Richard Romanus, best known for starring as loan shark Michael Longo in the 1973 crime film Mean Streets, died on Dec. 23 he was 80.

Richard Romanus. 

AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANIES VIA GETTY 

Richard Romanus, best known for starring as loan shark Michael Longo in the 1973 crime film Mean Streets, died on Dec. 23 at 80. Romanus began pursuing acting after graduating from Xavier University in 1964. He took drama classes with Lee Strasberg at the legendary Actors Studio before making his big-screen debut in the 1968 horror film The Ghastly Ones. Romanus later found success starring alongside Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets. In 1981, he became a series regular on the ABC crime series Strike Force as Det. Lt. Charlie Gunzer until its cancellation the following year. He went on to have a prolific television career, with credits including Mission: Impossible, Kojak, Charlie’s Angels, Starsky & Hutch, Hawaii Five-O, MacGyver, The A-Team, Chicago Hope, NYPD Blue, and, most notably, The Sopranos. Romanus is survived by his wife, Anthea Sylbert; his son; and his brother Robert Romanus. It's interesting to learn that he was a student of Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, which is known for producing many great actors. It's also notable that he had a prolific television career, with credits on some of the most popular shows of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. He will certainly be missed by fans and colleagues alike.

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