Actor Reni Santoni reportedly died from natural causes Saturday.
Santoni died in hospice care in Los Angeles, musician Tracy Newman confirmed to Fox News.
Reni Santoni, Poppie in ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Dirty Harry’ Actor, Dies at 81 https://t.co/VocGUchrHy
— Variety (@Variety) August 4, 2020
“He passed away on Saturday, August 1. He was the funniest man I’ve ever known,” Newman said in a statement. “Besides being a terrific actor, he was a legendary improviser. He will be missed.”
Newman claimed the “Dirty Harry” actor died of natural causes.
Santoni was born in New York City and began his career in off-Broadway. Santoni wrote “Raisin’ Hell in the Son.” (RELATED: Regis Philbin’s Cause Of Death Revealed)
His first role in a film came in 1967 when he was cast in “Enter Laughing.” He went on to star as “Chico” González in “Dirty Harry” along with Clint Eastwood. He also appeared in “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” “Bad Boys” and “Cobra.”
Reni Santoni, who starred in Carl Reiner’s semi-autobiographical movie ‘Enter Laughing’ and played the rookie partner of Clint Eastwood’s maverick detective in ‘Dirty Harry,’ has died https://t.co/tILhMNbpMj
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 3, 2020
He made television appearances in shows such as “Hawaii Five-O,” “Barnaby Jones,” and “Midnight Caller.”
Santoni was most known for his role as Poppie in “Seinfeld.”