1. Renaldo Santoni was an American film, television and voice actor.
18 Facts About Reni Santoni
1. 2.
Reni Santoni was noted for playing Poppie on the television sitcom Seinfeld, Tony Gonzales in Cobra, and Chico Gonzalez in Dirty Harry.
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Reni Santoni was born in New York City on April 21,1938.
4.
Reni Santoni began his career in Off-Broadway theatre, writing the play Raisin' Hell in the Son which premiered in 1962.
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Reni Santoni's first significant film role was an uncredited appearance in the 1964 film The Pawnbroker, in which he played a junkie trying to sell a radio to the title character.
6.
Reni Santoni's first leading role was as a young actor in Enter Laughing.
7.
Reni Santoni was cast into the role of delivery boy David Kolowitz after being scouted by Carl Reiner; the film was a semi-autobiographical story about the latter.
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Reni Santoni went on to play Inspector "Chico" Gonzalez in the 1971 film Dirty Harry.
9.
Reni Santoni's character, who is a newcomer detective and college graduate in sociology, was initially dismissed by the title character as "a college boy".
10.
Reni Santoni again collaborated with Reiner in the comedic homage to film noir Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.
11.
Reni Santoni featured in the short-lived series Sanchez of Bel Air and Manimal, in which he played Nick Rivera.
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Reni Santoni was described by Tracy Newman as having a completely different personality from the characters he played, which were most frequently cops, crime lords, or judges.
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Reni Santoni noted his reputation among friends as being "the funniest guy in the room".
14.
Reni Santoni made guest appearances on television shows such as Barnaby Jones, Lou Grant, Hawaii Five-O, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hill Street Blues, The Odd Couple and Midnight Caller.
15.
In 1973, Reni Santoni played a junior partner on Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law.
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Reni Santoni then had a long-term relationship with actress and director Betty Thomas, and a son named Nick.
17.
Reni Santoni died on August 1,2020, at a hospice in Los Angeles at the age of 82.
18.
Reni Santoni had several health problems during his last years, including cancer.