Peter Boyle, who died Tuesday at 71 after battling multiple myeloma and heart disease, was best-known for playing the grumpiest father in modern television in Everybody Loves Raymond, and for his classic scene in 1974’s Young Frankenstein, in which his melancholy monster broke into a tap-dance routine to the tune of “Puttin’ On The Ritz.”
Boyle was a complicated, fascinating man. Raymond may have made him rich and a household face, but he’d made his breakthrough decades earlier in the title role of Joe, the 1970 film in which he starred as a bigoted hard-hat construction worker who wreaked a murderous vengeance upon that era’s hippies. As was true of his committed performance as Frank Barone, Joe briefly stereotyped the prematurely-balding Boyle as a conservative icon, "It was a very strange experience,” Boyle once told The New York Times. “People coming up and saying, ‘That’s what they ought to do with all these hippies.’ I was in an identity crisis." That’s because Joe’s opinions couldn’t have been further from Boyle’s own life and many of his acting choices, which tended to be leftist and countercultural. Let me just throw this fact out for a start: John Lennon was the best man at Boyle’s 1977 wedding to Laraine Alterman, one of the first prominent female rock-music writers. (They had two children.)
Boyle was frequently at the center of tumultuous pop-culturemoments. Born outside of Philadelphia in 1935, Boyle did brief stints inthe Navy and then in a monastery in training as a monk. He driftedinto acting, working with the Second City improvisational troupe, andwas among those tear-gassed during Chicago’s 1968 Democratic Convention. (Itwas an experience he would relive, in a way, in two films: HaskellWexler’s groundbreaking 1969 cinema vérité timebomb Medium Cool, and the 1987 HBO film Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago Eight.) With his friend Jane Fonda, with whom he costarred in the 1973 anti-Establishment comedy Steelyard Blues,he attended many anti-Vietnam War rallies. (I remember one night in thelate ‘70s being in a restaurant interviewing Bonnie Raitt when shestopped talking, jumped up and hugged Boyle, who was passing our table.“Hey, you’re gonna be at the No Nukes rally, right?” she asked. “Youknow it, sweetie!” he said with a huge grin.)
As Boyle went into middle-age, he alternated jobs probably taken for money, such as piddly movies like Beyond The Poseidon Adventure (1979) and The In Crowd (1988), with riskier projects like the Hunter Thompson biopic Where The Buffalo Roam (1980) and the excellent, short-lived TV series Joe Bash (1986), in which he played a lonely, sensitive beat cop. And of course, anyone who’s seen Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976) probably remembers Boyle’s turn as the hardbitten cabbie The Wizard.
Boyle’s occasional work on the stage was distinguished. In the early ’80s, he co-starred with Tommy Lee Jones in the original New York Public Theater production of Sam Shepard’s knock-down, drag-out True West. In ’96, he won an Emmy for one of every sensible X Files-nut’s favorite episodes, taking the title role in “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” as a man who could see future deaths.
Even after he became a prime-time star in Raymond, it was great that Boyle still had the desire and skills to take a role such as the unforgivable racist in Monster’s Ball (2001). The next time you watch Frank Barone mutter and whine in an Everybody Loves Raymond rerun, remember that Peter Boyle was a very cool guy.
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“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” to this day is one of my favorite episodes of XFiles.
And his performance in “Monster’s Ball” was chilling.
He was a great actor, may he R.I.P.
RIP, Peter Boyle, you created interesting, enlightening characters. You could be funny, sad, brilliant and irascible – but I think you were probably at your most interesting just being you.
His chemistry with Ray Romano and his quick wit were what made E.L.R. so funny. Television and movies have lost a good man.
I am totally stunned because I was thinking about him last night. Frank Barone’s “Holy crap!” came in at No. 79 on TVLand’s ongoing list of “The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases.”
My favorite all-time episode of the “X-Files” is “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” too. Thank goodness he won an Emmy for that.
I’m usually indifferent when someone in the entertainment business passes away, but I do get somber and teary-eyed when someone of such underrated talent leaves us. Peter Boyle belongs on the Mount Rushmore of character actors. R.I.P., man, you’ll definitely be missed.
I’m so saddened by this great loss. Peter Boyle, you made watching television such a joy to watch. We’re all going to miss you and your wry sense of humor so much.
I need 2006 to end like NOW. We have lost some great celebs this year, and not even a few weeks ago we were all joking about Boyle’s fantastic performance in Young Frankenstein.
Could we please not lose any more of pop culture’s big contributors in the few weeks remaining year? It’s been a heartbreaker, and this one was unexpected.
As always, I send love and regards to Mr. Boyle’s family, as we have lost yet another great.
We will miss you Peter! You did a fantastic job not only on Everybody Loves Raymond but also in “While You Were Sleeping”. Our prayers are with your family.
I enjoyed his work in Young Frankenstein and in The Dream Team. In The Dream Team he was a mental patient who believed he was God. In one scene he was in the hospital and he told another patience Go ahead and walk, my son. The patient got up (believing he was God) and fell to the floor. He was hilarious.
I immensely enjoyed him as Frank Barrone. That character reminded me a lot of my dad. I felt his character made the show. I lived to see what would come out of his mouth.
Too young to die. You will be sorely missed Mr. Boyle. This is such a sad day.
I always enjoyed Peter Boyle, but it was as Clyde Bruckman that I have the fondest memory of him. His appearance on the X-Files remains my favorite episode of any show that has been on tv before or since.
He was an amazing actor and really gave life to any performance. May his memory live forever.
A great tribute.
Who knew? I was surprised countless times while reading this.
Not only a great actor that will be terribly missed.
A great man-and one heck of a cool guy too.
Peter Boyle will most definitely be missed.
His range as an actor, his passions as a human being, and his presence as a person brought class and dignity to this world.
Somewhere, quietly, I will shed a tear for his family, and then I will remember him best by laughing through “Puttin’ on the Ritz’ in YF, for I think he would want to be remembered and honored with the laughter he was so effective at eliciting.
My own 35+ year acting career can be directly traced to watching “Joe” as an artsy, unfocused high school junior and seeing a performance so unaffected and fully-committed that it changed everything I thought I knew about acting. He disappeared so completely into that role, mingling the ugliness, misery, fear, and humor so effortlessly that you can’t blame those arch-conservatives who mistook Boyle the Actor for Joe the Misanthrope. I already knew a little about him and I bought it completely. Over many years, I saw him invest that way in every single role he took, from the Frankenstein monster to Clyde Bruckman to Frank Barone. He never appeared to be sitting inside his own performance, critiqueing his every move. Watching him was the epitome of art without ARTifice, which is the truest form of art. I met him once, in Washington, DC, after a play we both attended and he couldn’t have been more gracious, humble, or down-to-earth. Many thanks, Peter, for all the teaching-by-example. American acting is far better for your presence.
A great actor with excellent comic timing. I thoroughly enjoyed E.L.R. because of him. A great loss to TV & Film Industry. RIP Peter Boyle!
Peter Boyle is my all time favorite actor – I really wish I could have met him or at least let him know how much I appreciated all his work – my heart goes out this family – their’s must truly be breaking at this sad time.
On The Passing Of A Monster.
Mario Grillo December 2006 Grilloink@yahoo.com
Scene: The lobby of the Sunset Marquis hotel in Los Angeles. The time: A few weeks after Everybody Loves Raymond hit the airwaves.
After a few cocktails I spied Peter Boyle sitting with a woman on a sofa in the lobby outside the Whiskey Bar’s front door. I had been a fan of Peter Boyle as the Wizard in Taxi Driver. Jeez, what kid from Brooklyn wasn’t? He also played Joe Gallo, the Umberto’s Clam Bar-assassinated, Dylan-folk hero gangster in the 70s classic Crazy Joe. Since my father introducing me to the real Joe Gallo down at the Brooklyn waterfront where he toiled as a longshoreman has always been one of my very first memories, I also felt a unique kinship with the man.
And let’s not forget he was Young Frankenstein, after all.
As I allowed the liquid courage to well up inside me and began meandering towards the man, I decided to skip the Taxi Driver Crazy Joe Young Frankenstein chit chat and compliment him on his new project—the very funny new show Everybody Loves Raymond. I figured for a guy that’s probably had more than a few drunks croon Putting On The Ritz to him while he is out, he’d genuinely enjoy hearing someone compliment his latest project.
I tapped him on the shoulder, apologized for interrupting his conversation, and told him with a smile and in a goofy-way, that I … I did love Raymond, where as my girlfriend at the time did not love Raymond. It was true. Recently she and I had had differing views on the brand new television show. I thought it was hilarious and promising, she did not.
After I told Mr. Boyle about our conflicting viewpoints, I politely said thank you and began to walk away. My thought process being, don’t bother the guy anymore. You have your little story of speaking to the Wizard, be nice now and leave the man alone. So to say I was surprised when Young Frankenstein himself reached out and grabbed my arm spinning me around in order to continue our little exchange is an understatement.
“Lemme get this right,” he said to me. “You Love Raymond and she doesn’t?”
“Uhm, that’s right I managed to sputter.
“Hmmm… I’ll tell you what to do…” he continued, with a stern glare and a small smile. “You grab the remote control, whack her over the head with it…then she’ll love Raymond!” His face exploded in a wide grin and a laugh. No malice in the words, it was a joke plain and simple. And a friggin’ hilarious one at that.
We laughed a bit more over small talk, shook hands and I walked back in the bar for another round. As I ordered, I glanced over my shoulder. I was going to have two drinks delivered to Mr. Boyle and his friend. Only he was gone.
And I was left with a story that always makes me smile when I think of it. Peter Boyle came across like a truly nice guy, genuine and sweet.
Television will miss him.
From Young Frank to Dream Team, he was one of the best. I was telling that scene in the hospital to my friend the other day. Sad to think he is not going to be around.
To his family and friends, as sad as a day it is remember that he has touched so many lives without ever meeting most of them. He has made me laugh to no end and I will always be greatful to him and his family for allowing me to enjoy a piece of his life.
Peter was a fellow graduate of the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys. I am saddened with his passing. RIP Peter.
My husband and I will be watching ‘Young Frankenstein’, one of our favorite films, tonight. Not just anyone can hold their own in a Mel Brooks flick opposite the likes of Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn. Peter will be missed.
An excellent character actor, elevated the role to prominence. I loved watching “Joe.” What a brilliant role by an actor who remained truly wonderful to watch. No one will ever duplicate the magic of his “Younfg Frankenstein.” Yes, let’s not forget Frank Barone. Magic! Absolute magic. He will be missed and always remembered!
is one off my favorite actor,he make me laught,R I P WE all love you
Peter…you left the entertainment field with bigger shoes to fill than “Young Frankenstein.” You will soon live again when Mel Books premieres his new musical, of the same name, on Broadway to sold out audiences.
Get your top hat and cane ready!
R.I.P.
Peter Boyle – you will be missed
The classic scene from Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein – “Puttin’ on the Ritz”… Peter Boyle, R.I.P….
I’ll remember him for his appearance with Sean Connery in the Peter Hyams sci-fi flick “Outland” (1981). God Bless!
What a loss to the acting industry. Rest in peace, Mr. Boyle and thanks for the wonderful laughs and memories. I, for one, will miss you greatly.
Like everybody else I knew Mr Boyle was sick but thought he was getting over it .. I was really blown away to hear that he passed away .. my condolences to his family and friends of which Im sure he had many I just loved his Frank Barone character and in the many parts he has played especially in Young Frankenstein..
Wow is all I can say he actually had John Lennon as his best man . it just goes to show how diverse he was in his beliefs and freindships what a dark horse he was and a wondeful man and humanitarian .. You will be sadly missed Mr Boyle.. give em all “Holy Crap” up there, Frank wherever you are
Wow, it is hard to believe that peter boyle passed away, he was truley an extrordanary person and actor, and he will be missed a great deal…
Holy Crap Marie! I can’t believe he’s gone. What a wonderful man and actor.
Prayers and sympathies for his family and friends, including his many fans. He was truly an excellent craftsman.