Frank Pesce, the colorful character actor known for his roles in iconic films like Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, and Midnight Run, has passed away at the age of 75. His girlfriend, Tammy Scher, revealed that Pesce died on February 6 in Burbank due to complications from dementia.
Image: Sylvester Stallone and Frank Pesce. Courtesy of Tammy Scher.
Born on December 8, 1946, in New York City, Frank Pesce was a true character actor who left a lasting impression on the industry. He was not only a close friend of industry veterans like Sylvester Stallone, Tony Danza, and the late Robert Forster but also someone who brought immense joy with his infectious smile, captivating stories, and larger-than-life personality.
From the mid-1970s, Pesce embarked on his screen career, making guest appearances in popular series like Police Story and Kojak while taking on minor roles in early Sylvester Stallone films such as Rocky and Paradise Alley. His talent and dedication kept him steadily working in both film and television until the 2010s, where he made memorable guest appearances on hit shows including Cagney & Lacey, Knight Rider, Matlock, Who's the Boss?, and Miami Vice.
Pesce's breakthrough came with the role of a bar regular in the blockbuster film Flashdance, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. This success led to his most recognizable roles in the first two Beverly Hills Cop films, where he played a cigarette buyer in the wild opening scene of the first film and a hood falsely accused of being a cop in the sequel, alongside the talented Eddie Murphy.
He also appeared as a bartender in the Simpson-Bruckheimer juggernaut Top Gun and as a bail jumper in the action-comedy classic Midnight Run, penned by George Gallo and starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin.
Image: Frank Pesce with cast members from '29th Street'. 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection.
Pesce's impact was not limited to his acting roles alone. His fascinating real-life story was the inspiration for the 1991 film, '29th Street,' which marked George Gallo's directorial debut. David Permut, the producer of the film, shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes story. Pesce had sold the rights to his life story to both United Artists and Paramount simultaneously, causing a conflict. Fortunately, Permut managed to resolve the situation by speaking to Don Simpson, who showed understanding and allowed the film to be made under 20th Century Fox.
"To say Frank was one of a kind would be a gross understatement," Permut remarked. "We shared our love and passion for film. He claimed to see more movies than Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert combined."
Frank Pesce will be remembered as a unique and charismatic individual. He will be deeply missed by his girlfriend, Tammy Scher, his brother, Vito Pesce, nieces Vanessa Pesce and Danielle Pesce, sister-in-law Catherine Pesce, and his countless friends in the industry. His epitaph will carry the words he often spoke: "They make movies about guys like me."
Image: Frank Pesce's headstone. Courtesy of Tammy Scher.
Frank Pesce's burial will take place on February 18 at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx, where he will rest among the stars that he once shared the screen with.
