Actor
Ralph Foody
Born November 13, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, USADied November 21, 199918 films
Ralph Wesley Foody was an American character actor.
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He has several screen credits from the 1980s, but is probably best known for his bit part in the 1990 film Home Alone and its 1992 sequel as a stereotypical 1930s mobster "Johnny" in two black-and-white gangster films-within-the-films Angels with Filthy Souls and its sequel Angels with Even Filthier Souls (both are a parody of the 1938 film Angels with Dirty Faces by Warner Bros.), along with his famous catchphrases 'Keep the change ya filthy animal/Merry Christmas ya filthy animal and a Happy New Year'.
Foody also played "Det. Cragie", the alcoholic and the negligent Chicago cop in Code of Silence, as well as the police dispatcher in The Blues Brothers. He was also known for his incredible wit and was often referred to as "The Witster" on set.
Foody died of cancer in 1999 at age 71.
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The best way into Ralph Foody's work
First watchThe Blues Brothers19807.7as Police DispatcherJake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.View filmEssential films
Ranked by acclaim and reach
Filmography
18 films as actor- 1992Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkGangster
- 1992Straight TalkDesk Clerk
- 1992Cold JusticeErnie
- 1991Curly SueDrifter
- 1991DillingerDillinger's Father
- 1990Home AloneGangster #1 (Johnny)
- 1989Music BoxPawn Broker
- 1989The PackageBuilding Manager
- 1988BetrayedLyle
- 1988Above the LawFederal Clerk
- 1988Vice VersaDoorman
- 1986Raw DealCaptain
- 1985Code of SilenceCragie
- 1984The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck
- 1981Chicago StorySergeant Hesper
- 1980The Blues BrothersPolice Dispatcher
- 1978TowingLou
- 1965Mickey OnePolice Captain