Blackie Dammett
Encyclopedia
Blackie Dammett or "Spider" (born John Kiedis; ˈ ; ˈkʲɛdɪs) is an American
actor
and father of Anthony Kiedis
, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
. In Scar Tissue, Anthony describes how his father frequented the Rainbow Bar and Grill
where he sold drugs to rock icons such as the members of Led Zeppelin
and The Who
's Keith Moon
. As an actor, he appeared in the films National Lampoon's Class Reunion
(1982), Meatballs Part II (1984) and Lethal Weapon
(1987), among others. He also made frequent television appearances, on such shows as Starsky and Hutch
, Trapper John, M.D.
and It's Garry Shandling's Show
.
, his grandfather Antanas Kiedis (1878–1949) and grandmother Julija (1883–1948) were Lithuanian immigrants. John was the youngest child in the family and the only American-born. In 2008 it was reported that Anthony Kiedis was developing a television series for HBO titled "Spider and Son", loosely based on Anthony's autobiography Scar Tissue. The show was originally scheduled to premiere in late 2010 but wasn't picked up as a series, despite a pilot script penned by John Sayles
.The show has since been picked up by the FX network though it is unknown when production will begin.
Blackie was close friends in the 70s with actor and musician, Sonny Bono
who eventually became Anthony's godparent
.
As of 2007, Dammett lives in Portland, Oregon
.
Dammett is in the process of writing his autobiography, and trying to find a publisher for his book.
For many years Dammett ran both the website and fanclub for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. To this day he still is in direct contact with many fans of his son's band through his own Facebook and My Space pages.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and father of Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis is an American vocalist/lyricist, and occasional actor best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis spent his youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his mother before moving, shortly before his 12th birthday, to Hollywood,...
, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
Name
He legally changed his name to Blackie Dammett as a tribute to his favorite writer Dashiell HammettDashiell Hammett
Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
. In Scar Tissue, Anthony describes how his father frequented the Rainbow Bar and Grill
Rainbow Bar and Grill
The Rainbow Bar and Grill is a bar and restaurant on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States adjacent to the border of Beverly Hills, California. Its address is 9015 Sunset Boulevard....
where he sold drugs to rock icons such as the members of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
. As an actor, he appeared in the films National Lampoon's Class Reunion
National Lampoon's Class Reunion
National Lampoon's Class Reunion is a 1982 comedy film, directed by Michael Miller and written by John Hughes...
(1982), Meatballs Part II (1984) and Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary...
(1987), among others. He also made frequent television appearances, on such shows as Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986....
and It's Garry Shandling's Show
It's Garry Shandling's Show
It's Garry Shandling's Show is an American sitcom which was initially broadcast on Showtime from 1986 to 1990. It was created by Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel. The show is notable for its frequent use of breaking the fourth wall to allow characters to speak directly to the audience...
.
Family
According to Anthony Kiedis' autobiography, Scar TissueScar Tissue (book)
Scar Tissue is the autobiography of Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis. It was released in 2004 by Hyperion and authored by Kiedis with Larry Sloman, who compiled information and interviewed various parties associated with the plot line. The story follows Kiedis from his birth in 1962 to...
, his grandfather Antanas Kiedis (1878–1949) and grandmother Julija (1883–1948) were Lithuanian immigrants. John was the youngest child in the family and the only American-born. In 2008 it was reported that Anthony Kiedis was developing a television series for HBO titled "Spider and Son", loosely based on Anthony's autobiography Scar Tissue. The show was originally scheduled to premiere in late 2010 but wasn't picked up as a series, despite a pilot script penned by John Sayles
John Sayles
John Thomas Sayles is an American independent film director, screenwriter and author.-Early life:Sayles was born in Schenectady, New York, the son of Mary , a teacher, and Donald John Sayles, a school administrator. He was raised Catholic and took to labeling himself "a Catholic atheist"...
.The show has since been picked up by the FX network though it is unknown when production will begin.
Blackie was close friends in the 70s with actor and musician, Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
who eventually became Anthony's godparent
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
.
As of 2007, Dammett lives in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Dammett is in the process of writing his autobiography, and trying to find a publisher for his book.
For many years Dammett ran both the website and fanclub for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. To this day he still is in direct contact with many fans of his son's band through his own Facebook and My Space pages.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Nowhere to Hide | John |
| 1978 | Jokes My Folks Never Told Me | |
| 1979 | Mr. Horn Mr. Horn Mr. Horn is a 1979 made for TV movie chronicling the life of Tom Horn. It was directed byJack Starrett from a screenplay by William Goldman.-Starring:*David Carradine as Tom Horn*Richard Widmark as Albert Sieber*Karen Black as Ernestina Crawford... |
Small Rustler |
| 1981 | Midnight Lace | Herman Laird |
| 1982 | Kiss My Grits | Bat Paterson |
| National Lampoon's Class Reunion National Lampoon's Class Reunion National Lampoon's Class Reunion is a 1982 comedy film, directed by Michael Miller and written by John Hughes... |
Walter Baylor | |
| 1983 | The Lost Empire The Lost Empire (1983 film) The Lost Empire is a 1983 fantasy adventure film directed by Jim Wynorski. It stars Melanie Vincz, Raven De La Croix, Angela Aames and Angus Scrimm-External links:* at Bad Movie Planet* at And you call yourself a scientist!... |
Prager |
| Doctor Detroit Doctor Detroit Doctor Detroit is a 1983 comedy film, written by Bruce Jay Friedman, Robert Boris and Carl Gottlieb. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Howard Hesseman, Lynn Whitfield, Fran Drescher, and Donna Dixon, with a special appearance by James Brown. The film was directed by Michael Pressman.James Brown performed... |
Eddie Four Eyes | |
| 1984 | Meatballs Part II | Sgt. Paladin |
| 1985 | Nine Deaths of the Ninja | Alby the Cruel |
| The Boys Next Door The Boys Next Door (1985 film) The Boys Next Door is a 1985 independent adventure-drama film about two aimless young men who embark on an orgy of sex, drugs, and murder.-Plot:... |
Bartender | |
| 1986 | 52 Pick-up 52 Pick-Up 52 Pick-Up is a 1986 crime thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer. The film stars Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret and is based on Elmore Leonard's novel of the same name.-Plot:... |
Drug Dealer |
| 1987 | Lethal Weapon Lethal Weapon Lethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary... |
Drug Dealer #3 |
| 1988 | A Night at the Magic Castle | Evil Magician |
| The American Scream | Pastor | |
| 1989 | L.A. Bounty L.A. Bounty L.A. Bounty is a 1989 drama film directed by Worth Keeter, starring Sybil Danning, Wings Hauser and Blackie Dammett. Ruger , an ex-cop-turned-bounty hunter goes after a crazed killer.-Cast:* Sybil Danning as Ruger... |
James Maxwell |
| 1990 | Instant Karma Instant Karma (film) Instant Karma is a 1990 film. Craig Sheffer stars as Zane, a TV producer looking for romance.- Cast :* Craig Sheffer - Zane* Chelsea Noble - Penelope* David Cassidy - Reno* Glenn Hirsch - David* Orson Bean - Dr... |
Ed Polski |
Television appearances
- Hunter (guest star)
- Crime StoryCrime Story (TV series)Crime Story is an NBC TV drama created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. The executive producer was Michael Mann, who had left Miami Vice to oversee Crime Story and direct the film Manhunter. The show premiered with a two hour pilot — a movie which had been exhibited theatrically —...
(guest star) - Night CourtNight CourtNight Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984, to May 20, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, unorthodox Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone...
(guest star) - Who's the Boss?Who's the Boss?Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992...
(guest star) - Trapper John, M.D.Trapper John, M.D.Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986....
(guest star) - The Fall GuyThe Fall GuyThe Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
(guest star) - The Lady in RedThe Lady in Red (1979 film)The Lady in Red is a 1979 film directed by Lewis Teague, and starring Pamela Sue Martin and Robert Conrad. It is an early writing effort of John Sayles who became better known as a director in the 1980s and 90s...
(Immigration Officer, guest star) - Starsky and HutchStarsky and HutchStarsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
(Charles Deek, guest star) - Charlie's AngelsCharlie's AngelsCharlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
(guest star) - ALFALF (TV series)ALF is an American science fiction sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990, created by Paul Fusco. The title character was Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed ALF , who crash lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family.The series starred Max...
(guest star in unaired pilot)