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Joseph V. Perry
Joseph V. Perry
Joseph V. Perry
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Joseph Victor Perry[1] (February 13, 1931 – February 23, 2000) was an American actor who appeared in multiple films and television programs during the 1970s and 1980s.[2][3] Frequently cast as a criminal or police officer in popular, dramatic, television series and comedies that were broadcast across the United States,[4][5][6] he was possibly best known for his role as Nemo in Everybody Loves Raymond.

Key Information

Early years

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Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[1] Perry began acting in his youth, winning the Glenn Ford Award at Santa Monica High School in California in 1949. His successes continued in 1952 with a best actor award from UCLA.[7]

Career

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Perry officially started his film career in 1955 at the age of 24[citation needed] and spent the next 45 years appearing in hundreds of films[8] and television shows, including dramatic anthologies, westerns, medical dramas, police dramas,[9] and classic sitcoms.[10] He appeared in The Twilight Zone S1 E29 "Nightmare as a Child" 1960, Night Gallery in the episode "Midnight Never Ends" and on other shows including Rawhide, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, Official Detective, The Doris Day Show (in 3 episodes),[11] Bewitched (in 4 episodes), M*A*S*H, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Partridge Family (in 4 episodes). In the 1970s his visibility peaked with guest appearances on shows, including Mannix (in 5 episodes), The F.B.I. (in 8 episodes), Emergency! (in 3 episodes), The Streets of San Francisco (in 2 episodes),[12] Sara, Barney Miller (in 4 episodes), The Rockford Files and Kojak (in 3 episodes). He failed to land any mainstream acting roles until 1978,[citation needed] however, when he got several roles in shows such as The Incredible Hulk, MacGyver, Cheers,[13] Murder, She Wrote (in 2 episodes) and Seinfeld. On the series Everybody Loves Raymond he got the biggest break of his later career[citation needed] when he portrayed Nemo, a pizza restaurant owner from 1996 to 1999, in a total of seven episodes, until his death in 2000.

Death

[edit]

On February 23, 2000, Perry died in Burbank, California.[7] His character's last appearance in Everybody Loves Raymond was shown posthumously when his restaurant got bought out. Nemo's last two appearances were played by Robert Ruth.

Partial filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1958 The Left Handed Gun Clerk Uncredited
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told Archelaus Uncredited
1965 Lust and the Flesh Bob
1968 Don't Just Stand There! Jean-Jacques
1968 A Lovely Way to Die Reporter Uncredited

1968 - The Shakiest Gun In The West - Indian Enamored with Jesse dressed as squaw - Uncredited

1968 Fade In George
1969 The Love God? Big Joe
1972 Stand Up and Be Counted Foreman Uncredited
1974 Herbie Rides Again First Cab Driver Uncredited
1977 The Domino Principle Bowkemp
1981 Longshot Marty
1988 Vibes Dave
1989 The Freeway Maniac Salesman
1989 Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II Merchant
1989 The Karate Kid Part III Uncle Louie LaRusso
1990 Repossessed Special Effects Man
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Singing Waiter

Selected television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1959 Have Gun - Will Travel Sheriff Season 3, Episode 9 "The Black Handkerchief"
1960 Wanted Dead or Alive Flint Bickford season 2 episode 23 (Tolliver Bender)
1962 & 1963 Gunsmoke Outlaw Lee & Outlaw Moran S7:E27 "Wagon Girls" & S8:E21 “The Cousin”
1967 The Monkees Vernon S1:E20, "Monkees in the Ring"

1968 - I Dream Of Jeannie - Jeannie, Jeannie Who's Got The Jeannie ? - Bartender 1968 - I Dream Of Jeannie - Jeannie and the Top Secret Secret - SGT Marion

1971 The Virginian Harvey season 9 episode 24 "Jump-up"

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Joseph V. Perry

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from Grokipedia
Joseph V. Perry (February 13, 1931 – February 23, 2000) was an American whose career spanned nearly five decades, with over 150 credits in television and film. Born in , , he studied acting at the (UCLA), where he won a award in 1952. Perry began his professional career in the mid-1950s, debuting on television in the drama series Crossroads. Perry gained recognition for his recurring role as the no-nonsense restaurant owner Nemo on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, appearing in seven episodes until his death. He was also known for film roles such as Uncle Louie in The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and the mobster Bowkemp in The Domino Principle (1977). His television guest appearances included notable shows like The Twilight Zone, MASH*, Barney Miller, Night Court, Seinfeld, Cheers, and MacGyver. Perry often portrayed tough, authoritative figures, drawing on his early training and a "mobster" persona that became a signature in his work. In his later years, Perry battled , which contributed to his health decline. He passed away on February 23, 2000, at St. Joseph Medical Center in , at the age of 69, and was survived by a brother, four daughters, and one son. His contributions to left a lasting impact through his versatile supporting performances across genres.

Early life

Birth and family

Joseph V. Perry was born on February 13, 1931, in , . His parents were Joseph Francis Perry and Anna Marie Iarussi. Public records provide few details about his parents' professions. He had one brother. The family relocated to during his childhood. Perry spent his early childhood in .

Education and early recognition

Joseph V. Perry relocated with his family from , , to during his childhood, where he completed his at . Perry's talent was first formally recognized in 1949 when he won the Award for acting at , an honor named after the acclaimed actor and highlighting his promise as a young performer. This achievement marked a pivotal moment, showcasing his dramatic skills in high school theater activities. Following high school, Perry enrolled at the (UCLA), where he continued to hone his craft in university productions. In 1952, he received the UCLA Best Actor Award, further affirming his burgeoning abilities and setting the stage for his future in the industry.

Acting career

Early television roles (1950s–1970s)

Joseph V. Perry made his professional acting debut in 1955 on the anthology drama series Crossroads, appearing in five episodes including "The Good Thief," where he portrayed a in stories centered on moral and ethical dilemmas. This early work marked the beginning of his extensive career as a reliable in the burgeoning medium of television, leveraging the foundational training he received in at UCLA. Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, Perry secured frequent guest spots on popular anthology and Western series, often embodying authority figures, law enforcement officers, or antagonists such as outlaws and criminals. Notable among these was his appearance in the first season of in 1960, playing a police lieutenant in the episode "," followed by a minor role as a man in the 1962 episode "The Gift." He also appeared in five episodes of the long-running Western from 1956 to 1965, portraying characters such as Witness, Radin, Outlaw Lee, Outlaw Moran, and Buck Spencer, roles that highlighted his versatility in depicting rugged, confrontational figures in the setting. By the late and into the , Perry's presence expanded in procedural dramas and sitcoms, where he frequently played police officers, detectives, or mobsters, contributing to his reputation as a dependable supporting player in the pre-cable television landscape. He guest-starred in five episodes of the detective series between 1971 and 1974, often as or criminal contacts, such as Virgil in "The Green Man" and Eddie Mixus in another installment. Similarly, he appeared in eight episodes of The F.B.I. from 1965 to 1972, portraying characters like Carl Pike in "A Mouthful of Dust" and William Demner in "The Escape," roles that underscored his skill in tense, investigative narratives. In lighter fare, Perry had four guest roles on across 1968 to 1970, including the driver in "How Green Was My Grass" and Luther, a witch-accuser, in "Samantha's Old Trip." He also appeared in four episodes of in 1968, including as Sgt. Marion in "Jeannie and the Top Secret Secret" and a in "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?," adding comedic authority figures to his repertoire. Perry's early television work exemplified his career trajectory of accumulating hundreds of small, uncredited, and credited roles over 45 years, establishing him as a go-to for episodic television in an era dominated by network broadcasts and limited production resources. His portrayals in shows like , where he played mobster characters in four episodes starting in 1975, further solidified this niche, often bringing a gritty authenticity to criminals and officials alike. This period laid the groundwork for his enduring presence in the industry, emphasizing reliability over stardom.

Film roles

Perry began transitioning from his early television work to occasional roles in the late , often drawing on his established as tough or criminal figures from to secure supporting parts in cinema. His film debut came in 1958 with an uncredited role as a clerk in the Western , directed by , where he contributed to the ensemble portraying Billy the Kid's world. In 1965, Perry appeared uncredited as Archelaus in George Stevens's epic , a biblical drama featuring an all-star cast including as . He continued with small but memorable parts, such as the first cab driver (uncredited) in the Disney comedy (1974), supporting the antics of the sentient alongside . By the 1970s, Perry took on more defined supporting roles, including Bowkemp in Stanley Kramer's thriller The Domino Principle (1977), where he played a key figure in a conspiracy plot involving Gene Hackman. His film work in the 1980s and early 1990s leaned toward comedy and action ensembles, exemplified by Dave in the supernatural adventure Vibes (1988) with Cyndi Lauper and Jeff Goldblum, Uncle Louie—brother to the antagonist—in The Karate Kid Part III (1989), the special effects man in the satirical horror-comedy Repossessed (1990) starring Linda Blair, and the singing waiter in the parody Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993). Throughout his career, Perry amassed credits in at least eight feature films, typically portraying supporting antagonists, quirky sidekicks, or comedic relief characters that enhanced ensemble dynamics in genres ranging from Westerns and dramas to comedies and action films, showcasing his versatility as a without ever taking a lead role.

Later television work (1980s–1990s)

In the 1980s, Joseph V. Perry transitioned toward comedic television roles, leveraging his earlier as tough or authoritative figures into humorous portrayals of mobsters and similar characters in sitcoms. This shift allowed him to appear in ensemble comedies that highlighted his gruff, no-nonsense demeanor for comic effect, contrasting with his prior dramatic work in and police procedurals. Perry gained recognition for playing mobster characters on , including the role of Phil Kerr in the 1984 pilot episode "," where he portrayed a alongside his on-screen wife. He also made a guest appearance on in 1991 as the Newsstand Owner in the episode "," contributing to the show's quirky ensemble dynamics. By the 1990s, Perry secured a significant recurring role as Nemo, the irritable pizza restaurant owner, on from 1996 to 1999, appearing in seven episodes and becoming one of the character's most memorable supporting figures. Other notable television appearances included Kenny on in 1997, Gus on in 1996, the Restaurant Owner in the 1994 TV movie Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice, and Lieberman in the 1993 TV movie Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert. Perry's career demonstrated remarkable longevity, amassing over 100 television credits by the late 1990s, with a consistent niche in portraying humorous authority figures or criminals that added levity to ensemble casts.

Death

Circumstances of death

Joseph V. Perry died on February 23, 2000, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, at the age of 69. He succumbed to complications from diabetes, a condition he had been battling in his final years. He was survived by a brother, four daughters, and one son. Burbank, situated in the greater Los Angeles area, aligned with Perry's long-standing professional base in California's entertainment industry. At the time of his passing, Perry was engaged in recurring work on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, portraying the pizzeria owner Nemo.

Posthumous appearances

Following Perry's death on February 23, 2000, in , his portrayal of Nemo in continued to appear posthumously in the season 6 episode "," which aired on October 8, 2001, and depicted the sale of Nemo's restaurant to a new owner named Marco. This marked the character's final on-screen moment using Perry's pre-recorded footage, after which subsequent episodes recast the role with other actors. Perry's visibility has persisted through reruns and syndication of earlier series, particularly his guest role as the Newsstand Owner in the 1991 Seinfeld episode "The Nose Job," which benefits from the show's massive syndication success—generating over $2.7 billion in rerun revenue by 2010 alone. Similarly, his guest appearance as Phil Kerr in the pilot episode of the original Night Court (1984–1992) has aired in cable syndication, contributing to the series' ongoing cult following despite not matching Seinfeld's financial scale. These archival broadcasts underscore Perry's role as a reliable character actor in enduring sitcom formats. No major posthumous honors, releases, or formal tributes followed Perry's passing, as noted in contemporary obituaries that focused on his steady output rather than accolades. Instead, his legacy endures through syndication as a staple supporting player across four decades of television, from early roles in the to his final work in the late 1990s.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/joseph_v_perry
  2. https://variety.com/2000/scene/people-news/joseph-v-perry-1117883602/
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675129/
  4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75664449/joseph_v-perry
  5. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/K2QT-M6T/joseph-victor-perry-1931-2000
  6. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-01-mn-4197-story.html
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0550809/
  8. https://www.fandango.com/people/joseph-v-perry-528354
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734599/
  10. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/joseph-v-perry/credits/3000545029/
  11. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mannix/s05/e13/cast-and-crew
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0574744/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0574884/
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0523096/
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0523198/
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609085/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072472/fullcredits/
  18. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051849/fullcredits/
  19. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2428-the-greatest-story-ever-told/cast
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075950/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096378/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097647/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107144/
  24. https://nightcourt.fandom.com/wiki/Joseph_V._Perry
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697740/characters/nm0675129/
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110949/fullcredits/
  27. https://www.fandango.com/people/joseph-v-perry-528354/biography
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0574200/
  29. https://time.com/6103335/seinfeld-netflix-business/
  30. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/79560/13-judicious-facts-about-night-court
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