Almost The Entire Main Cast Of These Movies Have Passed Away

Norman Jewison’s «Moonstruck» features multiple love stories spanning multiple generations, centered on Italian-American Loretta Castorini’s (Cher) romance with her fiancee’s younger brother, Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage). John Patrick Shanley’s Oscar-winning screenplay fills the story with a rich assortment of supporting characters.

Olympia Dukakis won the best supporting actress Oscar playing Loretta’s wise mother, Rose. The film gave Dukakis, who at that point was best known for her stage work, a second career on the big screen. She made memorable appearances in films such as «Steel Magnolias» and «Mighty Aphrodite» before passing away in 2021 at 89. Vincent Gardenia earned a supporting actor Oscar bid for playing Rose’s philandering husband, Lou. It was a fitting career capper for the longtime character actor, best known for playing Mr. Mushnik in «Little Shop of Horrors.» In 1992, Gardenia was found dead at 72 in a Philadelphia hotel room, where he was touring in a production of «Breaking Legs.»

Danny Aiello, who played Loretta’s fiancee, Johnny, became something of a star in the late 1980s thanks to his performance in «Do the Right Thing.» He remained active up until his death in 2019 when he was 86 years old. John Mahoney, who played a college professor who has a brief dalliance with Rose, came to similar prominence in his 50s thanks to his role as Martin Crane on «Frasier.» The longtime stage and screen veteran passed away in 2018 at 77.