Richard Romanus Obituary

Richard Romanus, known for his memorable performances in “Mean Streets” and “The Sopranos,” has passed away at the age of 80.

The actor, who left an indelible mark with his role as Michael, the loan shark in Martin Scorsese’s 1973 film “Mean Streets,” breathed his last on December 23 in a private hospital in Volos, Greece, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

In “Mean Streets,” Romanus portrayed Michael, the character engaged in a confrontational relationship with the troublemaker Johnny Boy, played by Robert De Niro. The profanity-laden confrontation between Johnny and Michael, recounted by Scorsese in the book “Untouchable: Robert De Niro” by Andy Dougan, remains a notable moment in film history.

Hailing from Vermont and raised in Connecticut, Romanus earned a degree in philosophy from Ohio’s Xavier University in 1964. Initially studying law, he later transitioned to acting under the tutelage of Lee Strasberg, according to THR.

Throughout the 1970s, Romanus made appearances in various television series, including “Mission: Impossible,” “Mod Squad,” “Rhoda,” “Kojak,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “Hawaii Five-O,” and “The Rockford Files.”

In the following decade, Romanus took on supporting roles in TV series such as “Foul Play,” an ABC adventure comedy starring Deborah Raffin and Barry Bostwick, and “Strike Force,” an ABC cop drama led by Robert Stack. His versatility shone through as he also featured in popular shows like “MacGyver,” “The A-Team,” and “Cagney & Lacey,” portraying multiple characters in each.

In his final screen appearance, Romanus played the character Ben Ishak in the 2003 film “The Young Black Stallion.” Off-screen, he was married to actress-singer Tina Bohlmann from 1967 to 1975 and costume designer Anthea Sylbert from 1985 until his passing.