Frank Ray Perilli


Frank Ray Perilli was an American screenwriter with more than 15 screen credits, and a playwright of four stage plays. He began his career as a standup comic in the mob controlled nightclubs of Chicago’s North Side, and made appearances on major television shows of the day such as The Ed Sullivan Show. His acting career included more than a dozen feature films, some of which he wrote and/or produced. He was also a comedy writer for Don Rickles, Shecky Greene, and Lenny Bruce, among others, and at times a manager for Greene and Bruce. His biography, The Candy Butcher by William Karl Thomas, was released in 2016 by Media Maestro-Book Division.
He is known for such films as She Came to the Valley, End of the World, Laserblast, Mansion of the Doomed and Alligator.

Actor

He had a role in as a jail officer in the 1993 film The Fugitive. In 1995, he played the role of BJ in ''Steal Big Steal Little.

Writer

Along with Franne Schacht, he wrote the story for Laserblast which starred Kim Milford, Cheryl Smith, Gianni Russo, and Roddy McDowall. He has also worked with Michael Pataki on more than one occasion.

Work with Albert Band

Perilli has worked with director Albert Band on more than one occasion. With Louis A. Garfinkle, he wrote the story for the 1973 film Little Cigars which Chris Christenberry directed and Albert Band produced. It starred Angel Tompkins as a beautiful lady who teamed up with a group of midgets. More work with Band came in 1977, with Dracula's Dog. They also worked together on the western She Came to the Valley. In 1993, it was Joey Takes a Cab.

Filmography

TitleDirectorYearNotes #
The Doberman GangByron Chudnow1972Original story and screenplay
Little CigarsChris Christenberry1973Co-written with Louis A. Garfinkle
Last Foxtrot in BurbankCharles Band1973Co-written with Bill Haggard, Sam Vaughn and Louis A. Garfinkle
Mansion of the DoomedMichael Pataki1976
CinderellaMichael Pataki1977
End of the WorldJohn Hayes1977
Dracula's DogAlbert Band1977Screenplay
LaserblastMichael Rae1978Co-written with Franne Schacht
Land of No ReturnKent Bateman1978
Fairy TalesHarry Hurwitz1978Co-written with Franne Schacht
She Came to the ValleyAlbert Band1979Screenplay co-written with Albert Band
AlligatorLewis Teague1980Co-written with John Sayles, also John Sayles
Joey Takes a CabAlbert Band1991
The Best of Sex and Violence Ken Dixon1981
Steal Big Steal LittleAndrew Davis1995Story

TitleDirectorYearNotes #
Dracula's DogAlbert Band1977Co-producer Albert Band, Executive producer Philip Collins
She Came to the ValleyAlbert Band1979Co-producer Albert Band, Executive producer Robert S. Bremson,
Associate producers T.L. Duncan, W.T. Ellis