Carmine Caridi
Encyclopedia
Carmine Caridi is an American
television and film actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of roles over the past 30 years. He lives in West Hollywood.
and Carmine Rosato
in The Godfather Part II
. He is one of three actors to play two different roles in the Godfather films (the others being Frank Sivero
, who played a young Genco Abbandando
in Godfather Part II, and a bystander to the fight between Sonny Corleone
and Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather
, and Sofia Coppola
, who played Mary Corleone
in Godfather Part III, and the infant son of Carlo and Connie baptized in the final scenes of The Godfather). According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture
, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola
's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan
because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino
.
Caridi also appeared in the cult movie classic Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
, playing amusement park manager Calvin Richards.
On television he portrayed Dan Valenti, the boss of Phyllis Lindstrom
(Cloris Leachman
) on the TV series Phyllis
from 1976-1977. Between 1982 and 1983, Carmine played Angelo Martelli, Bruno Martelli's father, in the TV series Fame
. Caridi went on to play Detective Vince Gotelli in the television series NYPD Blue
from 1993-1999.
announced that it had identified a pirate copy of the film Something's Gotta Give, circulated illegally on the Internet
, as carrying markings identifying it as coming from a video sent to Caridi in his role as an Oscar voter. Pirate copies of The Last Samurai
, Mystic River, Big Fish
and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
were also said to have been traced to Caridi. The FBI subsequently began an investigation into the affair.
Later that month, the FBI charged Russell Sprague of Homewood, Illinois
with criminal copyright infringement
. Federal authorities allege that for at least three years, Caridi has given Sprague his screener
copies of approximately 60 movies seeking consideration for the Academy Awards. According to the FBI affidavit, Caridi said that he sent his screeners via Federal Express to Mr. Sprague, who gave him FedEx boxes, pre-addressed labels and an account number. Caridi denied receiving money from Sprague, telling the FBI he believed that Sprague was a film buff.
Caridi and Sprague were sued by Sony
and Time Warner
on civil charges of copyright infringement. The studios are suing in the United States District Court for the Central District of California
in Los Angeles
, seeking damages of a minimum of $150,000 per movie, with hundreds of individual violations alleged. While awaiting trial on criminal charges, Sprague died of a suspected heart attack.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on February 3, 2004 that it was expelling Caridi for violating his agreement to safeguard their screeners, making him the first Academy member to be expelled under its new anti-piracy policy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television and film actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of roles over the past 30 years. He lives in West Hollywood.
Career
His most notable film roles are Albert Volpe in The Godfather Part IIIThe Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American gangster film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire...
and Carmine Rosato
Carmine Rosato
Carmine Rosato is a fictional character in the film The Godfather Part II, as well as its video game adaptation. He is known as one of the Rosato Brothers, along with his brother Antonio "Tony" Rosato. Carmine works in Pete Clemenza's regime after Michael Corleone moves to Lake Tahoe, Nevada. He is...
in The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the...
. He is one of three actors to play two different roles in the Godfather films (the others being Frank Sivero
Frank Sivero
Frank Sivero is a Sicilian-American character actor, perhaps best known for playing the roles of Genco Abbandando in Mario Puzo's and Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part II and Frankie Carbone in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas.Sivero was born Francesco LoGiudice in Siculiana, Sicily, Italy,...
, who played a young Genco Abbandando
Genco Abbandando
Genco Abbandando is a fictional character from the novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, and the film adaptations The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. He serves as Don Vito Corleone's first consigliere for 20 years until he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. As Genco's health worsens he is...
in Godfather Part II, and a bystander to the fight between Sonny Corleone
Sonny Corleone
Santino "Sonny" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. He also appears as an infant, as a young boy, and an adult in The Godfather Part II....
and Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
, and Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola
Sofia Carmina Coppola is an American screenwriter, film director, actress, and producer.In 2003 she received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Lost in Translation, and became the third woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Directing...
, who played Mary Corleone
Mary Corleone
Mary Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather Part III, portrayed by Sofia Coppola. She is the daughter of Michael Corleone and Kay Adams and sister of Anthony Vito Corleone.-The Godfather Part II:...
in Godfather Part III, and the infant son of Carlo and Connie baptized in the final scenes of The Godfather). According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture
The Kid Stays in the Picture
The Kid Stays in the Picture is the name of a 1994 autobiography by film producer Robert Evans. It is also the name of a 2002 film adaptation of the book directed by Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen and released by Focus Features and USA Pictures...
, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan
James Caan
James Caan is an American actor. He is best known for his starring roles in The Godfather, Thief, Misery, A Bridge Too Far, Brian's Song, Rollerball, Kiss Me Goodbye, Elf, and El Dorado...
because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
.
Caridi also appeared in the cult movie classic Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park
Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park is a 1978 television film, starring American hard rock band Kiss...
, playing amusement park manager Calvin Richards.
On television he portrayed Dan Valenti, the boss of Phyllis Lindstrom
Phyllis Lindstrom
Phyllis Lindstrom is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off, Phyllis, portrayed by Cloris Leachman.-The Mary Tyler Moore Show:...
(Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
) on the TV series Phyllis
Phyllis (TV series)
Phyllis is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 11, 1975 to March 13, 1977.Created by Ed Weinberger and Stan Daniels. it was the second spin-off series from The Mary Tyler Moore Show . The show starred Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom, who was previously Mary Richards'...
from 1976-1977. Between 1982 and 1983, Carmine played Angelo Martelli, Bruno Martelli's father, in the TV series Fame
Fame (1982 TV series)
Fame is an American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although...
. Caridi went on to play Detective Vince Gotelli in the television series NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
from 1993-1999.
Piracy incident
On January 13, 2004, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
announced that it had identified a pirate copy of the film Something's Gotta Give, circulated illegally on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, as carrying markings identifying it as coming from a video sent to Caridi in his role as an Oscar voter. Pirate copies of The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic drama film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay based on a story by John Logan. The film was inspired by a project developed by writer and director Vincent Ward, who had previously filmed the movie in 1990, starring...
, Mystic River, Big Fish
Big Fish
Big Fish is a 2003 American fantasy adventure film based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. The film was directed by Tim Burton and stars Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and Marion Cotillard. Finney plays Edward Bloom, a former traveling salesman from...
and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir, starring Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey, with Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin and released by 20th Century Fox, Miramax Films and Universal Studios...
were also said to have been traced to Caridi. The FBI subsequently began an investigation into the affair.
Later that month, the FBI charged Russell Sprague of Homewood, Illinois
Homewood, Illinois
Homewood is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,543 at the 2000 census. Homewood is a sister city to Homewood, Alabama.- Geography :...
with criminal copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
. Federal authorities allege that for at least three years, Caridi has given Sprague his screener
Screener
A screener is an advance screening of a film sent to critics, awards voters, video stores , and other film industry professionals, including producers and distributors. A screener often has no post-processing....
copies of approximately 60 movies seeking consideration for the Academy Awards. According to the FBI affidavit, Caridi said that he sent his screeners via Federal Express to Mr. Sprague, who gave him FedEx boxes, pre-addressed labels and an account number. Caridi denied receiving money from Sprague, telling the FBI he believed that Sprague was a film buff.
Caridi and Sprague were sued by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
on civil charges of copyright infringement. The studios are suing in the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, seeking damages of a minimum of $150,000 per movie, with hundreds of individual violations alleged. While awaiting trial on criminal charges, Sprague died of a suspected heart attack.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on February 3, 2004 that it was expelling Caridi for violating his agreement to safeguard their screeners, making him the first Academy member to be expelled under its new anti-piracy policy.