Rick Aviles

Rick Aviles, (born Richard Anthony Aviles) October 14, 1952 - March 17, 1995, was a stand-up comedian who is best remembered for the role of Willie Lopez in the movie Ghost.

Related Topics:
October 14 - 1952 - March 17 - 1995 - Comedian - Ghost

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Rick's parents migrated from Puerto Rico in the late 1940s looking for a better way of life. They settled in Manhattan, New York City, where Rick was born. He was raised in a tough neighborhood and at times got himself into trouble. One of his assets was that he had a comical side to him.

Related Topics:
Puerto Rico - 1940 - Manhattan - New York City

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In the 1970s and 1980s, Rick worked as a stand-up comedian in the Greenwich Village night club circuit in New York. In 1981, he auditioned and landed the role of Mad Dog in the movie Cannonball Run. Since then, he was to participate in 14 movies.

Related Topics:
1970s - 1980s - Greenwich Village - 1981 - Cannonball Run

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In 1987, Rick landed a small part as the "maintenance man", in the movie The Secret of My Succe$$, starring Michael J. Fox. The same year he became the host of It's Showtime at the Apollo, and continued as host until 1991.

Related Topics:
1987 - The Secret of My Succe$$ - Michael J. Fox - It's Showtime at the Apollo - 1991

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In 1990, Rick auditioned and landed his most memorable role. He was cast as Willie Lopez, a killer, in the movie Ghost. The movie was a smash hit at the box office and received multiple Oscar nominations. Beside Rick, Ghost included the participation of Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg.

Related Topics:
1990 - Oscar - Demi Moore - Patrick Swayze - Whoopi Goldberg

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Rick also participated in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III (1990) as Mask #1; Brian DePalma's Carlitos Way (1993) as "Quiqueya", starring Al Pacino; in Waterworld (1995) as the Gatesman, starring Kevin Costner and in Joe's Apartment (1996) as the voice of a cockroach.

Related Topics:
Francis Ford Coppola - The Godfather Part III - Brian DePalma - Carlitos Way - 1993 - Al Pacino - Waterworld - 1995 - Kevin Costner - Joe's Apartment - 1996

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Among the television series in which he appeared are Mr. & Mrs. Dracula (1980), The Day Women Got Even (1980), The Carol Burnett Show (1991) and Stephen King's The Stand (1994).

Related Topics:
Television - Dracula - The Carol Burnett Show - Stephen King - The Stand

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Having contracted HIV via heroin abuse, Rick Aviles died on March 17, 1995 in Los Angeles, California, from AIDS.

Related Topics:
HIV - Heroin - Los Angeles, California - AIDS

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