Reni Santoni

Reni Santoni (April 21, 1938 – August 1, 2020) was an American film, television and voice actor. He was noted for playing Poppie on the television sitcom Seinfeld, Tony Gonzales in Cobra, and Chico González in Dirty Harry.
Early life
Santoni was born in New York City on April 21, 1938. His family was of Corsican and Spanish descent. He began his career in Off-Broadway theatre, writing the play Raisin' Hell in the Son which premiered in 1962. Reni is short for Renaldo.
Career
Santoni's first significant film role was an uncredited appearance in the 1964 film The Pawnbroker (starring Rod Steiger), in which he played a junkie trying to sell a radio to the title character (using anti-Semitic slurs to no effect). His first leading role was as a young actor in Enter Laughing. He 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. Santoni went on to play Inspector "Chico" González in the 1971 film Dirty Harry. His character, who is a newcomer detective and college graduate in sociology, was initially dismissed by the title character as "a college boy". He ultimately uttered the memorable phrase, "No wonder they call him Dirty Harry; [he] always gets the shit end of the stick".
Santoni again collaborated with Reiner in the comedic homage to film noir Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982). His other film roles during this decade included prison official Ramon Herrera in Bad Boys (1983), as well as Detective Tony Gonzales in the action film Cobra (1986) opposite Sylvester Stallone. He featured in the short-lived series Sanchez of Bel Air and Manimal, in which he played Nick Rivera. He 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. She noted his reputation among friends as being "the funniest guy in the room".
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. In 1973, Santoni played a junior partner on Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law. His most notable later role was as Poppie, the bombastic, antiabortion, neurotic, and very unhygienic restaurateur in Seinfeld.
Personal life
Santoni was married to Lisa James. He then had a long-term relationship with actress and director Betty Thomas, and a son named Nick.
Death
Santoni died on August 1, 2020, at a hospice in Los Angeles at the age of 82. He had several health problems during his last years, including cancer.
Partial filmography
Sources:
Strangers in the City (1962) – Scrounge
The Pawnbroker (1964) – Junkie Selling Radio
Enter Laughing (1967) – David Kolowitz
A Great Big Thing (1968) – Vinny Shea
Anzio (1968) – Pvt. Movie
Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) – Max
The Student Nurses (1970) – Victor Charlie
The Odd Couple (1970) – (season 1 Episode 15) Ernie Wilson, the football player
Dirty Harry (1971) – Inspector Chico Gonzalez
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977) – Hobbs
They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978) – Billy Joe
Hawaii Five-O (1978) Episode: "A Death in the Family" – Jimmy Rego
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) – Carlos Rodriguez
Bad Boys (1983) – Ramon Herrera
Brewster's Millions (1985) – Vin Rapelito
Radioactive Dreams (1985) – 'Red' Hairstylist / Adult Harold
Summer Rental (1985) – Announcer
Cobra (1986) – Sergeant Tony Gonzales
The Pick-up Artist (1987) – Man in Train Station
Bright Lights, Big City (1988, voice)
The Package (1989) – Chicago Police Lieutenant
Cat Chaser (1989) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
Men Don't Tell (1992) – Rueben the Bartender
Groundhog Day (1993) – voice of State Trooper
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) – Police Officer
The Late Shift (1996) – John Agoglia
Private Parts (1997) – Vallesecca
Can't Hardly Wait (1998) – Cop
Dr. Dolittle (1998) – voice of Rat #1
28 Days (2000) – Daniel
Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) – voice of Rat #1
Kingpin (2003, mini series) – General Valdez
Gang Warz (2004) – Father Luis
Irene in Time (2009) – Sam
TV series
Miami Vice ("Badge of Dishonor") – Lt. Arturo Dominguez
The Odd Couple ("The Hideaway") – Ernie Wilson
CHiPs S5 - E25 (Overload) Computer thief - 1 episode (1982)
Murder, She Wrote - 2 episodes (1989, 1994)
NYPD Blue (1995-1996, 3 episodes) - Det. Archie Solomon, Sal Campisi
Seinfeld (1994 - 1998, 5 episodes) - Poppie
Grey’s Anatomy (2005) - Alan Griswold
References
External links
1938 births
2020 deaths
Hispanic and Latino American male actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
American people of Corsican descent
American people of Italian descent
American people of Spanish descent
Male actors from New York City