--- name: "Bruno Kirby" canonical: "https://film.one/person/bruno-kirby" fi1m_id: "bruno-kirby" imdb_id: "nm0456124" tmdb_id: 9257 wikidata_id: "Q517379" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "28 April 1949" died: "14 August 2006" reviewed_on_fi1m: 11 average_fi1m_score: 78 average_as: "actor" average_over: 10 updated: "2026-10-05T01:34:27.336635+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bruno Kirby ## Identity Bruno Kirby - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bruno-kirby - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** bruno-kirby - **IMDb ID:** nm0456124 - **TMDB ID:** 9257 - **Wikidata ID:** Q517379 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Kirby, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q517379, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0456124/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9257 Actor and director. Born 28 April 1949 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 14 August 2006. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 28 April 1949, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 14 August 2006 - **Active:** 1974–1999 - **Also known as:** B. Kirby Jr., Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr. - **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 10 acting, 1 directing - **Frequently works with:** [Barry Levinson](https://film.one/person/barry-levinson.md), [Billy Crystal](https://film.one/person/billy-crystal.md), [Mark Johnson](https://film.one/person/mark-johnson.md), [Paul Attanasio](https://film.one/person/paul-attanasio.md), [Rob Reiner](https://film.one/person/rob-reiner.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 10 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 92 (1), 1980s 81 (3), 1990s 76 (7) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 72 across 9 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 7 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 6, Drama 6, Crime 4, Thriller 2, Adventure 1, Family 1 - **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,095m across 8 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Kirby, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q517379, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0456124/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9257 ## Streaming the US now - **Netflix:** [*Donnie Brasco*](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) (84), [*Stuart Little*](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md) (66) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*City Slickers*](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md) (76) - **Tubi:** [*Sleepers*](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) (57) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Bruno Kirby > Bruno Kirby was the friend on the next stool: fast-talking, New York, cranky and hard to dislike. Opposite Billy Crystal he made the best-friend part worth watching in its own right, and in *Donnie Brasco* he carried the same manner into a colder room. The voice comes first: high, rasping, a little aggrieved, as though the world has just short-changed him and he intends to say so. Bruno Kirby used it to play fast-talking New Yorkers who were belligerent and likable in the same breath, and he could keep a straight face while everyone around him was being ridiculous. In *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984) he is the Sinatra-loving limo driver, and he plays it as if the passengers were the ones with the problem. He came up through small television parts in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and *The Godfather Part II* (1974), where he played the young Clemenza, got him noticed. What followed was a working character actor's life across comedies and dramas through the 1980s and 1990s: *Good Morning, Vietnam* (1987), where he was the officer standing in Robin Williams's way, and the two films with Billy Crystal that most people remember him for, *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989) and *City Slickers* (1991). Barry Levinson used him three times, Rob Reiner twice. He directed an episode of *Homicide: Life on the Street* in 1995, a series we admire, and later there was stage work, voice roles and television. The Crystal films show what he did best. In *City Slickers* his Ed Furillo and Daniel Stern's Phil give the friendship enough friction to stop Crystal becoming the entire film; the three men score off each other the way old friends do, always with an eye on the laugh. Around the campfire we believed in them more than the plot deserved, and Kirby is a large part of why: he can make a confidence sound like a complaint, so the scene never goes soft before the script does. In *When Harry Met Sally...* his Jess is welcome company whenever the film steps away from its central pair, which is faint praise only until you remember how many best friends in romantic comedies are furniture. The limits are the limits of the parts. He was rarely the reason anyone bought a ticket, and in *Donnie Brasco* (1997), a fine film, he is one of the crew around Pacino and Depp while the attention stays on them. The manner is there, the rasp and the readiness to take offence, but the film needs it as background and he supplies it without fuss. He was, by all accounts, generous to the actors he shared a scene with, and you can see it: he gives Crystal something to push against rather than something to compete with. He turned down *City Slickers II* because he did not think the script was good enough. He was choosy, and it shows in how little of his work we would warn you off. Start with *City Slickers* and *When Harry Met Sally...* for the friendships, then *Donnie Brasco* to see the same face in a much colder film. ## Biography Bruno Kirby was an American actor, also credited as B. Kirby Jr. or Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr. Born in New York City, he began working in film and television in the late 1960s and appeared in supporting roles across comedies and dramas until 2006. His credits include Young Clemenza in *The Godfather Part II* (1974), Tommy Pischedda in *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), Lieutenant Steven Hauk in *Good Morning, Vietnam* (1987), Jess in *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989), Ed Furillo in *City Slickers* (1991), Swifty in *The Basketball Diaries* (1995), Shakes' father in *Sleepers* (1996) and Nicholas 'Nicky' Santora in *Donnie Brasco* (1997). He also voiced a character in *Stuart Little* (1999). Kirby was the son of actor Bruce Kirby and the brother of John Kirby. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, chicagotribune.com.* ## On Fi1m (11) ### Performed in (10) — the average rests on these - *Stuart Little* (1999), Fi1m 66, as Mr. Stout (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md) - *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Fi1m 84, as Nicholas 'Nicky' Santora — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) - *Sleepers* (1996), Fi1m 57, as Shakes' Father — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *Fallen Angels* (1993), Fi1m 72, as Tony Reseck — [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md) - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), Fi1m 91, as Bruno Kirby — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *City Slickers* (1991), Fi1m 76, as Ed Furillo — [page](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md) - *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989), Fi1m 84, as Jess — [page](https://film.one/film/when-harry-met-sally.md) - *Good Morning, Vietnam* (1987), Fi1m 68, as Lt. Steven Hauk — [page](https://film.one/film/good-morning-vietnam.md) - *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), Fi1m 91, as Tommy Pischedda — [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-spinal-tap.md) - *The Godfather Part II* (1974), Fi1m 92, as Young Clemenza — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-ii.md) ### Directed (1) - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), Fi1m 89, as Victor Helms Sr. — [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) ## Complete filmography (63) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Played* (2006), as Detective Allen - *Helter Skelter* (2004), as Vincent Bugliosi - *Entourage* (2004), series, as Phil Rubenstein — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md) - *The Jury* (2004), series, Actor - *One Eyed King* (2001), as Mickey - *American Tragedy* (2000), as Barry Scheck - *The Beat* (2000), series, Director - *Stuart Little* (1999), as Mr. Stout (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md) - *Spy Games* (1999), as Max Fisher - *A Slipping Down Life* (1999), as Kiddie Arcades Manager - *Donnie Brasco* (1997), as Nicholas 'Nicky' Santora — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) - *Sleepers* (1996), as Shakes' Father — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show* (1995), as Manager - *The Basketball Diaries* (1995), as Swifty - *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as The Great One (voice) - *Golden Gate* (1994), as Agent Ron Pirelli - *Frasier* (1993), series, as Marco (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md) - *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, as Tony Reseck — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md) - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Victor Helms Sr. · Director — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) - *Hoffa* (1992), as Nightclub Comic - *Mastergate* (1992), as Abel Lamb - *Mad About You* (1992), series, as Virgil - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Bruno Kirby — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *City Slickers* (1991), as Ed Furillo — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md) - *The Freshman* (1990), as Victor Ray - *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989), as Jess — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/when-harry-met-sally.md) - *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Billy Paloma ("segment "The Trap") - *We're No Angels* (1989), as Deputy - *Bert Rigby, You're a Fool* (1989), as Kyle DeForest - *Good Morning, Vietnam* (1987), as Lt. Steven Hauk — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/good-morning-vietnam.md) - *Tin Men* (1987), as Mouse - *It's Garry Shandling's Show* (1986), series, as Brad Brillnick - *Flesh + Blood* (1985), as Orbec - *Birdy* (1984), as Renaldi - *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), as Tommy Pischedda — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-spinal-tap.md) - *Kiss My Grits* (1982), as Flash - *The Million Dollar Infield* (1982), as Lou Buonomato - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as FBI Agent Ron Pirelli - *Fame* (1982), series, Actor - *Modern Romance* (1981), as Jay - *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, as Louis — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md) - *Spinal Tap: The Final Tour* (1981), as Chauffeur - *Likely Stories Vol. 1* (1981), Actor - *Borderline* (1980), as Jimmy Fante - *Where the Buffalo Roam* (1980), as Marty Lewis - *Some Kind of Miracle* (1979), as Frank Smiles - *Almost Summer* (1978), as Bobby DeVito - *Between the Lines* (1977), as David - *Delvecchio* (1976), series, Actor - *Baby Blue Marine* (1976), as Pop Mosley - *The Godfather Part II* (1974), as Young Clemenza — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-ii.md) - *Cinderella Liberty* (1973), as Alcott (as Bruce Kirby Jr.) - *Superdad* (1973), as Stanley - *A Summer Without Boys* (1973), as Quincy - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Keith Wicks — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *The Harrad Experiment* (1973), as Harry Schacht - *All My Darling Daughters* (1972), as Anthony Stephanelli - *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Pvt. Lorenzo Boone — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md) - *The Super* (1972), series, Actor - *Emergency!* (1972), series, as Ken - *Columbo* (1971), series, as Cadet Morgan — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) - *The Young Graduates* (1971), as Les - *Room 222* (1969), series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/media/person/79848/gallery-b81aec6efebf.jpg) Bruno Kirby — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/The_Super_cast_1972_%28cropped%292.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/media/person/79848/gallery-f9494ccbf450.jpg) Bruno Kirby — Image via TMDB - ![Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/media/person/79848/gallery-339c8cd8ef1f.jpg) Bruno Kirby — Image via TMDB - ![Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/media/person/79848/gallery-9e129acc27d3.jpg) Bruno Kirby — Image via TMDB - ![Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/media/person/79848/gallery-96411633e1c1.jpg) Bruno Kirby — Image via TMDB - ![Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/media/person/79848/gallery-d75d8b1921c1.jpg) Bruno Kirby — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/bruno-kirby