Dick Miller

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Richard Miller (December 25, 1928 – January 30, 2019) was an American character actor who appeared in more than 180 films,[1] including many produced by Roger Corman. He later appeared in the films of directors who began their careers with Corman, including Joe Dante, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese, with the distinction of appearing in every film directed by Dante. He was known for playing the beleaguered everyman, often in one-scene appearances.

Miller's main roles in films included Not of This Earth (1957), A Bucket of Blood (1959), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), Piranha (1978), The Howling (1981), Gremlins, The Terminator (both 1984), Explorers (1985), Chopping Mall, Night of the Creeps (both 1986), The 'Burbs (1989), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Quake (1992), and Small Soldiers (1998).

Early life

Miller was born on Christmas Day, 1928, in The Bronx, New York, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Rita (Blucher), an opera singer, and Ira Miller, a printer.[2] He served a tour of duty in the United States Navy. Miller attended the City College of New York, Columbia University, and New York University,[3] eventually attaining a PhD in psychology.[4][5] He was a writer before turning to acting.[6]

Career

While working as a graduate psychologist, Miller performed on Broadway and also worked at the Bellevue Hospital Mental Hygiene Clinic and the psychiatric department of Queens General Hospital.[5] In 1952, he moved to California seeking work as a writer. One of his earliest acting roles was in Apache Woman (1955). He played one of the townspeople and also a separate role as an Indian. In an action scene his townsperson character shoots his Indian character, as related in the documentary Corman's World.[7]

His movie roles include White Line Fever, The Terminator, All The Right Moves, Night of the Creeps, Small Soldiers, It Conquered the World, A Bucket of Blood, The Little Shop of Horrors, the Tales from the Crypt movie Demon Knight, Amazon Women on the Moon, Chopping Mall, The Howling, Piranha and I Wanna Hold Your Hand.[8] His best known role was in the movies Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch as Murray Futterman. He appeared in Pulp Fiction as Monster Joe, but his scene and a few others were deleted because of the film's length. He also appeared in Rod Stewart's video for the song "Infatuation" in 1984, with Mike Mazurki and Kay Lenz.

His television credits include as a Townsman on the 1963 TV Western Gunsmoke (S9E8's "Carter Caper"), in Combat!, as a young soldier in the 5th-season episode "The Outsider"; Police Squad! (a 1980s crime spoof series with Leslie Nielsen); V: The Final Battle as Dan Pascal; three seasons as the generous bartender Lou Mackie on Fame; Star Trek: The Next Generation, in the season 1 episode "The Big Goodbye", as the newspaper stand man in the holodeck; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in the season 3 two-part episode "Past Tense", as Vin; Time of Your Life; as a prison guard in Soap (1979); and as the voice of the gangster Chuckie Sol in the animated feature film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. He also directed television shows, including "The Fix", a 1986 episode of the series Miami Vice.[8]

In 2000, Miller was featured alongside former collaborators including Roger Corman, Sam Arkoff and Peter Bogdanovich in the documentary SCHLOCK! The Secret History of American Movies, a film about the rise and fall of American exploitation cinema. In 2014 he appeared in a documentary of his life, That Guy Dick Miller.[8] He is also credited for appearing in a Sega CD video game, Prize Fighter, as corner man for the main character.

Walter Paisley

File:Dick Miller as Walter Paisley.png
Miller in A Bucket of Blood (1959)

Throughout his career, Miller would portray several fictional characters all named Walter Paisley. He once noted, "I've played Walter Paisley five times now, I think."[9] By 2011, the character name had actually appeared in Miller's acting credits six times, and twice more with other actors on stage and screen. The name first appeared in the Roger Corman film A Bucket of Blood, with a story centred on Paisley, a busboy who becomes an artist of sorts by killing his subjects and covering them in plaster.[10] In 1976, Miller again portrayed a Walter Paisley — this time, a talent agent and former actor – in another Corman production, Hollywood Boulevard, directed by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante. In one scene of the film, Miller watches himself onscreen at a drive-in theatre showing of The Terror – along with the Paisley name, this was one of several Corman/American International references and in-jokes in the finished production.

Dante cast Miller as another Walter Paisley, the owner of an occult bookshop, in the 1981 film The Howling.[11] Two years later, the name appeared again attached to another Miller role, this time as the owner of a diner in the third segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie.[12] The 1986 horror film Chopping Mall featured a janitor named Walter Paisley; and the 1994 made-for-TV remake of Shake, Rattle and Rock! had Miller playing a policeman, Officer Paisley. Officer Paisley also appeared in Night of the Creeps. Miller played a variation on the role one last time in his final, posthumously released film, Hanukkah. Two other actors have portrayed the Walter Paisley from A Bucket of Blood: Anthony Michael Hall in the 1995 television remake; and James Stanton in the musical adaptation produced by Chicago's Annoyance Theatre.

Personal life

Miller married Sheila Elaine "Lainie" Halpern (1941–2025)[13] on October 6, 1959, and they had one child together, Barbara.[14][15][16]

Death

Miller died at age 90 of a heart attack[2] on January 30, 2019, while being treated for pneumonia in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles.[17][18]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Director Notes
1967 Dragnet 1967 Harry Johnson Script error: No such module "Sort". Episode: "The Shooting"
1979 Taxi Ernie the Waiter Script error: No such module "Sort". Episode: "The Lighter Side of Angela Matusa"
1979 Soap The Guard Script error: No such module "Sort". Episode: # 2.19
1982 Police Squad! Vic Joe Dante Episode: "Testimony of Evil (Dead Men Don't Laugh)"
1982 Taxi Fergie Script error: No such module "Sort". Episode: "Travels With My Dad"
1984 V: The Final Battle Dan Pascal Richard T. Heffron 1 Episode
1984-1987 Fame Lou Mackie Various Recurring role (30 episodes)
1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation News Stand Vendor Joseph L. Scanlon Episode: "The Big Goodbye"
1990-1991 The Flash Fosnight Various 6 episodes
1993 Fallen Angels Carl Various 2 episodes
1994 Rebel Highway Roy Farrell Joe Dante and Allan Arkush 2 episodes
1994 Batman: The Animated Series Boxy Bennett Script error: No such module "Sort". Voice, 2 episodes[19]
1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Mike Lane Robert Singer Episode: "Church of Metropolis"
1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Vin Script error: No such module "Sort". and Script error: No such module "Sort". Episode: "Past Tense"
2005 Justice League Unlimited Oberon Script error: No such module "Sort". Voice, episode: "The Ties that Bind"[19]

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
1955 Apache Woman Tall Tree Script error: No such module "Sort".
1956 The Oklahoma Woman The Bartender
Gunslinger Jimmy Tonto
It Conquered the World Sergeant Neil
1957 Naked Paradise Mitch
Not of This Earth Joe Piper
The Undead The Leper
Rock All Night "Shorty"
Sorority Girl Mort
Carnival Rock Benny
1958 War of the Satellites Dave Boyer
1959 Script error: No such module "sort". Walter Paisley
1960 Script error: No such module "sort". Burson Fouch
1961 Atlas Greek Soldier Uncredited
Capture That Capsule Ed Nowak Will Zens
1962 Premature Burial "Mole" Script error: No such module "Sort".
1963 Script error: No such module "sort". Stefan
X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes Heckler Uncredited
1965 The Girls on the Beach First Waiter William Witney Uncredited
Ski Party Taxi Driver Alan Rafkin Uncredited
Beach Ball Cop #1 Script error: No such module "Sort".
1966 Wild Wild Winter Rilk
Script error: No such module "sort". Rigger Script error: No such module "Sort".
1967 Script error: No such module "sort". MP At Hanging Script error: No such module "Sort". Uncredited
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre Gangster Dressed As A Cop Script error: No such module "Sort". Uncredited
A Time for Killing Zollicoffer Script error: No such module "Sort".
Script error: No such module "sort". Cash Script error: No such module "Sort".
1968 The Wild Racers Pit Crew Mechanic Daniel Haller
Roger Corman
The Legend of Lylah Clare Reporter At Press Party Robert Aldrich Uncredited
1972 Night Call Nurses Mr. Jensen Script error: No such module "Sort".
1973 The Student Teachers Coach Harris Script error: No such module "Sort".
The Slams Taxi Driver
Executive Action Rifleman, Team B David Miller
The Young Nurses Cop Script error: No such module "Sort".
Fly Me Taxi Driver Script error: No such module "Sort".
1974 Truck Turner Fogarty Script error: No such module "Sort".
Big Bad Mama Bonney Script error: No such module "Sort".
Candy Stripe Nurses The Spectator Alan Holleb
Summer School Teachers Sam Script error: No such module "Sort".
1975 Capone Joe Pryor Script error: No such module "Sort".
Death Race 2000 Chicken Gang Paul Bartel Uncredited
White Line Fever "Birdie" Corman Script error: No such module "Sort".
Darktown Strutters Officer Hugo Script error: No such module "Sort".
Crazy Mama Wilbur Janeway Script error: No such module "Sort".
1976 Hollywood Boulevard Walter Paisley Script error: No such module "Sort".
Cannonball Bennie Buckman Script error: No such module "Sort".
Moving Violation Mack Charles S. Dubin
Vigilante Force The Pianist George Armitage
1977 Mr. Billion Bernie Script error: No such module "Sort".
New York, New York The Palm Club Owner Script error: No such module "Sort".
Game Show Models The Game Show Host David N. Gottlieb
1978 Starhops Jerry Script error: No such module "Sort".
I Wanna Hold Your Hand Sergeant Brenner Script error: No such module "Sort".
Corvette Summer "Mr. Lucky" Script error: No such module "Sort".
Piranha Buck Gardner Script error: No such module "Sort".
1979 The Lady in Red Patek Script error: No such module "Sort".
Rock 'n' Roll High School Police Chief Script error: No such module "Sort".
11th Victim Ned, Investigator Script error: No such module "Sort". TV movie
1941 Officer Miller Script error: No such module "Sort".
1980 Script error: No such module "sort". New York Cop Script error: No such module "Sort".
Used Cars Man In Bed Script error: No such module "Sort".
Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype Irsil / Orson Charles B. Griffith
1981 Script error: No such module "sort". Walter Paisley Script error: No such module "Sort".
Smokey Bites the Dust Glen Wilson Charles B. Griffith
Heartbeeps Factory Watchman Script error: No such module "Sort".
1982 National Lampoon's Movie Madness Dr. Hans Kleiner Script error: No such module "Sort". Segment: "Success Wanters"
White Dog Animal Trainer Samuel Fuller
Vortex Bit Part Beth B
Scott B
The Aftermath Broadcaster Steve Barkett
Ted V. Mikels 		Voice
1983 Heart Like a Wheel Mickey White Script error: No such module "Sort".
Twilight Zone: The Movie Walter, The Bar Owner Script error: No such module "Sort". Segment: "It's a Good Life"
Space Raiders Mel "Crazy Mel" Howard R. Cohen
Get Crazy Susie's Dad Script error: No such module "Sort".
All the Right Moves Teacher In Auditorium Script error: No such module "Sort".
Lies The Producer Jim Wheat
Ken Wheat
1984 Swing Shift Wallflower At The Swing Shift Jamboree Jonathan Demme Uncredited
Gremlins Murray Futterman Script error: No such module "Sort".
Script error: No such module "sort". Rob Garrett Script error: No such module "Sort".
1985 Explorers Charlie Drake Script error: No such module "Sort".
After Hours Pete, Diner Waiter Script error: No such module "Sort".
1986 Chopping Mall Walter Paisley Script error: No such module "Sort".
Night of the Creeps Walt Script error: No such module "Sort".
Armed Response Steve Script error: No such module "Sort".
1987 Project X Max King Script error: No such module "Sort".
Face Like a Frog Max Script error: No such module "Sort".
Innerspace Cab Driver Script error: No such module "Sort".
Amazon Women on the Moon Danny Clayton Various Segment: "The French Ventiloquist's Dummy" (TV cut & DVD only)
Uncredited
1988 Under the Boardwalk Official Fritz Kiersch
Angel III: The Final Chapter Nick Pellegrini Tom DeSimone
Dead Heat Cemetery Security Guard Script error: No such module "Sort". Uncredited
1989 Script error: No such module "sort". Vic, The Garbageman Script error: No such module "Sort".
Far from Home Sheriff Bill Childers Meiert Avis
Ghost Writer Club Manager Kenneth J. Hall
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Murray Futterman Script error: No such module "Sort".
Mob Boss Mike Script error: No such module "Sort".
1991 Motorama Horseshoe Player Barry Shils
1992 Evil Toons Burt Script error: No such module "Sort".
Body Waves Mr. Matthews P.J. Pesce
Unlawful Entry Impound Clerk Script error: No such module "Sort".
1992 Quake The Storekeeper Script error: No such module "Sort".
1993 Matinee Herb Denning Script error: No such module "Sort".
1993 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Chuckie Sol Script error: No such module "Sort".

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Voice[19]
1994 Pulp Fiction Joe "Monster Joe" Script error: No such module "Sort". (scenes deleted)
Mona Must Die Father Stilicato Donald Reiker
1995 Demon Knight Uncle Willy Script error: No such module "Sort".
Number One Fan The Night Manager Jane Simpson
1997 The Second Civil War Eddie O'Neill Script error: No such module "Sort". Television film
1998 Script error: No such module "sort". The Peddler
Small Soldiers Joe, The Truck Driver
2001 Route 666 The Bartender William Wesley
2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action Security Chief Script error: No such module "Sort".
2006 Trapped Ashes Max Segments: "Wraparound"
2007 Trail of the Screaming Forehead Eddie Larry Blamire
2009 Script error: No such module "sort". Pizza Delivery Guy Script error: No such module "Sort". Uncredited
3rd Shift: Michael's Lament The Sculptor Christopher D. Grace
2014 Burying the Ex Grumpy Cop Script error: No such module "Sort".
That Guy Dick Miller Himself Elijah Drenner Documentary
2015 The Adventures of Biffle and Shooster Walter Michael Schlesinger
Schmo Boat Short
2019 Hanukkah Rabbi Walter Paisley Eben McGarr Posthumous release; Final film role

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Alan Frank, The Films of Roger Corman: "Shooting My Way Out of Trouble" (BT Batsford, 1998).
  10. ↑ David J. Hogan, Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film (McFarland, 1997), 221.
  11. ↑ Reynold Humphries, The American Horror Film: An Introduction (Edinburgh University Press, 2002), 133.
  12. ↑ John Kenneth Muir, Horror Films of the 1980s (McFarland & Co., 2007), 364.
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.

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