' Rock". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Ebert, Roger (May 20, 1987). "Beverly Hills Cop II movie review (1987)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via rogerebert.com.
  17. ^ Holden, Stephen (August 19, 1989). "Review/Film; A Racing Addict's Dream Comes True: One More Win". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Sobczynski, Peter (November 18, 2015). "At Last!". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via Rogerebert.com.
  19. ^ Thomas, Kevin (October 22, 1993). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Jack and His Friends': A Trying Trip". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  20. ^ Rainer, Peter (July 16, 1993). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Family Prayers': Helping This Gambler Is a Losing Effort". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  21. ^ Levy, Emanuel (May 23, 1994). "The Patriots Les Patriotes". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  22. ^ Ebert, Roger (April 28, 1995). "Destiny Turns On The Radio movie review (1995)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via Rogerebert.com.
  23. ^ Ebert, Roger (March 22, 1996). "Diabolique movie review & film summary (1996) | Roger Ebert". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via Rogerebert.com.
  24. ^ "OBSESSION". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  25. ^ "The Elf Who Didn't Believe – review". Radio Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "THE MAJESTIC". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  27. ^ Linden, Sheri (October 27, 2016). "'Chief Zabu': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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