---
name: "Don Calfa"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/don-calfa"
fi1m_id: "don-calfa"
imdb_id: "nm0129883"
tmdb_id: 41262
wikidata_id: "Q1830242"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 December 1939"
died: "1 December 2016"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-07T04:32:45.212809+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."
---

# Don Calfa

## Identity

Don Calfa

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/don-calfa
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** don-calfa
- **IMDb ID:** nm0129883
- **TMDB ID:** 41262
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1830242
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Calfa, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1830242, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0129883/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/41262

Actor. Born 3 December 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Died 1 December 2016.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 December 1939, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- **Died:** 1 December 2016
- **Active:** 1985–1998
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 79 (1), 1990s 63 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 67 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Crime 1, Drama 1, Family 1, Fantasy 1, Horror 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $358m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Calfa, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1830242, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0129883/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/41262

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*The Return of the Living Dead*](https://film.one/film/the-return-of-the-living-dead.md) (79)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Don Calfa was an American character actor whose career in film and television spanned more than 40 years. He was born Donald George Calfa on 3 December 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, and died on 1 December 2016 in Yucca Valley, California.

Calfa began in New York theatre, appearing in off-off-Broadway productions and on Broadway in the musical *Lenny* (1971). His screen debut came in 1968 with *No More Excuses*. He played Ernie Kaltenbrunner in the cult film *The Return of the Living Dead* (1985) and Paulie in *Weekend at Bernie's* (1989). Other credits include *New York, New York* (1977), *1941* (1979), *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1981) and *Bugsy* (1991), as well as television appearances in *Twin Peaks*, *Beverly Hills, 90210* and multiple episodes of *Barney Miller*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, hollywoodreporter.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), Fi1m 50, as Patient at Hammersmith — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md)
- *Bugsy* (1991), Fi1m 76, as Louie Dragna — [page](https://film.one/film/bugsy.md)
- *The Return of the Living Dead* (1985), Fi1m 79, as Ernie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-return-of-the-living-dead.md)

## Complete filmography (66)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Sharkskin* (2015), Actor
- *Corpses Are Forever* (2003), as Jack Stark · Producer
- *Night Creep* (2003), as Mr. Blunt
- *The 4th Tenor* (2002), as Bum #3
- *Less than Perfect* (2002), series, as Uncle Nicky
- *Downward Angel* (2001), as Adam
- *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), as Patient at Hammersmith — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md)
- *Progeny* (1998), as Jimmy Stevens
- *Terrified* (1995), as Office Worker #1
- *Cops n Roberts* (1995), as Lance
- *Necronomicon* (1993), as Mr. Benedict
- *Boy Meets World* (1993), series, as Frank
- *Stay Tuned* (1992), as Wetzel
- *Me, Myself and I* (1992), as Irving
- *Bugsy* (1991), as Louie Dragna — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/bugsy.md)
- *Beverly Hills, 90210* (1990), series, as Mr. Pitts — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/beverly-hills-90210.md)
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), series, as Vice Principal Greege — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *Doogie Howser, M.D.* (1989), series, as Carmine Delpino
- *Weekend at Bernie's* (1989), as Paulie, Vito's Hit Man
- *Chopper Chicks in Zombietown* (1989), as Ralph Willum
- *The Presidio* (1988), as Howard Buckely
- *Blue Movies* (1988), as Max
- *Treasure of the Moon Goddess* (1987), as Harold Grand
- *The New Homeowner's Guide to Happiness* (1987), as Howard
- *Talking Walls* (1987), as Andre
- *Running Scared* (1986), as Women's Room Lawyer
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Andrew Sloan
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as Messenger
- *The Return of the Living Dead* (1985), as Ernie — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/the-return-of-the-living-dead.md)
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Clifford Coleson, Vinnie
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Miles Seaver
- *E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind* (1984), as E. 'Nick' Vanacuzzi
- *Allison Sydney Harrison* (1983), as Pat Rosetti
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (1983), as Tohfa
- *The Star Chamber* (1983), as Lawrence Monk
- *Shooting Stars* (1983), as Driscoll
- *The Day the Bubble Burst* (1982), as Mr. Cinelli
- *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1981), as Goebel
- *1941* (1979), as Telephone Operator
- *The Rose* (1979), as Don Frank
- *10* (1979), as Neighbor
- *Steel Cowboy* (1978), as 'Go' Trucker
- *The Comedy Company* (1978), as Harry Fenner
- *Foul Play* (1978), as Scarface
- *New York, New York* (1977), as Gilbert
- *Nickelodeon* (1976), as Waldo
- *Peeper* (1975), as Rosie
- *Barney Miller* (1975), series, as Mr. DiLucca, Angelo Dodi, Leon Bidell, Gilbert Lesco, Edward Pratken, Calvin J. Kendall, Arthur Thompson
- *The Law* (1974), Actor
- *Shanks* (1974), as Einstein
- *The Bank Shot* (1974), as Stosh Gornik
- *Rhinoceros* (1974), as Waiter
- *Cinderella Liberty* (1973), as Lewis
- *The Blue Knight* (1973), as Elmer Johnson
- *The Blue Knight* (1973), series, as Elmer Johnson
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as Fidelio Ortez, Burgess — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *The Rainbow Boys* (1973), as Mazella
- *Goodnight, My Love* (1972), as Bananas
- *Delphi Bureau* (1972), series, as Gunjamen
- *Greaser's Palace* (1972), as Morris
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Rudy — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Pound* (1970), as Italian Terrier
- *Putney Swope* (1969), as Man Helping Mr. Syllables Walk (uncredited)
- *Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value* (1969), as Peter DeCola
- *No More Excuses* (1968), as Priest
- *Thigh Spy* (1967), Actor

---
© 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/don-calfa