Ron Karabatsos

Ronald Christ Karabatsos (1933–2012) was an American character actor.

Ron Karabatsos
Born
Ronald Christ Karabatsos

(1933-04-22)April 22, 1933
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedApril 17, 2012(2012-04-17) (aged 78)
Beaumont, Riverside County, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1981–2004
Spouse(s)Janell, ?-2012, his death
Children2, son Ronald, Jr. (deceased)
daughter Dawnne
1 grandchild; 2 great-grandchildren

Early life

Karabatsos was born on April 22, 1933, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA, to Constantine and Antoinette Karabatsos, first-generation immigrants from Greece.[1] The family lived in Union City, New Jersey, where young Ronald graduated from Emerson High School.

Military and police service

Upon graduating from high school, Karabatsos was drafted in the U.S. Army spending most of his service time in the Korean War. After he was released from the military, he joined the police department of his home city, retiring after twenty eight years as a homicide detective.[1]

Movie career

In 1982, while still on the police force, Karabatsos was approached to act a part in the Sidney Lumet movie Prince of the City. Most New York critics[2] and Roger Ebert[3] wrote positive reviews on the movie. James Wolcott dissented, concluding that the film is "wearing its liberal pieties like a crown of thorns," although he reserved praise for Karabatsos' work, writing that he "carries his hulk with impressive menace as a slime-souled bail bondsman."[2] Critic David S. Machlowitz,[4] though agreeing with Wolcott's take on the movie, wrote that Karabatsos "is superb as [the] bloated, belligerent bail bondsman."

Karabatsos went on to act in some thirty movies and two hundred TV shows,[1] moving to live in California. He starred in the 1982 made-for-TV-movie Hear No Evil as Lt. Lew Healy.[5]: 445 [6]: 188 [7]

He died on April 17, 2012, five days before his 79th birthday, in Beaumont, California, from a non-communicable disease, survived by wife Janell, daughter Dawnne Rigsby, and an extended family.[1]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1981Prince of the CityDave DeBennedeto
1983FlashdanceJake Mawby
1984The Cotton ClubMike Best
1987Cold SteelFishman
1987Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia WifeAldo
1989Wedding BandBruno Kavoles
1990My Blue HeavenRitchie
1990Hollywood HeartbreakL.R. Sharkey
1991Rich GirlRocco
199129th StreetPhilly the Nap
1991Where Sleeping Dogs LieStan Reeb
1991Dead in the WaterMike Welch
1993We're Back! A Dinosaur's StoryVoice
1995Get ShortyMomo
1996Baby Face NelsonBig Frankie
2000The CrewFat Pauly
2004Surviving ChristmasDeli Man(final film role)

References
  1. "Ronald Christ Karabatsos". NJ.com. Obituary. April 25, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  2. Wolcott, James (October 1981). "Dirty Work". Texas Monthly. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1981). "Prince of the City". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  4. Machlowitz, David S. (December 1981). "Lawyer on the Aisle: The lawyer as puppeteer and puppet". ABA Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). New York City: McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786464777.
  6. Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). New York City: Zoetrope Publishing. ISBN 978-0918432612.
  7. "Hear No Evil". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
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