Richard Romanus, a revered actor known for his performances in the acclaimed film “Mean Streets” and the popular TV series “The Sopranos,” died on December 23, 2023. He was 80 years old. Romanus passed away in a private hospital in Volos, Greece, with the cause of his death remaining undisclosed.
Romanus was born on February 8, 1943, in Barre, Vermont, to a Lebanese-American family. His upbringing took place in West Hartford, Connecticut.
After earning a philosophy degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1964, Romanus briefly attended law school. He later decided to switch paths, studying acting at New York’s Carnegie Hall under the esteemed Lee Strasberg.
Romanus left an indelible mark on Hollywood with his portrayal of hard-edged characters. Among his most notable roles were the loan shark Michael in Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” (1973), and the voice of Harry Canyon in the animated film “Heavy Metal” (1981). He also voiced characters in the animated films “Wizards” and “Hey Good Lookin’,” both directed by Ralph Bakshi.
In the TV series “The Sopranos,” Romanus played Richard La Penna, the ex-husband of Dr. Jennifer Melfi, a character portrayed by Lorraine Bracco. His character appeared in four episodes of the show.
Romanus also appeared in numerous television shows during the 1970s and 1980s, including “Mission: Impossible,” “The Mod Squad,” “Rhoda,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files,” the original “Hawaii Five-O,” “Starsky and Hutch,” and “MacGyver.”
His film roles spanned a variety of genres, with appearances in “The Gravy Train,” “Protocol,” “The Couch Trip,” “Oscar,” and “Point of No Return.”
Romanus was married twice. His first wife was Tina Bohlmann, with whom he had a son, and they were married from 1967 until 1980. His second wife, whom he married in 1985, is Anthea Sylbert, an Oscar-nominated costume designer.
Over 20 years ago, Romanus and Sylbert moved to Skiathos, Greece. It was there that Romanus honed his writing skills, crafting his memoir and two novels set in Greece. The couple also collaborated on writing and producing two Lifetime telefilms: “Giving Up the Ghost” (1998) and “If You Believe” (1999).
Romanus’s memoir, titled “Act III: A Small Island in the Aegean,” was published in 2011 and was short-listed for the International Rubery Book Award the following year. He also authored the novels “Chrysalis” (2011) and “Matoula’s Echo” (2014).
Romanus is survived by his son, his second wife Anthea Sylbert, and his younger brother Robert Romanus, who is known for his role in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
