Paul Picerni passes away

MUMBAI: Paul Picerni, who played agent Lee Hobson in The Untouchables has expired. He was 88.

A bombardier in World War II – he was on the plane that destroyed the bridge made famous in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – Picerni also appeared in supporting roles in the war films Twelve O‘Clock High (1949), Breakthrough (1950), Operation Pacific (1951) and To Hell and Back (1955). He also appeared opposite Errol Flynn in Mara Maru (1952).

Picerni‘s extensive TV work also included guest spots on such shows as Dragnet, Batman, Starsky & Hutch, Gunsmoke and Kojak, the star of which Telly Savalas was his best friend for almost three decades.

Picerni also played the romantic lead in the horror classic House of Wax (1953) starring Vincent Price. He served as the halftime master of ceremonies for Los Angeles Rams home games for decades before the NFL team moved to Anaheim after the 1979 season.