Richard Emerick Crupi (August 11, 1931 – December 26, 2024), known professionally as Dick Capri, was an American actor and comedian. With a career spanning several decades, Capri has performed in major comedy clubs, theaters, and television programs, gaining recognition. He was a frequent performer on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Capri also gained prominence as part of the Broadway show Catskills on Broadway, where he showcased his talent alongside other legendary comedians. He continued to perform until 2021.
Life and career Richard Emerick Crupi was born to an Italian-American family in Reading, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 1931. After graduating high school, he moved to New York City and began performing stand-up.
In the 1960s, he appeared on such programs as The Merv Griffin Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. He worked with Engelbert Humperdinck, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, and Tom Jones, and performed for presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. He performed largely at resorts in the Catskills, and was later part of a revue called Catskills on Broadway. He continued to perform until 2021.
Capri was married and divorced twice, to Barbara Cappinger and April Rand; he had a son (with Barbara) comedian Jeff Capri. He has a brother Frank Crupi and niece Elena Crupi. Capri died from an aortic dissection at his home in Boca Raton, Florida, on December 26, 2024, at the age of 93.
Filmography
Film YearNameRole1987They Still Call Me BruceSam2005Bittersweet PlaceJerry2005Christ In The CityAltercooker2010One Angry ManBailiff
Television YearNameRoleNotes1963Talent ScoutsHimself1 episode1965–1977The Mike Douglas Show2 episodes1965–1970The Merv Griffin Show11 episodes1965ABC's Nightlife1 episode1966The Ed Sullivan Show2 episodes1969The Dennis Wholey Show1 episode1979The Comedy Shop1992Indecision '92: Election NightAlan King: Inside the Comedy Mind1 episode1993The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day TelethonCatskills on Broadway1998The N.Y. Friars Club roast of Drew Carey2001Now That's Funny! The Living Legends of Stand-up Comedy2013When Comedy Went to School2017I Am Battle Comic
References
External links
Dick Capri at BroadwayWorld