In one of the most peculiar lawsuit of the year, actor Frank Sivero has filed a $250 million lawsuit against Fox Television Studios over one of the ‘wise guy’ characters on The Simpsons.
Sivero is better recalled for playing mobster roles in The Godfather Part II and Goodfellas, and has sort of emulated his onscreen persona in various ways, such as reportedly being arrested for gun possession earlier this year. He’s also very protective of his rights, suing a restaurant a few months ago over a sandwich named after his Goodfellas character.
In his latest lawsuit, Sivero alleges that in 1989, he was living in an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks, California. He says that writers of The Simpsons were literally living next door to him in that same complex.
“They knew he was developing the character he was to play in the movie Goodfellas,” states the lawsuit. “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 Simpsons would soon feature, among its many citizens of Springfield, a mafioso named ‘Louie’, who was second in command to ‘Fat Tony’.
“Louie’s appearance and mannerisms are strongly evocative of character actor Frank Sivero,” continues the lawsuit, which quickly adds that according to Dan Castellaneta, who provides the voice of Louie (as well as Homer Simpson), “he modeled his voice after Italian American actor, Joe Pesci, who also had a role in Goodfellas.”
According to the complaint, the Louie character debuted during an episode titled Bart the Murderer – the fourth of the third season – and has appeared in 15 more episodes, most recently in What to Expect When Bart’s Expecting, airing on 27 April, 2014.
Sivero’s demanding $50 million in actual damage loss of his likeness, $100 million more over improper interference, $50 million more in actual damage loss over the appropriation of his ‘confidential’ idea, $50 million more in exemplary damages over that same ‘confidential’ idea, plus injunctive relief and reasonable attorney fees for his lawyer Alex Herrera.
