December 1 Birthday Wishes

Paul Picerni [1922 - 2011]

Howdy Manco!!

Paul Picerni was a bombardier during WW II and actually was lucky enough to complete the required 25 missions flying over Europe. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross and was the bombardier responsible for destroying the bridge that was used in the filming of The Bridge At Remagen. He first appeared in film in 1946 and in 1949 had an uncredited role in the WW II film, 12 O'Clock High. He was cast in To Hell And Back with Audie Murphy and appeared in several western films, like Saddle Tramp, Return To Warbow and The Scalphunters with Burt Lancaster. He also appeared in many of the 50's and 60's t.v. westerns, like Broken Arrow, Tales Of The Texas Rangers, 26 Men, Maverick, Zorro. Bonanza, Colt .45, Sugarfoot and many others. In 1959, he was chosen to play agent Lee Hobson opposite Robert Stack on the hit 1959-1963 series, The Untouchables. During the 70's and 80's, Picerni continued to stay busy with guest appearances on series like. Mannix, Fantasy Island, Emergency, Barnaby Jones, Starsky And Hutch, while also being cast in films, like Airport, Kelly's Heros and Beyond The Poseidon Adventure. After 1987, Picerni only made occasional appearances in film through 2007, when he retired, but he also served as the Los Angeles Rams football team's, halftime Master Of Ceremonies at their games, until they moved to Anaheim. Picerni served in this capacity for 30 years. Probably best known for his role in The Untouchables, but with his good looks and the pencil thin mustache he often wore, I think he should have been cast in detective films more often. Paul Picerni passed away in January, 2011, at the age of 88. Another of The Greatest Generation gone!!

Ed