Everyone will have a last supper from comedians -- Lou Costello, Sam Kinison, Sally Marr, Simmy Bow, Lenny Bruce to gangsters -- Ma Barker, John Dillinger, Giuseppe Zangara, Sam Giancana, Dutch Schultz, Joe Ferriola, Frank Buccieri and Al Capone, to politician Huey Long and outlaws Pancho Villa and Jesse James to stars of stage and screen -- Tiny Tim, Duke Mitchell, actors John Garfield, Vera-Ellen, erotic dancers Lily Christine and Marie Laveau (Voodoo Queen) to those individuals who became guardian angels to Frank Ray Perilli as a young child. What follows are their stories and their FAMOUS LAST SUPPERS.
During the author's career as a stand-up comedian, actor, impressionist, personal manager, producer and writer, Frank Ray Perilli befriended many famous and infamous individuals on and off the road and each one had a "Last Supper." As a cocky kid from Chicago, whose start in show business was aping his idol John Garfield in grammar school Frankie had dreams of Hollywood.
Blessed with an uncanny ability to impersonate celebrities . . . Frankie was a natural for vaudeville and soon ventured on to the comedy circuit followed by stints as emcee in strip joints, dives, theaters and USO cantinas then segued into playing upscale venues and nightclubs across the country touring with such icons of the day as Hoagie Carmichael, Jane Powell and Frankie Lane.
Frankie opened a club called the Wits End in New Orleans . . . with comic Shecky Greene and later joined Shecky in Hollywood as part of a comedy writing team on the Colgate Comedy Hour, later branching into writing screenplays. After all, this is the man that co-wrote "The Doberman Gang," a huge box office success, with good friend Louis Garfinkle ("The Deer Hunter"). Over the course of many years Frankie collaborated with comedian Lenny Bruce, his long-time friend, and Sally Marr, Lenny's mom on film and stage projects as well as managed the careers of other celebrated performers.
He continued to write material for such renowned comedians as Kaye Ballard, Dean Martin, Don Rickles, Charo, Eileen Brennan, Bob Newhart, Jackie Gayle, Shecky Green, Stu Gilliam and many many more.
Frank's life intersected with the famous and notorious and it is from their stories that FAMOUS LAST SUPPERS evolved . . . each story tied to the recipe of the individual's last meal. Bon Appetit!
About the Author: Frank Ray Perilli worked as a comedian under the name of Frank Ray during World War II touring the United States' military camp shows on USO tours. After the war, he moved to New York performing in top nightclubs in the tri-state area. His career as a stand-up and impressionist took off when he landed a spot on the national circuit touring with Hoagie Carmichael, Jane Powell and Frankie Lane.
Frank also performed On Broadway in Billy Rose's, Violins of Broadway, and CBS TV Studio 51 for a live broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show. He wrote for Dean Martin, Don Rickles, Eileen Brennan, Bob Newhart, Jackie Gayle, Shecky Greene, Stu Gilliam, Charo and others. Frank transitioned into television writing for such shows as Combat, The Don Rickles Show, Heather Quigley, Ed Sherrick, and The Dean Martin ABC AM TV Show.
Frank's screenwriting career was launched in 1972 with the hugely successful The Doberman Gang followed by Little Cigars, Dracula's Dog, She Came To the Valley, Alligator, Snow Man, Harlow, Fairy Tales, Steal Big Steal Little, Snowman, Joey Takes A Cab, Depraved, Models, Eyes of Doctor Chaney,
Frank's acting credits include Wedding Crashers, Steal Big Steal Little, The Fugitive, Three of Hearts, She Came to the Valley, Fairy Tales, End of the World and Cinderella.
Pamela Weaver originally from Virginia, began performing at the age of 4 and by age 6, was singing and dancing professionally on stage with The Weaver Sisters at local USO shows, aboard ships, in hospitals and in the USO Clubs in the Tidewater Area. Since her television debut at age 6 on the Ted Mack Talent Hour, she has performed in more than 100 plays on both the East and West Coast, 15 films, 5 television shows. She starred opposite Lionel Stander in the film and stage versions of Frank Perilli's Joey Takes A Cab, which is when she met her writing partner, Frank Perilli. Most recently she portrayed Marc Lee's mom in American Sniper. She studied with Susan Anspach, Joseph Bernard, Stella Adler, and received a scholarship to attend the Lee Strasberg Institute in Hollywood. In 2007, Pamela went behind the camera and wrote, produced and directed the feature film Keepers of the Light. She began writing Famous Last Suppers with Frank in 1998, her first book writing assignment. For more info go to: http: //www.imdb.com/name/nm0915930/
