Frank Pesce Died Of Dementia Complications, Actor’s Girlfriend Says

Pictured: Kevin Conway, Paul Mace, Frank Pesce, and Terry Funk gather in a scene from the film 'Paradise Alley', 1978.

Hollywood veteran Frank Pesce, who starred in several films including “Top Gun,” has died. He was 75.

Pesce’s girlfriend Tammy Scher broke the news to Deadline Wednesday that the actor quietly died due to dementia complications in California on Feb. 6.

The character actor passed away in his Burbank home, and it was not clear if he was surrounded by his loved ones on his death bed before his demise. Pesce had reportedly battled dementia for years.

“I met Frank at a very low point in my life. He always said he saved me and he was right. I’d never met anyone like him. Frank was a force larger than life or any fictional character, always entertaining, intriguing and fascinating,” Scher said in a statement to Variety about her late partner.

She continued, “Unafraid to approach anyone and immediately make an acquaintance. Celebrities flocked to be near him as he had an encyclopedia of knowledge about music and movies.”

Pesce, who was good friends with Sylvester Stallone, had a colorful career in Hollywood. He started his screen career in the mid-1970s. At first, he was only tapped to guest star on TV shows such as “Police Story” and “Kojak.”

The actor went on to play bit roles in Stallone’s movies “Rocky” and “Paradise Alley.”

In the ‘80s, Pesce’s career flourished as he continued to snag roles in several projects, including “Beverly Hills Cop,” “American Gigolo,” “Midnight Run” and “Flashdance.”

Even up to the 2010s, Pesce managed to continue working steadily in TV and film with guest-starring roles in “Cagney & Lacey,” “Knight Rider,” “The Greatest American Hero,” “Miami Vice,” “Who’s The Boss?” and “Matlock.”

His final projects were the 2015 “Rocky” spinoff and the Michael B. Jordan-led “Creed,” according to the New York Post.

Born in New York City on Dec. 8, 1946, Pesce’s early life became the subject of the 1991 film “Pesce and 29th Street.” The movie was based on a story he wrote about his life as a lottery winner. He also appeared in the film as his real-life brother Vito, while Anthony LaPaglia portrayed Frank.

When the film was released, Pesce claimed that it was autobiographical. However, he eventually admitted to the Los Angeles Times that it was not purely factual and that he never won the lottery.

“Do you think I would be making movies if I won all that money?” he told the outlet.

Aside from Scher, Pesce is survived by his brother Vito, nieces Vanessa and Danielle and sister-in-law Catherine. He will be buried at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx Friday.