Robert Romanus (born July 17, 1956), also billed as Bob Romanus, is an American actor and musician who has starred in film and television.[1] He is perhaps best known for his role as ticket scalper Mike Damone in the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High,[1][2] and as Natalie Green's boyfriend Snake on The Facts of Life.[1] He also had a supporting role in the 1985 film Bad Medicine.
Robert "Bob" Romanus | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 17, 1956 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Known for | Fame Fast Times at Ridgemont High |
| Spouse | Kari Lizer (divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Richard Romanus (brother) |
Life and career
editRomanus is the son of Eileen (née Maloof) and Dr. Raymond Romanos, and is the brother of actor Richard Romanus. He is of Lebanese descent. [3][4] He grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and went to Conard High School.[5]
He starred in the 1983 series The Best of Times as Pete Falcone and appeared in Fame as Miltie Horowitz (1986–1987). He also co-starred in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).
In 1983, he appeared in Styx's music video for Kilroy Was Here.[citation needed]
Romanus has starred on soap operas such as Days of Our Lives as Marvin 'Speed' Selejko from 1983 to 1985 and The Young and the Restless as Lou in 2002. He has guest-starred on many shows, including CHiPs, The Facts of Life, 21 Jump Street, Alien Nation, MacGyver, Providence, Will & Grace, and My Own Worst Enemy. Romanus directed the 2008 drama Grapefruit Moon and had a small part in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love as himself. In 2010, he played the guitar teacher in The Runaways.[1] His 2018 projects include the films Genesis: The Future of Mankind Is Woman, The Liquid Psychologist and Voyeur.[6]
Personal life
editRomanus once owned a café in North Hollywood, Bob's Espresso Bar, which closed in 2014.[7]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Foxes | Scott | |
| 1982 | Fast Times at Ridgemont High | Mike Damone | |
| 1985 | Bad Medicine | Carlos | |
| 1988 | Pulse | Paul | |
| 1988 | Dangerous Curves | Hector | |
| 1989 | Curfew | Jack | credited as Bob Romanus |
| 1991 | The Resurrected | Lonnie Peck | |
| 1997 | Lover Girl | Mr. Hairdresser | |
| 1998 | Expose | Detective Forrest | |
| 1999 | Valerie Flake | Bartender | |
| 1999 | Tycus | Sam | Direct-to-Video |
| 1999 | Carlo's Wake | Enzo D'Angelo | |
| 2000 | Straight Right | Ron | |
| 2000 | Bit Players | The Assistant Director | Short film |
| 2001 | The Socratic Method | Meffastaffollo | |
| 2001 | D.A.R.E. Safety Tips Starring Retro Bill | Stranger in Car | Short film |
| 2003 | The Utopian Society | Barry | |
| 2003 | BachelorMan | Executive #2 | |
| 2004 | The Last Run | Steven's Boss | |
| 2005 | Going Shopping | Jimmy | |
| 2005 | A Halfway House Christmas | Daryl | |
| 2006 | Mojave Phone Booth | Richard | |
| 2007 | Route 30 | Stive | |
| 2009 | Road to the Altar | Lighting Guy | |
| 2009 | American Pie Presents: The Book of Love | Alumnus Guy #6 – Special Appearance | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2010 | The Runaways | Guitar Teacher | |
| 2012 | Route 30, Too! | Dick | |
| 2013 | The Midnight Game | Derrick | |
| 2013 | The Shifting | Juan | |
| 2016 | Talons | Parole Officer Wally Emerson | |
| 2016 | The Remake | Mark Curtis | |
| 2017 | The Matchmaker | Sam | Short film |
| 2018 | The Liquid Psychologist | Bruce Kennedy | Short film |
| 2017 | Voyeur | Horschel | |
| 2019 | Genesis: The Future of Mankind Is Woman | Boyd Peterson |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Young and the Restless | Lou | unknown episode |
| 1982 | CHiPs | Ray | Episode: "Speedway Fever" |
| 1983 | The Best of Times | Pete Falcone | unknown episode |
| 1984 | Days of Our Lives | Marvin 'Speed' Selejko | Episode: "#1.4632" |
| 1984–1987 | Fame | Milton 'Psycho' Horowitz | recurring role (10 episodes) |
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Nick Meose | Episode: The Naked and the Dead" |
| 1985 | MacGyver | Frank Bennett | Episode: "The Prodigal" |
| 1986 | The Secret Sunday | Mando Harris | Television Movie |
| 1987 | Tales from the Darkside | Rob the Apprentice | Episode: "The Social Climber" |
| 1987 | Ghost of a Chance | unknown role | Television Movie |
| 1987–1988 | The Facts of Life | Norbert 'Snake' Robinson Jr. | recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 1989 | Hooperman | Coffee Mug | Episode: "Goodnight, Sweet Hooperman" |
| 1989 | 21 Jump Street | Officer Gary Sharp / Cadet Mortelarro | 2 episodes – "The Blu Flu" – "Draw the Line" |
| 1990 | Alien Nation | Zack Whelan | Episode: "Partners" |
| 1990 | Booker | Ton DeAngelo | recurring role (3 episodes) |
| 1994 | Renegade | Hog Adams' friend | Episode: "Hostage" |
| 1994 | Weird Science | Damien | Episode: "Lisa's Virus" |
| 1996 | Boston Common | Doctor Bob | Episode: "Trustee and Sympathy" |
| 1998 | Maggie Winters | Jeff Foster | unknown episode |
| 2000 | Providence | Ted Lumley | Episode: "Don't Go Changin' " |
| 2000 | The Invisible Man | GAO Agent | Episode: "Tiresias" |
| 2000 | Baby Blues | unknown role | Episode: "God Forbid" |
| 2000 | Will & Grace | Lenny | Episode: "Gypsies, Tramps and Weed" |
| 2001 | V.I.P. | Dr. Bob Landesberg | Episode: "Amazon Val" |
| 2007 | Fawlty Tower Oxnard | Basil | recurring role (7 episodes) |
| 2008 | My Own Worst Enemy | Sullivan | Episode: "Henry and the Terrible...Day" |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Dwight Barnes '09 | Episode: "Iced" |
| 2011 | Cloud Boy | Steve Majors | unknown episode |
| 2012 | Touch | Nelson | Episode: "Tessellations" |
| 2012 | Wedding Band | Reggie the Landlord | Episode: "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" |
| 2012 | Bite Me | Pizzeria Cook | Episode: "Shot Gun" |
| 2013 | Legit | Smirkowski | Episode: "Justice" |
| 2013 | Family Guy | Mike Damone (voice role) | Episode: "Chris Cross" |
| 2013 | The Flipside | unknown role | Episode: "Pre-Date" |
| 2014 | Cougar Town | Director | Episode: "Hard on Me" |
| 2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Taxi Driver | Episode: "Angle of Attack" |
| 2014 | Mac and Abby | Director | unknown episode |
| 2016 | Code Black | Henry Underwood | Episode: "Second Year" |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Kilroy Was Here" | Jonathan Chance's Friend | artist: Styx |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Robert Romanus". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. April 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014.
- ^ Boardman, Madeline (August 17, 2016). "'Fast Times At Ridgemont High': Where Are They Now?". Entertainment Weekly. p 4 of 12.
- ^ Abaroa, Patricia (2024). "Richard Romanus, Mean Streets and the Sopranos Actor, Dies at 80". Movieweb.com.
- ^ "Richard Romanus, Actor Known for 'Mean Streets' and 'The Sopranos,' Dies at 80". Yahoo! Sports. 2024.
- ^ ROMANOS, Eileen (Maloof) – tribunedigital-thecourant. Hartford Courant. (March 19, 2009). Retrieved 2015-06-30.[dead link]
- ^ "Robert Romanus". IMDb. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ "Bob's Espresso Bar (CLOSED)". Time Out Los Angeles. August 6, 2014.