Rick Aviles was an American stand-up comedian and actor of Puerto Rican descent, best remembered for portraying the villainous Willie Lopez in the film Ghost. He had a successful career in comedy and film, but his life was cut short by AIDS-related complications in 1995. Here is his story and how he died.
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Early Life and Career
Rick Aviles was born on October 14, 1952 in Manhattan, New York. He grew up in a large family with six siblings, one of whom is actress Angel Aviles. He started his career as a street performer and stand-up comedian on the Greenwich Village night-club circuit in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. He was frequently seen in the NYC subways, doing his act for the riders. In 1978, a Variety reviewer called him “a comic with a future” according to Wikipedia.
In 1981, he landed his first film role as Mad Dog in The Cannonball Run, a comedy starring Burt Reynolds and Roger Moore. He went on to act in fourteen more film productions, including Street Smart, The Secret of My Success, Spike of Bensonhurst, Identity Crisis, and Green Card. He also appeared in several television shows, such as Mr. & Mrs. Dracula, The Day Women Got Even, Monsters, and The Carol Burnett Show.
Breakthrough Role and Fame
In 1987, Aviles became the host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo, a popular syndicated television show that featured live performances by singers, dancers, comedians, and other artists at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He continued as host until 1991. A Variety review of his stand-up act in 1990 noted, “Utilizing masterful ethnic impersonations and a remarkably rubbery face, Puerto Rican comic Rick Aviles comes off as one of the brightest and most consistently clever stand-ups working the circuit today” according to Wikipedia.
In 1990, Aviles landed his most memorable role: Willie Lopez in the film Ghost, a romantic fantasy thriller starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tony Goldwyn. He played the role of a street thug who kills Swayze’s character Sam Wheat in a robbery gone wrong. The film was a smash hit at the box office and received multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Aviles received praise for his performance as the menacing antagonist who is pursued by Swayze’s ghost.
He also appeared in two other films that year: Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train as Will Robinson, a hotel clerk who encounters various eccentric guests; and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III as Mask #1, one of the assassins who tries to kill Michael Corleone at an opera house.
Final Years and Death
In 1993, Aviles co-starred with Al Pacino and Sean Penn in Brian De Palma’s Carlito’s Way as Quisqueya, a drug dealer who works for Pacino’s character Carlito Brigante. He also played Rosario in The Saint of Fort Washington, a drama about two homeless men who form a friendship.
In 1994, he appeared in Stephen King’s The Stand, a TV miniseries based on King’s novel of the same name. He played Rat Man, one of the followers of Randall Flagg, the evil leader of Las Vegas.
In 1995, he had a small role as the Gatesman in Waterworld, a sci-fi action film starring Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. It was his last film appearance before his death.
On March 17, 1995, Aviles died of heart failure caused by AIDS-related complications at the age of 42 in Los Angeles, California. He had contracted HIV from intravenous drug use according to Entertainment Weekly. His death was reported by Variety on April 17.
In 1996, he posthumously appeared as the voice of a cockroach in Joe’s Apartment, a musical comedy film based on an MTV short film.
Legacy and Impact
Rick Aviles was one of the first Latino comedians to achieve mainstream success in America. He was known for his witty humor and versatile acting skills. He left behind a legacy of laughter and entertainment for his fans and peers.
He also raised awareness about AIDS and its impact on the entertainment industry. He was among the celebrities who had contracted HIV and died from complications of AIDS according to Entertainment Weekly.
He is remembered for his role as Willie Lopez in Ghost, one of the most iconic villains in film history. His character has been parodied and referenced in various media outlets such as Family Guy and Robot Chicken.
Rick Aviles was a talented comedian and actor who died too soon. He will always be missed by those who knew him and loved him.
