Richard Bright, best known as Corleone family's bodyguard Al Neri in the three
The Godfather movies, died Saturday after being hit by a private bus while crossing a street near his Manhattan home. He was 68.
Detective Bernard Gifford said that the incident occurred at about 6.30 pm local time at the corner of the Columbus Avenue and 86th Street. The actor was rushed to the St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. Gifford added that no arrests have been made so far and investigations into the incident are on.
The bus driver is believed to have said that he hadn't seen Bright and was not even aware that the bus had run anyone over. After being hit, Bright was dragged by the rear wheel of the bus that was on its way to the Port Authority bus terminal.
Born on June 11, 1937, in Brooklyn in New York to shipbuilder Ernest and his wife Matilda, Bright began his career at the age of 18 with live television in Manhattan. Beginning with a small character role in
Odds Against Tomorrow in 1959, the actor went on to do several roles in films, television and theater.
He also did a small role in
The Getaway in 1972, before getting his big break the same year with Francis Ford Coppola's
The Godfather. The role of Neri, one of Michael Corleone's bodyguards, won the actor accolades but also typecast him, paving the way for his casting as a gangster in forthcoming films. He played Neri in both the sequels of the film Godfather II and Godfather III. In spite of the typecasting, Bright had earlier admitted that the role of Neri was his most cherished one.
Among his other films were
Looking for Mr Goodbar,
Once Upon a Time in America,
The Panic in Needle Park,
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid and
Marathon Man and several others. In addition to films, Bright appeared in several TV shows, NBC's
Hill Street Blues and
Law & Order and HBO's
The Sopranos being the more prominent ones. He always said it was the work that was the reward, Bright's friend actor Brett Smiley said while condoling his death.
In 1965, Bright had faced legal action for obscene dialogues and acts in Michael McClure's two-character show
The Beard. He, however, was cleared of the charges as The American Civil Liberties Union stepped in, leading to a new revolution advocating for freedom of expression in theater. Known for his love of Shakespearean plays, Bright also played King Richard III. He is survived by his wife actress Rutanya Alda and two children son Jeremy Bright and daughter Dianne.
