Drago as Al Capone's scumbag henchman Frank Nitti in Brian DePalma's 1987 masterpiece Untouchables.
Posted on 06/27/2019 4:29:17 PM PDT by Drew68
Actor Billy Drago has died at the age of 73. Drago specialized in portraying villains and was best known for playing real-life gangster Frank Nitti in Brian De Palma’s 1987 film The Untouchables and the demon Barbas on the WB show Charmed. Drago’s many other acting credits include 1985’s Clint Eastwood-starring Pale Rider, Hill Street Blues, The X-Files, Showtime’s anthology show Masters of Horror, and Gregg Araki’s 2005 movie, Mysterious Skin. According to Variety, Drago died Monday in Los Angeles of complications from a stroke. The actor’s passing was confirmed to EW by his representative.
Drago has been fondly remembered by actress Laura Ortiz (Holliston) who worked with the actor on the 2006 remake of horror movie The Hills Have Eyes.
“Very saddened to hear the news of Billy Drago passing,” Ortiz wrote on Instagram. “He was such an amazing character both on and off the screen. When we were in Morocco filming he’d go off on adventures and no one knew where he was or how to reach him but he’d always show up on time for work with amazing stories of getting lost in the desert and the locals he met and stayed with. Lucky to have worked with you on my first job.”
Drago as Al Capone's scumbag henchman Frank Nitti in Brian DePalma's 1987 masterpiece Untouchables.
Sorry to hear it...
Life is too short. RIP.
RIP.
I would never have guessed he was that old.
Me either.
Thought he was in his 40’s....
Good movie but took liberties with history. Most do.
I remember him best as John Bly from The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr.
He was - in 1987.
Memory eternal.
He was also in an episode of the X-Files. All I remember about the episode is that his character was amazed by microwave popcorn. "Poppin' corn!"
Untouchables was 32 years ago! I know, I know... Feels just like yesterday.
We're getting old.
He was the deputy Eastwood shot at the horse trough.
He was a super-creepy villain in some episodes of Don Johnson’s cop series “Nash Bridges,” and his son, Darren Burrows, played Ed Chigliak in “Northern Exposure.”
No way! I had no idea! I watched that show in college and remember the character exactly!
Makes perfect sense. Looks just like him.
for later
Darren’s cheekbones and forehead aren’t as villainous.
Billy Drago’s IMDB listing is a testimony to a heck of a career. He was literally working all the time.
The sign of a good villain is if you walk out of the theater hating his guts...
He was pretty bad ass in the untouchables.
There are always good roles for villains in the movies and television.
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