Ralph Wesley Foody (November 13, 1928 – November 21, 1999) was an American character actor.
Early life
Foody was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 13, 1928.
Career
He has several screen credits from the 1980s, but is probably best known for portraying 1930s mobster Johnny in the 1990 film Home Alone and its 1992 sequel. As Johnny, Foody appears in two black-and-white gangster films-within-the-films Angels with Filthy Souls and its sequel Angels with Even Filthier Souls (both are a parody of the 1938 film Angels with Dirty Faces by Warner Bros.). His appearances are notable for the famous catchphrases ‘Keep the change ya filthy animal/Merry Christmas ya filthy animal and a Happy New Year’.
Foody also played “Det. Cragie”, the alcoholic and the negligent Chicago cop in Code of Silence, as well as the police dispatcher in The Blues Brothers. He was also known for his incredible wit and was often referred to as “The Witster” on set.
Death
Foody died of cancer in 1999 at age 71.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Mickey One | Police Captain | Arthur Penn | |
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Police Dispatcher | John Landis | |
| 1981 | Chicago Story | Sergeant Hesper | Harvey S. Laidman & Jerry London | Made-for-TV movie |
| 1984 | The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck | Bit Role | Simon Langton | Made-for-TV movie |
| 1985 | Lady Blue | Howe | Gary Nelson | made into TV series |
| Lady Blue | Captain Flynn | Various | 14 episodes | |
| Code of Silence | Detective Cragie | Andrew Davis | Chuck Norris film | |
| 1986 | Raw Deal | Police Captain Sam Joyce | John Irvin | |
| Vice Versa | Doorman | Brian Gilbert | ||
| 1988 | Above the Law | Federal Clerk | Andrew Davis | |
| Betrayed | Lyle | Costa-Gavras | ||
| 1989 | The Package | Building Manager | Andrew Davis | |
| Music Box | Pawn Broker | Costa-Gavras | ||
| Cold Justice | Ernie | Terry Green | ||
| 1990 | Gabriel’s Fire | Hot Dog Vendor | Robert Lieberman | in episode titled “Gabriel’s Fire” |
| Home Alone | Gangster #1 Johnny | Chris Columbus | in the scene from a film on TV “Angels with Filthy Souls” | |
| 1991 | Curly Sue | Drifter | John Hughes | |
| 1992 | Straight Talk | Desk Clerk | Barnett Kellman | |
| The Babe | Pittsburgh Man | Arthur Hiller | bit role | |
| Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | Gangster Johnny | Chris Columbus | in the scene from a film on TV “Angels with Even Filthier Souls” (final acting role) |
