# Don Amendolia

Don Amendolia (born February 1, 1945, in Glassboro, New Jersey) is an American actor.

## Career

He played Big Al Kennedy in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach and had recurring roles on Twin Peaks, Night Court, and It's Garry Shandling's Show. He also guest-starred on Cheers, Newhart, Family Ties, Life Goes On, Valerie, Perfect Strangers, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Ellen, Seinfeld, and Law & Order.
He appeared in movies like Wayne's World (1992), Fearless (1993), Ed Wood (1994), Boogie Nights (1997), and Bounce (2000).
Amendolia directed one episode of Growing Pains and two episodes of Harry and the Hendersons. He has appeared on Broadway in 33 Variations, Stepping Out, and My One and Only. He directed the rotating cast of the Off-Broadway show, Wicked. He also played the Wizard on the second national tour of the musical Wicked. He played his first performance on December 9, 2009, replacing Tom McGowan.
Amendolia gave acting lessons and assigned workouts to the cast of the film Purple Rain.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Without a Trace | Police Officer | |
| 1987 | The Secret of My Success | Executive | |
| 1992 | Wayne's World | Announcer | |
| 1993 | Fearless | Male Survivor | |
| 1994 | Ed Wood | Salesman | |
| 1994 | Twin Sitters | Pa Falcone | |
| 1995 | A Walk in the Clouds | Father Coturri | |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Bank Worker | |
| 2000 | Bounce | Infinity Attorney | |
| 2001 | Skeletons in the Closet | Detective Carlson | Direct-to-video |
| 2014 | Lucky Stiff | Uncle Tony | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Ryan's Hope | Harry Quindy | 3 episodes |
| 1982 | The Country Girl | Ralph | Television film |
| 1983 | Cheers | Henry 'Hank' Zenzola | Episode: "Affairs of the Heart" |
| 1983 | An Uncommon Love | Romaine | Television film |
| 1984 | Mama Malone | Dino Forresti | 13 episodes |
| 1988 | Eisenhower and Lutz | Vito | Episode: "Pride and Prejudice" |
| 1988 | Family Ties | Tom | Episode: "Beyond Therapy" |
| 1988 | Newhart | Art | Episode: "Goonstruck" |
| 1988, 1992 | Night Court | Johnny Dugan / Mr. Barsotti | 3 episodes |
| 1989–1990 | It's Garry Shandling's Show | Richie | 3 episodes |
| 1990 | Designing Women | Ed | Episode: "Tough Enough" |
| 1990 | Framed | Ellis | Television film |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Dr. Watoon | Episode: "Happy Mudder's Day" |
| 1990 | Twin Peaks | Emory Battis | 5 episodes |
| 1991 | Valerie | Phil Morton | Episode: "A Sneaking Suspicion" |
| 1991 | Perfect Strangers | King Ferdinand | Episode: "Weekend at Ferdinand's" |
| 1991 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Mr. Cummings | Episode: "Something for Nothing" |
| 1991 | Life Goes On | Producer | Episode: "The Smell of Fear" |
| 1993 | L.A. Law | Peter Swilling | Episode: "Where There's a Will" |
| 1993 | Precious Victims | Judge | Television film |
| 1994 | Frasier | Guard | Episode: "Travels with Martin" |
| 1994–1995 | Days of Our Lives | James Murchison / Maurice | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | My Brother's Keeper | Father Gardiner | Television film |
| 1996 | Seinfeld | Dennis | Episode: "The Rye" |
| 1996 | Ellen | Mr. Koundakian | Episode: "Ellen: With Child" |
| 1997 | Sunset Beach | Big Al Kennedy | 7 episodes |
| 2002 | In-Laws | Joe | Episode: "Crown Vic" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Michael Carling | Episode: "But Not Forgotten" |
| 2004 | Law & Order | Gregory Finney | Episode: "Cut" |