Richard Portnow (born January 26, 1947)[1] is an American actor known for such films and television series as Good Morning, Vietnam, Barton Fink, Kindergarten Cop, Seven, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, The Spirit, Law Abiding Citizen, Private Parts, Fallen Arches, Double Down, Poolhall Junkies, The Sopranos, Hannah Montana, The Nanny, Trumbo, Oldboy, Find Me Guilty, Underdogs and Boston Legal.[2]

Richard Portnow
BornJanuary 26, 1947 (1947-01-26) (age 77)
Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1980–present

Portnow played the role of defense attorney Harold "Mel" Melvoin on the Emmy-winning HBO series The Sopranos (1999), the lawyer for Uncle Junior.

Portnow appeared in Matthew Charles Santoro's sci-fi film Higher Power, which was released in 2018.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Roadie First New York Wino
1985 Desperately Seeking Susan Party Guest
1987 Radio Days Sy
1987 Tin Men Carly Benelli
1987 The Squeeze Ruben
1987 Weeds Guard
1987 Hiding Out Mr. Lessig
1987 Good Morning, Vietnam Dan 'The Man' Levitan
1988 In Dangerous Company Kellog
1988 Twins Chop Shop Owner
1989 Meet the Hollowheads Mr. Crabneck
1989 Say Anything... IRS Agent Stewart
1989 Chattahoochee Dr. Debner
1990 Tune in Tomorrow Uncle Luke
1990 Havana Mike MacClaney
1990 Kindergarten Cop Captain Salazar
1991 Barton Fink Detective Mastrionotti
1991 For the Boys Milt, Recording Studio
1991 Father of the Bride Al, The Tux Salesman
1992 Beethoven Ammo Gun Salesman
1992 Sister Act Willy
1992 There Goes the Neighborhood Marty Rollins
1993 Heart and Souls Max Marco
1993 Night Eyes 3 Edgar Kaplan
1994 Lipstick Camera Detective Vorkopich
1994 Trial by Jury Leo Greco
1994 S.F.W. Gerald Parsley
1994 Across the Moon Roy
1995 Man of the House Joey Renda
1995 Seven Dr. Beardsley
1996 Guy Al
1996 Bogus M. Clay Thrasher
1996 Brittle Glory Sid Higgins
1997 Private Parts Ben Stern
1997 Mad City Brackett's Agent
1998 Milo Lieutenant Parker
1998 Shadow of Doubt Marvin Helm
1998 My Giant Producer
1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Wine Colored Tuxedo
1998 Postal Worker Dr. Nicholas Brink
1999 Road Kill Charboneau
1999 Ballad of the Nightingale Arnie D'Angelo
1999 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Frank 'Handsome Frank'
1999 Desert Thunder Admiral Le Clair
2000 Fallen Arches Nicky Kaplan
2000 Happy Accidents Trip
2000 Lured Innocence Jack Shelby
2000 The Unscarred Tommy Matolla
2000 The Mystery of Spoon River Agent Cicarelli
2001 Double Down Arnold Zigman
2001 Double Bang Lieutenant Shatkin
2002 Poolhall Junkies Jay 'Toupee Jay'
2004 Tony n' Tina's Wedding Vinnie Black
2004 Under the City Minks
2005 Meet the Mobsters Jerry Kaminski
2006 Find Me Guilty Max Novardis
2006 National Lampoon's TV: The Movie Sergeant
2007 Perfect Stranger Narron
2007 Good Time Max Head Administrator
2007 Made in Brooklyn Louis / Vito Ungaro
2007 Chasing Robert Ed Thorton
2007 The Minis Jack
2007 The Indian Elliot
2008 Tinker Bell Minister of Autumn Direct-to-video
2008 The Spirit Donenfeld
2009 Life Is Hot in Cracktown Guy From 4 K
2009 Law Abiding Citizen Bill Reynolds
2009 Under New Management Carmello Conforte
2010 Privileged Mr. Rothman Direct-to-video
2010 Killer by Nature Walter
2012 Dirty People Max
2012 A Night of Nightmares Cliff Tanner
2012 Two Jacks Lorenzo
2012 Hitchcock Barney Balaban
2013 Underdogs John Handon II
2013 Slightly Single in L.A. Older Bar Guy
2013 A Voice in the Dark Dr. Levi
2013 Oldboy Bernie Sharkey
2014 The Fourth Noble Truth Aaron's Lawyer
2014 This Last Lonely Place Jason Pure
2014 Nanny Cam Detective Jones
2015 Parallel Stewart
2015 Trumbo Louis B. Mayer
2016 Soy Nero Murray, The Garage Owner
2016 Café Society Walt
2017 Swing State 'Shoe' Montgomery
2017 Andover Shamus Trout
2017 The Gliksmans Tim Neuman
2017 An American Dog Story Ripper Voice
2018 Red Team Go Pawn Shop Owner
2018 Higher Power Charles Margrey
2018 Frank and Ava Walter Winchell
2018 Holly Day Benny
2019 Stakeout Pat Reed
2019 Duke Carroll Green
2021 Roe v. Wade William O. Douglas
2021 GodHead: In a fiction, in a dream of passion Martin

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer Bartender Television film
1985–1986 The Equalizer Policeman / Detective / Lieutenant 3 episodes
1986 Courage Frankie Ce De Baca Television film
1987 Tales from the Darkside Curtis Episode: "Everybody Needs a Little Love"
1987 Almost Partners Nicky Television film
1987 American Playhouse Billy Einhorn Episode: "The House of Blue Leaves"
1987 Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam Harry Long Television film
1987 The Oldest Rookie Albert Moont Episode: "Ike and Son"
1987 Hooperman Mr. Byrne Episode: "Hot Wired"
1987 Beauty and the Beast Naj Episode: "A Children's Story"
1988 Wiseguy Louis Cabra Episode: "Blood Dance"
1988 Dear John Harry Episode: "Pilot"
1988 Something Is Out There Jimmy 'Blue Eyes', Eddie's Ex-Boss Episode: "Gladiator"
1989 Original Sin Vincent Television film
1989 A Deadly Silence District Attorney Ed Jablonski
1989 Peter Gunn Spiros
1990 Singer & Sons Maurice Episode: "Our's Not to Reason Why Shmy"
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Cameron Prince Episode: "The Movie Mystery"
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster Dave Barrett Television film
1991 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Cleeve Peevey Episode: "Every Move a Work of Art"
1991-1992 Dinosaurs Mel Luster 2 episodes
1991-1995 Murder, She Wrote Walter Pell / Lieutenant Walt Murphy
1992 Middle Ages Buddy Episode: "The Pig in the Python"
1992 Civil Wars Jerry DeSantos Episode: "The Naked and the Wed"
1992 Homefront Actor / Announcer Episode: "The Lemo Tomato Juice Hour"
1993 Seinfeld Ray Episode: "The Handicap Spot"
1993 Based on an Untrue Story Disturbing Caller Television film
1993 Home Free Vic 13 episodes
1994 The Commish Benny Episode: "Benny"
1994 Dragstrip Girl Detective Dryden Television film
1994 The Nanny Phillipe Episode: "A Star Is Unborn"
1995 Double Rush Ed Foley 2 episodes
1995 Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning Monaghan Television film
1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Barry Barker Episode: "Whine, Whine, Whine"
1995 Indictment: The McMartin Trial Judge George Television film
1995 Fallen Angels Jack Malkov Episode: "A Dime a Dance"
1995 Donor Unknown Hal Cooney Television film
1995-2005 NYPD Blue Howard Segal / Harry Bernstein 2 episodes
1996 Dave's World Leon Episode: "Loves Me Like a Rock"
1996 Dream On Roy Episode: "Finale - Part One"
1996-1997 Mad About You Arthur 2 episodes
1996–1997 EZ Streets Detective Frank Collero 10 episodes
1997 Walker, Texas Ranger Irving Rothbart, LaRue's Attorney Episode: "Trial of LaRue"
1997 JAG Sibby Lonegro Episode: "Ghost Ship"
1997 Bella Mafia Anthony Moreno Television film
1998 Spin City Mr. Paterno Episode: "Deaf Man Walking"
1999 Boy Meets World Stan Episode: "Can I Help to Cheer You?"
1999 The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All Vincent Lo Russo Television film
1999 Witness Protection Nikos 'The Greek' Stephanos
1999 Ryan Caulfield: Year One Sergeant Palermo 2 episodes
1999 Kilroy Ed Gray Television film
1999–2004 The Sopranos Harold 'Mel' Melvoin 13 episodes
2000 18 Wheels of Justice Anthony Guardino Jr. Episode: "Two Eyes for an Eye"
2000 Judging Amy Assistant Attorney General Charles Novotny Episode: "The Out-of-Towners"
2001 Laughter on the 23rd Floor Harry Prince Television film
2001 Going to California Lou Barlow Episode: "The Naked and the Nude"
2002 The Shield Jim Wright Episode: "Cherrypoppers"
2004–2006 Boston Legal Judge Peter Harding 4 episodes
2004-2009 Nip/Tuck Manny Caldarello 2 episodes
2005 Trump Unauthorized Ed Koch Television film
2005 Head Cases Max Episode: "In the Club"
2005 Las Vegas Lester Colette Episode: "Everything Old Is You Again"
2006 Hannah Montana Marty Kline Episode: "On the Road Again"
2007 Dirt Teddy Jick Episode: "Ovophagy"
2008 Cold Case Oscar Anderson Episode: "The Dealer"
2010 How to Make It in America Ben's Father Episode: "Paper, Denim + Dollars"
2010 The Wish List Lenny Television film
2010 Jack's Family Adventure Denny Simpkins Television film
2010 Outlaw Senator Sidney Vidalin 3 episodes
2011 The Mentalist Phil Episode: "Scarlet Ribbons"
2011 The Christmas Pageant Leo Brenner Television film
2012 CSI: NY Preston Seville Sr. Episode: "Brooklyn Til I Die"
2012 Hawaii Five-0 Creed's Attorney Episode: "Kupale"
2012 Imaginary Friend Dan Television film
2012 Franklin & Bash Richard Kohl Episode: "For Those About to Rock"
2014 Castle Milt Boyle Episode: "That '70s Show"
2014 Parks and Recreation Mitch Savner 3 episodes
2014 Suits Pete Kreeling Episode: "Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner"
2014 Seasons of Love Pop Television film
2015 Grimm Daniel Troyer Episode: "Maiden Quest"
2015 The Good Wife Judge Ben Margovski Episode: "Restraint"
2016 Elementary Eddie Eichorn Episode: "You've Got Me, Who's Got You?"
2017 Timeless William Hale Thompson Episode: "Public Enemy No. 1"
2017 Major Crimes The Gardener Episode: "Dead Drop"
2017 Real Rob Jerry Episode: "Acupuncture & Spring Rolls"
2019 The Detour Marty Episode: "The Return"
2020 Grey's Anatomy Saul Schmitt Episode: "The Last Supper"
2021 Shameless Johnny 'Boxcars' Episode: "Survivors"

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 X2: Wolverine's Revenge Beast Voice

References

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  1. ^ Rose, Mike (January 2, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 26, 2023 includes celebrities Sasha Banks, Ellen DeGeneres". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Richard Portnow at IMDb  
  3. ^ FilmBook, March 18, 2018 - HIGHER POWER (2018) Movie Trailer: Scientist Colm Feore Gives Ron Eldard Powers to Save Earth by Rollo Tomasi
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