# Paul Picerni

Horacio Paul Picerni (December 1, 1922 – January 12, 2011) was an American actor in film and television, perhaps best known today in the role of Federal Agent Lee Hobson, second-in-command to Robert Stack's Eliot Ness, in the ABC hit television series, The Untouchables.

## Early years

Picerni was born in New York City to an Italian family. Raised in Corona, Queens, he was an Eagle Scout in his youth and adolescence. After high school, Picerni studied drama at Loyola University.

## Military service

Picerni joined the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and served as a B-24 Liberator bombardier in the China-Burma-India Theater. He flew twenty-five combat missions with the 493rd Bomb Squadron of the 7th Bomb Group and received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He was part of a mission that attacked and destroyed the actual bridge made famous in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). After the Japanese surrendered, Picerni became a Special Services officer in India. Following his discharge, he enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

## Film

As a young actor returning from the war, Picerni appeared in military pictures: in Twelve O'Clock High (1949) as a bombardier and as Private Edward P. Rojeck in Breakthrough. This led to a Warner Brothers contract and a succession of roles at that studio including a Portuguese Socialist "Red" agitator in 1952's The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima and the hero of the 1953 horror classic House of Wax. After his departure from Warners, he appeared with Audie Murphy in Universal Studio's To Hell and Back.

## Television
### Regular roles

After Italian organizations began to complain about the use of Italian gangsters on ABC's, The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack as G-man Eliot Ness, Picerni joined the cast in 1960 as Ness's number-one aide, Lee Hobson, a role that he played for the duration of the series. (He was also seen in the program's pilot, playing Tony Liguri.)$^{:1132}$ He also portrayed Ed Miller on O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971-1972) and was featured as Dan Garrett on The Young Marrieds (1964–66)$^{:1207}$

### Guest appearances

In 1954, Picerni was cast as the outlaw Rube Burrow in the syndicated western television series Stories of the Century, starring and narrated by Jim Davis. That same year, he had a role in the pilot episode for the 1957-58 NBC detective series, Meet McGraw.
Picerni appeared in two episodes, "Gun Hand" and "Badge to Kill" of the syndicated western series 26 Men (1957–59). He also appeared in the episode "Gypsy Boy" of Tales of the Texas Rangers. In 1957, he played a deserter in an episode of the syndicated Boots and Saddles.
Between 1957 and 1960, Picerni was cast three times in different roles, the last as Duke Blaine, on the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Colt .45, starring Wayde Preston.
In 1958, Picerni played a milkman on the ABC sitcom, The Donna Reed Show. He also portrayed a police detective in the episode "The Quemoy Story" of Behind Closed Doors.
Picerni made three guest appearances on Perry Mason during its nine-year run on CBS. In 1958 he played Charles Gallagher in "The Case of the One-Eyed Witness", and defendant Army Sgt. Joseph Dexter in "The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant". In 1963, he played murderer Walter Jefferies in "The Case of the Bouncing Boomerang". In 1964, he appeared in The Fugitive, in the episode "Search in a Windy City".
In 1967, Paul appeared with his daughter Gina Picerni in the episode "The Chameleon" of My Three Sons. He also made a featured appearance as a POW who tries to betray the other prisoners by selling damning information to the Nazis, in the "One in Every Crowd" episode of Hogan's Heroes (season 3, episode 10, first broadcast November 11, 1967).

## Book

His autobiography, Steps to Stardom: My Story, written with the help of Tom Weaver, was published by BearManor Media in 2007.

## Personal life and death

Picerni married former ballet dancer Marie Mason, in 1947. They settled in Tarzana, California to raise their family; they had eight children and ten grandchildren. Two of Picerni's children predeceased him.
He died from a heart attack in Palmdale, California, on January 12, 2011, at the age of 88. Picerni is interred at the Roman Catholic San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1946 | In Fast Company | Street Extra | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Don't Gamble with Strangers | Gambling Casino Patron | Uncredited |
| 1948 | Beyond Glory | Second Detective | Uncredited |
| 1949 | Twelve O'Clock High | Bombardier | Uncredited |
| 1949 | D.O.A. | Assistant Photographer | Uncredited |
| 1950 | When Willie Comes Marching Home | Kerrigan | Scenes deleted |
| 1950 | The Secret Fury | Dr. Roth | Uncredited |
| 1950 | A Lady Without Passport | Italian | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Saddle Tramp | Denver | |
| 1950 | I'll Get By | Marine Sergeant | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Three Secrets | Sergeant | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Dial 1119 | Interpreter-Detective | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Breakthrough | Private Edward P. Rojeck | |
| 1950 | The Killer That Stalked New York | Health Department Investigator | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Operation Pacific | Jonesy | |
| 1951 | I Was a Communist for the FBI | Joe Cvetic | |
| 1951 | Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison | Jeff Riordan | |
| 1951 | Fort Worth | Joe Castro | |
| 1951 | Force of Arms | Sheridan | |
| 1951 | Jim Thorpe – All-American | Man on Speaker's Platform | Uncredited |
| 1951 | The Tanks Are Coming | Danny Kolowicz | |
| 1952 | Mara Maru | Steven Ranier | |
| 1952 | The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima | 'Red' Agitator | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Cattle Town | Pepe | |
| 1952 | Operation Secret | Captain Armand Dupree | |
| 1953 | She's Back on Broadway | Jud Kellogg | |
| 1953 | House of Wax | Scott Andrews | |
| 1953 | The System | David Wiley | |
| 1953 | The Desert Song | Hassan | |
| 1953 | The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms | Trailer Commentator | Uncredited |
| 1953 | The Charge at Feather River | Sergeant | Scenes deleted |
| 1954 | His Majesty O'Keefe | Spanish Ship Owner | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Drive a Crooked Road | Carl | |
| 1954 | Riding Shotgun | Bob Purdee | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Pushover | Masher in Ann's Hallway | Uncredited |
| 1954 | The Shanghai Story | Mr. Emilio De Verno | |
| 1954 | The Bounty Hunter | Jud | |
| 1954 | The Adventures of Hajji Baba | Nurel-Din | |
| 1955 | Dial Red O | Norman Roper | |
| 1955 | Hell's Island | Eduardo Martin | |
| 1955 | Lord of the Jungle | Paul Cabot | |
| 1955 | Wiretapper | Herbie | |
| 1955 | To Hell and Back | Valentino | |
| 1955 | Bobby Ware Is Missing | Alfred Gledhill | |
| 1956 | Miracle in the Rain | Priest | |
| 1956 | The Come On | Jannings, Assistant District Attorney | |
| 1956 | Flight to Hong Kong | Michael Quisto | |
| 1957 | The Shadow on the Window | Bigelow | |
| 1957 | The Big Caper | Harry | |
| 1957 | Operation Mad Ball | Private Bullard | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Omar Khayyam | Commander | |
| 1957 | The Brothers Rico | Gino Rico | |
| 1958 | The Deep Six | Merchant Marine | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Return to Warbow | Deputy Sheriff | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Marjorie Morningstar | Philip Berman | |
| 1958 | The Man Who Died Twice | George | |
| 1958 | Torpedo Run | Lieutenant Burt Fisher | |
| 1959 | The Young Philadelphians | Louis Donetti | |
| 1960 | The Apartment | Patron in bar | |
| 1960 | Strangers When We Meet | Arthur Gerandi | |
| 1962 | Pages of Death | Lead Cop | Short film |
| 1964 | The Age of Violence | Gangster | |
| 1968 | The Scalphunters | Frank | |
| 1969 | Che! | Hector | |
| 1970 | Land Raiders | Carney / Arturo (as H.P. Picerni) | |
| 1970 | Airport | Dr. Compagno | |
| 1970 | Kelly's Heroes | M.P. Sergeant | Scenes deleted |
| 1971 | Kotch | Dr. Ramon Caudillo | |
| 1971 | The Fearmaker | Kent Davis | |
| 1978 | Capricorn One | Jerry | |
| 1979 | Escape to Athena | Zeno's Man | |
| 1979 | Beyond the Poseidon Adventure | Kurt | |
| 2007 | Three Days to Vegas | Jim | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | The Living Christ Series | James | Television miniseries |
| 1953–1954 | Dragnet | Rios / Hymie | 2 episodes |
| 1954 | Fireside Theatre | Flores | Episode: "Retribution" |
| 1954 | The Public Defender | Albert DeMarco | Episode: "Lost Cause" |
| 1954 | The Lone Wolf | Chick Walsi | Episode: "The Italian Story" |
| 1954 | Mr. and Mrs. North | Bert Conroy | Episode: "The Girl in Cell 13" |
| 1954 | Lux Video Theatre | Dr. Murger | Episode: "Blind Fury" |
| 1954 | My Little Margie | | Episode: "Vern's Guilty Feeling" |
| 1954 | Studio 57 | Bill Darrow | Episode: "So False and So Fair" |
| 1954 | Climax! | | Episode: "Sorry, Wrong Number" |
| 1954–1955 | Four Star Playhouse | Laramie Cole / Freddie | 2 episodes |
| 1954–1957 | Cavalcade of America | Principal John Norton / James Ohio Pattie | 2 episodes |
| 1954–1958 | The Loretta Young Show | Stanley Reed / Darius / Toby / Laurence Delaney | 4 episodes |
| 1955 | Big Town | | Episode: "The Grand Almost" |
| 1955 | Stories of the Century | Rube Burrows - The Alabama Wolf | Episode: "Rube Burrows" |
| 1955 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | | Episode: "End of the Mission" |
| 1955 | Navy Log | Frenchy | Episode: "The Phantom of the Blue Angels" |
| 1955 | Waterfront | Chris Pimmentel / Mario Ferrera / Chris Piemental | 3 episodes |
| 1955 | Passport to Danger | Eddie Matera | Episode: "Naples" |
| 1956 | Ford Television Theatre | Detective | Episode: "The Clay Pigeon" |
| 1956 | Ford Star Jubilee | | Episode: "A Bell for Adano" |
| 1956 | The Count of Monte Cristo | Patrini | Episode: "The Sardinian Affair" |
| 1956–1958 | The Gale Storm Show | Bengali / Sebastian | 2 episodes |
| 1957 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Assissi #19 | Season 2 Episode 21: "Number Twenty Two" |
| 1957 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Nick Roper | Season 2 Episode 24: "The Cream of the Jest" |
| 1957 | Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers | Jaffar Kul Sidri / Latiff Faroze | 2 episodes |
| 1957 | Panic! | Marvin Henderson | Episode: "The Airline Hostess" |
| 1957 | Circus Boy | Julio Gaetano | Episode: "Little Vagabond" |
| 1957 | Broken Arrow | Major Gregory Markson / Zele | 2 episodes |
| 1957 | The Eve Arden Show | Mr. Turner | Episode: "White Elephant Sale" |
| 1957 | The Life of Riley | Ricardo | Episode: "Babs and the Latin" |
| 1957 | Tales of the Texas Rangers | Philip Conzog | Episode: "Gypsy Boy" |
| 1957 | The Millionaire | Lawrence W. Smart | Episode: "The Story of Steve Logan" |
| 1957 | Matinee Theatre | | Episode: "A Cloud for Jeni" |
| 1957 | Code 3 | Fred Davis | Episode: "Sunset Strip" |
| 1957–1958 | The Silent Service | Lieutenant John H. Eichman / Lieutenant Commander Thomas Burton Klakring / Executive Officer Alan Bergner / Lieutenant David H. McClintock | 4 episodes |
| 1957–1958 | Boots and Saddles | Private Grimes / Trooper Grimes | 2 episodes |
| 1957–1960 | Colt .45 | Duke Blaine / Jose / Quito | 3 episodes |
| 1958 | 26 Men | Ranger Ben Thorpe / Ben Thorpe | 2 episodes |
| 1958 | Zorro | Pedro Murrietta | 2 episodes |
| 1958 | Maverick | Rene Gireaux | Episode: "Escape to Tampico" |
| 1958 | The Donna Reed Show | Milkman | Episode: "The Foundling" |
| 1958 | Flight | | Episode: "Sky Hook" |
| 1958–1963 | Perry Mason | Walter Jefferies / Sergeant Joseph Dexter / Charles Gallagher | 3 episodes |
| 1959 | The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin | Jaffar Husein | Episode: "Star of India" |
| 1959 | Behind Closed Doors | Mike Perrera | Episode: "The Quemoy Story" |
| 1959 | Northwest Passage | Guy Perro | Episode: "Stab in the Back" |
| 1959 | M Squad | Al Samson | Episode: "The Star Witness" |
| 1959 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | Chief Bullhead | Episode: "Horse Race" |
| 1959 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse | Tony Liguri / Funzy | 3 episodes |
| 1959 | Playhouse 90 | Lieutenant Alfredo | Episode: "The Killers of Mussolini" |
| 1959–1960 | Fury | Tupelo / Bob | 2 episodes |
| 1959–1963 | The Untouchables | Lee Hobson / Tony Liguri | 91 episodes |
| 1960 | Hawaiian Eye | Lanakila | Episode: "The Kamehameha Cloak" |
| 1960 | Bonanza | Sanchez | Episode: "The Spanish Grant" |
| 1960 | The Rebel | Lee Ricker / Manuel Flynn / Clee | 3 episodes |
| 1960 | Rawhide | Bahari | Episode: "Incident of the Dancing Death" |
| 1960 | Sugarfoot | Gian-Paolo Fregoso | Episode: "The Corsican" |
| 1960 | Shotgun Slade | Quinn | Episode: "The Fabulous Fiddle" |
| 1960 | Bourbon Street Beat | Antonio Rossi | Episode: "Wagon Show" |
| 1960 | Markham | Police Captain Mascotti | Episode: "Escorts a La Carte" |
| 1960 | Men into Space | Bob King | Episode: "Into the Sun" |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith | Enrico Spanato | Episode: "The Interpreter" |
| 1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Bruno Cestari | Episode: "5: Part 3" |
| 1964 | The Fugitive | Sergeant DeSantis | Episode: "Search in a Windy City" |
| 1964 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Marco the Magnificent | Episode: "The Night the Monkey Died" |
| 1964 | The Great Adventure | Pierre Lafitte | Episode: "The Pirate and the Patriot" |
| 1964–1966 | The Young Marrieds | Dr. Dan Garret | 158 episodes |
| 1964–1974 | Insight | Tony Guzzo | 3 episodes |
| 1965–1967 | My Three Sons | Jack / Paul Owlfeather | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | The Big Valley | Peterson | Episode: "The Iron Box" |
| 1966 | Combat! | Private Harold Vincent | Episode: "The Furlough" |
| 1967 | Batman | Brown | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | The Time Tunnel | Mongol Warrior | Episode: "Attack of the Barbarians" |
| 1967 | Hogan's Heroes | Jack Williams | Episode: "One in Every Crowd" |
| 1967 | The Virginian | Parks | Episode: "The Fortress" |
| 1967–1974 | Gunsmoke | The New Marshal / Grimes / Ganns / McGee | 4 episodes |
| 1968 | Lancer | Provost Marshal | Episode: "The Prodigal" |
| 1968 | Hawaii Five-O | Charley Mangan | Episode: "Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born" |
| 1968–1969 | Felony Squad | Mark Hewitt / Walt Petrie | 2 episodes |
| 1968–1974 | The F.B.I. | Dom Giannelli, SAC / Fred Cochella / Joey Walters | 3 episodes |
| 1969 | Bracken's World | Bob Lederer | Episode: "The Sweet Smell of Failure" |
| 1970 | The Name of the Game | Roper | Episode: "So Long, Baby, and Amen" |
| 1970 | The Old Man Who Cried Wolf | Detective Green | Television film |
| 1970–1971 | Here's Lucy | IRS Agent / Reporter / Frank Williams / Father Lambros | 4 episodes |
| 1970–1974 | Adam-12 | Bill Johnson / Officer Boyd | 2 episodes |
| 1970–1975 | Mannix | Donegan / Sergeant Les Packer / Detective O'Fallon / Roger Stack / Sheriff | 5 episodes |
| 1971 | The Immortal | Klabo | Episode: "Sanctuary" |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Alfred | Segment: "Love and Murphy's Bed" |
| 1971 | Medical Center | Reinart | Episode: "Danger Point" |
| 1971 | The Partners | Carter | Episode: "New Faces" |
| 1971–1972 | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | Bill Clark / Inspector Ed Miller | 3 episodes |
| 1972 | Room 222 | Fred Buchanan | Episode: "Lift, Thrust and Drag" |
| 1973 | Emergency! | Ed Duran | Episode: "The Professor" |
| 1973 | Circle of Fear | Dr. Richardson | Episode: "Graveyard Shift" |
| 1973 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Dr. Arthur Oliver | Episode: "A Question of Fault" |
| 1974 | Banacek | Detective Ed Winslow | Episode: "The Vanishing Chalice" |
| 1974 | Big Rose: Double Trouble | Blass | Television film |
| 1974 | Run, Joe, Run | Fisherman | Episode: "Bon Voyage" |
| 1974 | Ironside | Armand | Episode: "Run Scared" |
| 1974–1978 | Kojak | Vic Whitley / Detective Albert Cohen | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Humane Society Man | Episode: "Primal Scream" |
| 1975 | Lucy Gets Lucky | Packy West | Television film |
| 1975 | Police Story | Captain Gus Shambray | Episode: "Officer Needs Help" |
| 1975 | McCloud | Gregory's Thug | Episode: "Park Avenue Pirates" |
| 1975 | McCoy | Glen Phillips | Episode: "Double Take" |
| 1975–1977 | Barnaby Jones | Stan Toland / Anthony Calvelli | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | Special Treat | Dominick | Episode: "Papa and Me" |
| 1976 | Alice | Vinny Randazzo | Episode: "The Dilemma" |
| 1976–1977 | Starsky & Hutch | Patsy Cairo / Johnny Doors | 3 episodes |
| 1977 | Something for Joey | Joe Paterno | Television film |
| 1977 | The Red Hand Gang | Fred Norris | 4 episodes |
| 1977 | The Last Hurrah | Dr. Mike Santangelo | Television film |
| 1978 | Project U.F.O. | Ed Mason | Episode: "Sighting 4005: The Medicine Bow Incident" |
| 1978 | Sam | | Episode: #1.4 |
| 1978 | Sword of Justice | Burcella | Episode: "The Gemini Connection" |
| 1979 | Fantasy Island | Nick Largo | Episode: "Photographs/Royal Flush" |
| 1979 | Women in White | Technician | Television film |
| 1979 | Marciano | John Addelli | Television film |
| 1979 | The French Atlantic Affair | Panama Hat | Television miniseries |
| 1979 | The Incredible Hulk | Jim | Episode: "Captive Night" |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Lieutenant Lagason | Television film |
| 1980 | Vegas | Deputy | Episode: "Christmas Story" |
| 1981 | Trapper John, M.D. | Dr. DePalma | Episode: "A Family Affair" |
| 1981 | Quincy, M.E. | Sloan | Episode: "Memories of Allison" |
| 1981 | The Fall Guy | Al Maglia | Episode: "The Rich Get Richer" |
| 1982 | Strike Force | Dr. Bernardo | Episode: "The John Killer" |
| 1982 | Gavilan | Petros | Episode: "Destination Hero" |
| 1982–1983 | T. J. Hooker | Rossi / The Clerk | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Capitol | Colonel Amir | |
| 1983–1985 | Matt Houston | Dr. Perlin | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Sledge Hammer! | Cop Announcer | Episode: "They Shoot Hammers, Don't They?" |
| 1986 | Simon & Simon | Maynard Press | Episode: "Like Father, Like Son" |
| 1987 | The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission | Ernesto Ferruci | Television film |
| 1998–2000 | Diagnosis: Murder | Chris Benway / Judge Kenyon | 2 episodes |