Ex-Con Who Turned Into Hollywood Actor Has Passed Away
Actor Richard Foronjy is best known for the roles he played in films including “Midnight Run,” “Serpico,” “Ghostbusters” and “Repo Man.” According to IMDB, he acted in 79 different movies and TV series throughout his career.
Sadly, Foronjy died on May 19, 2024. He was 86 years old. His family wrote a long tribute which they posted on Facebook to share the sad news.
His family did not include a cause of death in his post, but they did mention that Foronjy “passed peacefully” with several of his family members by his side. His family also mentioned that in the days leading up to his death, Foronjy was “showered…with love and adventures.”
Foronjy’s family described him as “a legend in every sense.” They added, “With a spirit as vibrant as the sun, he embraced life with unparalleled vigor and enthusiasm. Richard’s outgoing nature and infectious joy illuminated every room he entered, leaving a lasting impression on all who crossed his path. Richard Foronjy’s legacy of living life to the fullest will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Before launching his acting career, Foronjy found himself in trouble with the law more than once. According to PEOPLE, he was arrested more than 20 times, and one of those times landed him behind bars for more than 8 years. That time he was only in his 20s when he was arrested for armed robbery.
Foronjy once told UPI about the arrest. In an interview, he said, “My first bank job brought me $170,000, a lot more than Willy Sutton ever got. I spent the money lavishly and went to Europe.” He added, “Eventually, it all caught up with me. I robbed an attorney at gunpoint and the cops caught me as I was driving away.”
Foronjy was was 32 years old when he was released from jail. His first job out of prison was as a butcher, but he also started taking acting classes. His first acting role was in the 1973 film “Serpico.”
In 2020, Foronjy released his memoir which he titled “From the Mob to the Movies.”
According to Fonojy’s family, he is survived by two sons and two daughters as well as 17 grandchildren and many more great grandchildren. He is also survived by his three brothers and “his love” Wendy Odell Chiaro.