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Don Calfa

Don Calfa

Actor · Died December 1, 2016, aged 76 · Brooklyn, New York, USA

Don is probably best remembered for his role as "Ernie Kaltenbrunner' in the 1985 comedy horror The Return of the Living Dead (1985). Don's career spans over 40 years in both film and TV. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Ozone Park Queens, and later West Hempstead, Long Island, Don Calfa was originally interested in a career in the fine arts. He got the acting bug after seeing films such as Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Vertigo (1958). After dropping out of high school to study at Erwin Piscotor's "The Dramatic Workshop," (he finished his degree in night school), Calfa spent two years in summer stock which enabled him to join Actors Equity and eventually get his SAG card. Don has starred alongside some of cinema's greats including Warren Beatty in Bugsy (1991), Michael Douglas in The Star Chamber (1983), Jack Nicholson in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), and many more. Among Don's most memorable roles were as 'Mr. Pitts' on the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), 'Ralph Wilum' in Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (1989) (aka Chopper Chicks in Zombietown), 'Paulie' in Weekend at Bernie's (1989), 'Scarface' in Foul Play (1978). His stage work includes extensive off-off-Broadway work, and he appeared on Broadway in "Lenny." Don worked in the movie business and works the convention circuit in the USA, alongside his friend, Beverly Randolph, who he met on the set of The Return of the Living Dead (1985). Don, along with the rest of The Return of the Living Dead cast, recorded a cast commentary for a new special edition release of "The Return of the Living Dead."

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 3, 1939
Died
December 1, 2016 (aged 76)
From
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 66 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What are Don Calfa's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Morality
24%
Survival
21%
Power
12%
Society
10%
Self
4%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAddiction2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 3 · Wry 3 · Earnest 8

Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 6 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 3
Ally
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
8
Tense
8
Dread
3
Contemplative
3
Thrilling
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Don Calfa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Don Calfa's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

66 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sharkskin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Corpses Are Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Producer · as Jack Stark

  • Night Creep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mr. Blunt

  • The 4th Tenor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Bum #3

  • Less Than Perfect(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Nicky

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Downward Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Adam

  • Doctor Dolittle(1998)

    as Patient at Hammersmith

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Progeny(1998)

    as Jimmy Stevens

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Terrified(1994)

    as Office Worker #1

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Cops n Roberts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lance

  • Necronomicon: Book of Dead(1993)

    as Mr. Benedict

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Stay Tuned(1992)

    as Wetzel

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Me, Myself and I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Irving

  • Bugsy(1991)

    as Louie Dragna

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mr. Pitts

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Twin Peaks(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Vice Principal Greege

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Doogie Howser, M.D.(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carmine Delpino

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Weekend at Bernie's(1989)

    as Paulie, Vito's Hit Man

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Chopper Chicks in Zombietown(1989)

    as Ralph Willum

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Presidio(1988)

    as Howard Buckely

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Blue Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Max

  • Treasure of the Moon Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Harold Grand

  • The New Homeowner's Guide to Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Howard

  • Talking Walls(1987)

    as Andre

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Running Scared(1986)

    as Women's Room Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Andrew Sloan

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Messenger

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Return of the Living Dead(1985)

    as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Clifford Coleson · as Vinnie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Miles Seaver

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as E. 'Nick' Vanacuzzi

  • Allison Sydney Harrison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Pat Rosetti

  • The Man Who Wasn't There(1983)

    as Tohfa

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Star Chamber(1983)

    as Lawrence Monk

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Shooting Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Driscoll

  • The Day the Bubble Burst(1982)

    as Mr. Cinelli

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Postman Always Rings Twice(1981)

    as Goebel

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • 1941(1979)

    as Telephone Operator

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Rose(1979)

    as Don Frank

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • 10(1979)

    as Neighbor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Steel Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as 'Go' Trucker

  • The Comedy Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Harry Fenner

  • Foul Play(1978)

    as Scarface

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • New York, New York(1977)

    as Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Nickelodeon(1976)

    as Waldo

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Peeper(1975)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Barney Miller(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Angelo Dodi · as Arthur Thompson · as Calvin J. Kendall · as Edward Pratken · as Gilbert Lesco · as Leon Bidell · as Mr. DiLucca

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Shanks(1974)

    as Einstein

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Bank Shot(1974)

    as Stosh Gornik

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Rhinoceros (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Waiter

  • Cinderella Liberty(1973)

    as Lewis

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Elmer Johnson

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 4 episodes · as Elmer Johnson

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Burgess · as Fidelio Ortez

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Rainbow Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mazella

  • Goodnight, My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Bananas

  • Delphi Bureau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Gunjamen

  • Greaser's Palace(1972)

    as Morris

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rudy

  • Pound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Italian Terrier

  • Putney Swope(1969)

    as Man Helping Mr. Syllables Walk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Peter DeCola

  • No More Excuses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Priest

  • Thigh Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles from 1967 to 2015; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

$30M worldwide

Highest rated

More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

Film career

19672015

Peak 1984 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 66: 65 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thProducing1 of 66: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s4 · acting1970s24 · acting1980s21 · acting1990s11 · acting2000s5 · 5 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
7282

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Don Calfa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)

82nd percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Midcredits 89th · 77% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 33. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Don Calfa's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles28–65 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 80 · severeMedian of all films: 36

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Don Calfa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Don Calfa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter Hyams shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles