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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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

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October 14: October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in Leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 78 days remaining....

1952: 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar)....

March 17: March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). There are 289 days remaining....

Rick Aviles related Images and Photos (experimental)

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