John Capodice, a beloved character actor who held memorable roles on Seinfeld, General Hospital, and opposite Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) has died. He was 83.
Capodice’s death was first reported on the website of New Jersey’s Pizzi Funeral Home and later confirmed by multiple outlets. The actor passed away on Monday, just five days after his 83rd birthday on Dec. 25. A cause of death has yet to be announced.
From 1964 until 1966, Capodice was enlisted in the Army, serving in Korea before returning stateside. He began his acting career in 1978 with a minor role in the romantic comedy Rush It. He then went on to roles in Q: The Winged Serpent (1982); Wall Street (1987); opposite Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor in See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989); Jacob’s Ladder (1990); and The Doors (1991). In 1994, he appeared as Aguado in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective; as Mr. Big in Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult; and as one of the bus passengers in Speed.
In addition to movies, Capodice appeared in guest roles on a number of popular television shows such as The Equalizer; The West Wing; Mad About You; Will & Grace; CSI; Law & Order; and Murder, She Wrote. He had a memorable turn as Vic on Seinfeld in the season-two episode “The Revenge,” playing a laundromat owner who’s targeted by Kramer (Michael Richards) in an elaborate retaliation plot. He played Carmine Cerullo on two seasons of General Hospital, from 1994–1996.
Capodice’s funeral is scheduled to take place later this month in New York. His fans are encouraged to make donations in his memory to Rockland Heroes, an organization which aims to “eliminate Veteran homelessness in New York’s mid-Hudson Valley.”
