Ray Sharkey
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Ray Sharkey
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Trained at HB Studio, rough-edged American actor Ray Sharkey quickly graduated to movies and television. Sharkey's first film was The Lords of Flatbush (1974), a street-gang drama that also featured early appearances by Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone. The actor's breakthrough film was 1980's The Idolmaker, in which he played rock 'n' roll entrepreneur Bob Marcucci; that same year, he was Phil in the low-budget but highly praised Willie and Phil. Sharkey's best known role was as Atlantic City gangster Sonny Steelgrave on the TV series "Wiseguy" (1987-90). Shortly after finishing work on the 1992 Burt Reynolds vehicle Cop and A Half, Sharkey made public the fact that he had contracted AIDS through indiscriminate drug use; he died less than one year later. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviFilmography:
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| Ray Sharkey | |
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| Born | Raymond Sharkey, Jr. November 14, 1952 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 1993 (aged 40) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–1993 |
| Spouse |
Rebecca Wood (m. 1981–1986) |
Raymond "Ray" Sharkey, Jr. (November 14, 1952 – June 11, 1993) was an American actor best known for his role as Sonny Steelgrave in the television series Wiseguy.
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Early life and career
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sharkey's father, Ray Sr., a professional drummer, abandoned the family when Sharkey was just five years old. He was raised by his mother, Cecelia, with assistance from her parents in Brooklyn's rough Red Hook neighborhood. After seeing the Broadway production of Hair at 17, Sharkey decided to become an actor and started studying acting at the H.B. Studio in New York City. In 1974, he made his film debut in The Lords of Flatbush. Sharkey went on to appear in more than forty motion pictures and dozens of guest appearances on various television series.
In 1981, he won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in The Idolmaker. The following year, he was nominated for another Golden Globe for his role in The Ordeal of Bill Carney. In 1987, Sharkey landed the role of Sonny Steelgrave in the series Wiseguy.
Personal life
In 1981, Sharkey had a brief relationship with Italian actress Ornella Muti while filming the 1982 drama, Love and Money. The same year, he married actress Rebecca Wood. The union ended in 1986, reportedly due to Sharkey's drug abuse. In 1988, he married actress Carole Graham. That marriage produced one daughter, Cecelia Bonnie Sharkey, born in 1989. The union ended in divorce in 1992. In 1991, Sharkey began a seven month relationship with model and actress, Elena Monica.[1]
Later years
Sharkey struggled with an addiction to cocaine and heroin throughout his career. He was involved in four drug-related car wrecks, two requiring microsurgery on his eyes.
On July 30, 1992, while filming a guest spot on the television series, The Hat Squad, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, he was arrested for drug possession. Canadian customs officials, making a routine inspection of incoming cargo at the airport, discovered small amounts of cocaine and heroin in a black envelope being sent from Los Angeles, California to Sharkey. Police searched his hotel room and found an additional supply of drugs. He was jailed and later released on bail. Sharkey's role on The Hat Squad was recast.[2]
Sharkey reportedly contracted the AIDS virus through intravenous drug use and was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1987. Despite his diagnosis, he remained in denial about his HIV positive status. Sharkey convinced himself he harbored a strain of HIV that would never endanger himself or anyone else. He told no one of his condition, and reportedly did not disclose the fact that he was HIV positive to women with whom he was in intimate relationships.[1]
Death
In 1992, Sharkey's former girlfriend Elena Monica, sued him for $52,000,000 for knowingly infecting her with the AIDS virus. Sharkey, still denying he had the virus despite rapidly deteriorating health, declined to challenge the suit. By default judgment, Monica won the suit, but received no money from Sharkey's estate because the actor had very little money.[1]
On June 11, 1993, Sharkey died of AIDS at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.[3] He is interred in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Lords of Flatbush | Student | |
| 1975 | The Jeffersons | Robert Phelps | Episode: "Tennis Anyone?" |
| 1976 | Trackdown | Flash | |
| 1977 | The Streets of San Francisco | Benny Lester | Episode: "Time Out" |
| 1978 | Paradise Alley | Legs | |
| 1980 | Willie & Phil | Phil D'Amico | |
| 1980 | The Idolmaker | Vincent "Vinnie" Vacarri | |
| 1980 | Heart Beat | Ira | |
| 1982 | Love and Money | Byron Levin | |
| 1982 | Some Kind of Hero | Sgt. Vinnie DiAngelo | |
| 1984 | Body Rock | Terrence | |
| 1985 | Miami Vice | Bobby Profile | Episode: "Tale of the Goat" |
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Geoffery Dryden | Episode: "Desperately" |
| 1986 | Wise Guys | Marco | |
| 1986 | No Mercy | Angles Ryan | |
| 1986 to 1987 | Crime Story | U.S. Atty. Harry Breitel | 5 episodes |
| 1987–1989 | Wiseguy | Sonny Steelgrave | 10 episodes |
| 1989 | Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills | Frank | |
| 1989 | The Hitchhiker | Eric Coleman | Episode: "In Living Color" |
| 1989 | Wired | Angel Velasquez | |
| 1990 | Act of Piracy | Jack Wilcox | |
| 1992 | Zebrahead | Richard | Alternative title: The Colour of Love |
| 1992 | Dead On: Relentless II | Kyle Valsone | |
| 1992 | Jake and the Fatman | Michael "Mickey" Daytona Da Silva | Episode: "Beautiful Dreamer" |
| 1992 | In the Line of Duty: Street War | Det. Victor Tomasino | Television movie |
| 1992 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | The Father | Episode: "By the Numbers" |
| 1993 | Cop and a Half | Vinnie Fountain |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Golden Globe Award | Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy | The Idolmaker | Won |
| 1982 | Golden Globe Award | Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV | The Ordeal of Bill Carney | Nominated |
| 1988 | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Founder's Award | Wiseguy | Won |
References
- ^ a b c AEGiS-Miami Herald: A Spirited fight against HIV; model/actress infected with HIV pushes AIDS research organization into spotlight
- ^ Arrest Costs Ray Sharkey Role in Series latimes.com. Braxton, Greg. 1991-08-01
- ^ Lueck, Thomas J. (1993-06-12). "Ray Sharkey, 40; Actor Often Played Role of Tough Guy". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/13/obituaries/ray-sharkey-40-actor-often-played-role-of-tough-guy.html. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
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Mentioned in
Ray Sharkey: Saturday Night Live (TV Episode)
(1981 Comedy TV Episode)
Wired
(1989 Drama Film)
The Take
(1990 Crime Film)
Behind Enemy Lines
(1985 War Film)
The Rain Killer
(1990 Thriller Film)
» More