Dick Miller
Dick Miller appeared in over 180 films. You might remember him from the 1980's movie Gremlins. He played the inebriated Murray Futterman who was yelling about foreigners putting Gremlins in everything including watches. Dick Miller wasn't always an actor.
This Bronx born actor was the son of the son of Russian Jewish immigrants. His mother was an opera singer and his father a printer. Dick made a name for himself in the boxing ring while serving a tour of duty in the United States Navy. After he finished his tour in the Navy, Dick attended the City College of New York, Columbia University, and New York University, eventually attaining a PhD in psychology. Dick was a writer before turning to acting.
Miller performed on Broadway and also worked at the Bellevue Hospital Mental Hygiene Clinic and the psychiatric department of Queens General Hospital.
In the 1950's, Dick met legendary B-movie producer Roger Corman. He went to star in many of Corman's movies. Dick's biggest role was in 1959, when he starred as a murderous busboy in Walter Paisley's film, A Bucket Of Blood. Dick is also fondly remembered for his supporting role as the flower-eating Burson Fouch in Corman's legendary 1969's film, The Little Shop of Horrors.
Some of Dick’s other films include “The Terminator,” “All The Right Moves,” “Night of the Creeps,” “Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight,” “Amazon Women on the Moon,” and “The Howling.” He also appeared in the music video for Rod Stewart’s song “Infatuation” in 1984. He was also the subject of a documentary, “That Guy Dick Miller” directed by Elijah Drenner, which looked at his long career.
Dick died of natural causes at age 90 on January 30, 2019, in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. His wife, Lainie Miller, said he died after a heart attack and had congestive heart failure and pneumonia.
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