Famous Last Suppers

Everyone will have a last supper from comedians -- Lou Costello, Sam Kinison, Sally Marr, Simmy Bow, Lenny Bruce to gangsters -- Ma Barker, John Dillinger, Giuseppe Zangara, Sam Giancana, Dutch Schultz, Joe Ferriola, Frank Buccieri and Al Capone, to politician Huey Long and outlaws Pancho Villa and Jesse James to stars of stage and screen -- Tiny Tim, Duke Mitchell, actors John Garfield, Vera-Ellen, erotic dancers Lily Christine and Marie Laveau (Voodoo Queen) to those individuals who became guardian angels to Frank Ray Perilli as a young child. What follows are their stories and their FAMOUS LAST SUPPERS.



During the author's career as a stand-up comedian, actor, impressionist, personal manager, producer and writer, Frank Ray Perilli befriended many famous and infamous individuals on and off the road and each one had a "Last Supper." As a cocky kid from Chicago, whose start in show business was aping his idol John Garfield in grammar school Frankie had dreams of Hollywood.



Blessed with an uncanny ability to impersonate celebrities . . . Frankie was a natural for vaudeville and soon ventured on to the comedy circuit followed by stints as emcee in strip joints, dives, theaters and USO cantinas then segued into playing upscale venues and nightclubs across the country touring with such icons of the day as Hoagie Carmichael, Jane Powell and Frankie Lane.



Frankie opened a club called the Wits End in New Orleans . . . with comic Shecky Greene and later joined Shecky in Hollywood as part of a comedy writing team on the Colgate Comedy Hour, later branching into writing screenplays. After all, this is the man that co-wrote "The Doberman Gang," a huge box office success, with good friend Louis Garfinkle ("The Deer Hunter"). Over the course of many years Frankie collaborated with comedian Lenny Bruce, his long-time friend, and Sally Marr, Lenny's mom on film and stage projects as well as managed the careers of other celebrated performers.



He continued to write material for such renowned comedians as Kaye Ballard, Dean Martin, Don Rickles, Charo, Eileen Brennan, Bob Newhart, Jackie Gayle, Shecky Green, Stu Gilliam and many many more.



Frank's life intersected with the famous and notorious and it is from their stories that FAMOUS LAST SUPPERS evolved . . . each story tied to the recipe of the individual's last meal. Bon Appetit!