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Biography
Paul Picerni was born in the borough of
Queens, New York. In Public school he graduated as president of his class
and received the proficiency medal for scholastic excellence. As an Eagle
Scout he was selected to represent the borough of Queens at the World
Jamboree in Washington, D.C.
At Newton High School, as a member of the baseball team, he pitched a
no-hit, no run game.
One year after enlisting in the Army Air Corps, he was commissioned as a 2nd
Lieutenant Bombardier at Victorville Air Force Base in California. He flew
25 combat missions (in the China, Burma, India theater of war) and received
the Air medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying
Cross.
Paul graduated in 1949, as a drama major from Loyola University in Los
Angeles. He starred in numerous plays on campus , including "Man For All
Seasons" and a one-man show as St. Genesius for the Catholic Theater
Conference. Upon graduating from Loyola, he was hired by Mount St. Mary's
College to teach speech and drama. He wrote a musical called "Everybody Goes
To College" and staged it at the famous Wilshire Ebell Theater with great
success. Also at this time the Los Angeles Rams NFL football team hired him
as their half-time master of ceremonies, a job he performed 30 years until
the Rams moved to Anaheim.
Warner Brothers Studios signed him to an important role in a war story
called "Breakthrough". This led to a seven year contract and picture after
picture, such as "Mara Maru", "Desert Song", "Operation Pacific", ect., and
finally he garnered the romantic lead in the biggest hit ever made in three
dimensions - "The House of Wax". During this same period, he and his wife
Marie had their own productions going ... eventually four boys and four
girls.
As Elliot Ness' side-kick, "Lee Hobson", Paul gained international fame in a
television series that was to become on of the highest rated shows of all
time, "The Untouchables".
You've seen him as a guest star on "Kojak, "The Lucy Show, "Playhouse 90",
"Alice" and many others too numerous to mention. All in all he has played
roles in 63 motion pictures, has been the commercial spokesman for GE,
Rexall Drugs, and the Weber Company, and has guest starred in 455 television
shows.
Throughout Hollywood, he is known as the "Benefit King". Paul has MC'd
banquets for numerous benefits through the years, but he is partial to the
Italian and Catholic functions, the Annual Hollywood Actors Communication
Breakfast, The Columbus Day Banquets, etc. A week doesn't go by that Paul
doesn't get a request to M.C. some function. His answer is always yes.
Marie and Paul recently moved from in Tarzana,
California to Crystalaire, California, where their children, 10
grandchildren and great-granddaughter are frequent visitors.
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About Paul's brother Charles Picerni:
In July of 1961 Paul brought his brother Charles (Charlie Picerni) out to
Hollywood from Corona, New York to be his stand -in on the TV. series "The
Untouchables". During the ensuing years he went from Paul's stand -in to
Paul's stunt double. His career progressed to stunt coordinator, second unit
director, and finally full director. Charlie was stunt coordinator for "The
Untouchables", "Time Tunnel", "Mannix", "Kojack", "Starsky and Hutch",
"Magnum P.I." and hundreds of other TV. shows along with new series "7
Days". He also directed over 40 episodes of TV. productions.
His feature films as a stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director
include the "Die Hard" movies, "Lethal Weapon" movies, numerous Jean Claude
Van Damme productions, plus other films with Stallone, Schwarzenegger,
Willis, Gibson and more.
Charlie's sons, Charles Picerni Jr. and Stephen Picerni
are
also a well known stuntman and coordinators.
Other Picernis in the business include sister Paula Picerni, a precision
stunt driver; Paul Picerni, Jr., a property master,
grandson, actor Rick Picerni and Paul's granddaughter Katie
Moran, a producer of the reality show "The Girls Next Door."
Also related to Paul Picerni are his sister Eleanor Tamburro's two sons
Chuck and John Tamburro, who are well known as leading helicopter pilots in
the motion picture industry.
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