Actor Frank Sivero sues Fox over a possible likeness in "The Simpsons"

[Ultimate Paragon]

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/goodfellas-actor-claims-simpsons-stole-his-likeness-lawsuit-n231631

Twenty-three years after "The Simpsons" introduced the Springfield Mafia, actor Frank Sivero has filed a $250 million lawsuit against Fox Television Studios for basing one of the three animated "wiseguys" on his "Goodfellas" character Frankie Carbone.

Silvero claims in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that in 1989 he lived in a Sherman Oaks apartment next door to "The Simpsons" writers and that "Simpsons" producer James L. Brooks was “highly aware of who Sivero was, the fact that he created the role of Frankie Carbone, and that 'The Simpsons' character Louie would be based on this character.”

"During this time, both writers knew who Sivero was, and they saw each other almost every day," the complaint alleges. "They knew he was developing the character he was to play in the movie 'Goodfellas,' a movie Sivero did in 1989. In fact, they were aware the entire character of 'Frankie Carbone' was created and developed by Sivero, who based this character on his own personality."

The character of "Louie" appeared in 16 episodes of "The Simpsons" — the first time in 1991. According to the complaint, the Fox long-running hit has grossed $12 billion from several revenue streams, including video games.

Fox Television Studios did not respond immediately for a request for comment.

Something tells me he's not serious and he's only doing this for the publicity.

[Random Gal]

And this is going absolutely nowhere for two reasons.

1. Sivero doesn't own the character. The producers of "Goodfellas" do. Therefore, Sivero is not in a position to sue.

2. If the character is in fact based on Frankie Carbone (which, let's be honest, is probably true), parody counts as protected speech under copyright law.

[RavynousHunter]

If it weren't for the article stating he was in Goodfellas, a movie I've never seen, but know of thru cultural osmosis, I'd have just asked...who the fuck is Frank Silvero?  Actually, no, who the fuck is Frank Silvero?  Other than that one particular movie, what else has he done?  HAS he done anything else?

[Sigmaleph]

He was in the Godfather part II. Based on his IMDb, he mostly plays mobsters.

[RavynousHunter]

Aah, prolly why I know nothing of him.  Don't really care for movies like that.

[Askold]

He was in the Godfather part II. Based on his IMDb, he mostly plays mobsters.

Typecasting.

...And quite often the character is either called Frank or Frankie. "We need someone to play Frank the mobster." "My name is Frank and I look like a mobster!" "Good, pick up your suit and prop gun from the locker we are doing the scene in 15." "No prob, I got my own."

[MadCatTLX]

Here's a different guy typecast as a mobster. Not sure why they decided to use a mobster theme in this vid, but they did.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh0UvrR8UM4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh0UvrR8UM4</a>