Robert Romanus (born July 17, 1956), also billed as Bob Romanus, is an American actor and musician who has starred in film and television.[1] He is perhaps best known for his role as ticket scalper Mike Damone in the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High,[1][2] and as Natalie Green's boyfriend Snake on The Facts of Life.[1] He also had a supporting role in the 1985 film Bad Medicine.

Robert "Bob" Romanus
Born (1956-07-17) July 17, 1956 (age 68)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active1980–present
Known forFame
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
SpouseKari Lizer (divorced)
Children3
RelativesRichard Romanus (brother)

Life and career

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Romanus is the son of Eileen (née Maloof) and Dr. Raymond Romanos, and is the brother of actor Richard Romanus. He is of Lebanese descent. [3][4] He grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and went to Conard High School.[5]

He starred in the 1983 series The Best of Times as Pete Falcone and appeared in Fame as Miltie Horowitz (1986–1987). He also co-starred in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).

In 1983, he appeared in Styx's music video for Kilroy Was Here.[citation needed]

Romanus has starred on soap operas such as Days of Our Lives as Marvin 'Speed' Selejko from 1983 to 1985 and The Young and the Restless as Lou in 2002. He has guest-starred on many shows, including CHiPs, The Facts of Life, 21 Jump Street, Alien Nation, MacGyver, Providence, Will & Grace, and My Own Worst Enemy. Romanus directed the 2008 drama Grapefruit Moon and had a small part in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love as himself. In 2010, he played the guitar teacher in The Runaways.[1] His 2018 projects include the films Genesis: The Future of Mankind Is Woman, The Liquid Psychologist and Voyeur.[6]

Personal life

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Romanus once owned a café in North Hollywood, Bob's Espresso Bar, which closed in 2014.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Foxes Scott
1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High Mike Damone
1985 Bad Medicine Carlos
1988 Pulse Paul
1988 Dangerous Curves Hector
1989 Curfew Jack credited as Bob Romanus
1991 The Resurrected Lonnie Peck
1997 Lover Girl Mr. Hairdresser
1998 Expose Detective Forrest
1999 Valerie Flake Bartender
1999 Tycus Sam Direct-to-Video
1999 Carlo's Wake Enzo D'Angelo
2000 Straight Right Ron
2000 Bit Players The Assistant Director Short film
2001 The Socratic Method Meffastaffollo
2001 D.A.R.E. Safety Tips Starring Retro Bill Stranger in Car Short film
2003 The Utopian Society Barry
2003 BachelorMan Executive #2
2004 The Last Run Steven's Boss
2005 Going Shopping Jimmy
2005 A Halfway House Christmas Daryl
2006 Mojave Phone Booth Richard
2007 Route 30 Stive
2009 Road to the Altar Lighting Guy
2009 American Pie Presents: The Book of Love Alumnus Guy #6 – Special Appearance Direct-to-DVD
2010 The Runaways Guitar Teacher
2012 Route 30, Too! Dick
2013 The Midnight Game Derrick
2013 The Shifting Juan
2016 Talons Parole Officer Wally Emerson
2016 The Remake Mark Curtis
2017 The Matchmaker Sam Short film
2018 The Liquid Psychologist Bruce Kennedy Short film
2017 Voyeur Horschel
2019 Genesis: The Future of Mankind Is Woman Boyd Peterson

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Young and the Restless Lou unknown episode
1982 CHiPs Ray Episode: "Speedway Fever"
1983 The Best of Times Pete Falcone unknown episode
1984 Days of Our Lives Marvin 'Speed' Selejko Episode: "#1.4632"
1984–1987 Fame Milton 'Psycho' Horowitz recurring role (10 episodes)
1985 St. Elsewhere Nick Meose Episode: The Naked and the Dead"
1985 MacGyver Frank Bennett Episode: "The Prodigal"
1986 The Secret Sunday Mando Harris Television Movie
1987 Tales from the Darkside Rob the Apprentice Episode: "The Social Climber"
1987 Ghost of a Chance unknown role Television Movie
1987–1988 The Facts of Life Norbert 'Snake' Robinson Jr. recurring role (4 episodes)
1989 Hooperman Coffee Mug Episode: "Goodnight, Sweet Hooperman"
1989 21 Jump Street Officer Gary Sharp / Cadet Mortelarro 2 episodes
– "The Blu Flu"
– "Draw the Line"
1990 Alien Nation Zack Whelan Episode: "Partners"
1990 Booker Ton DeAngelo recurring role (3 episodes)
1994 Renegade Hog Adams' friend Episode: "Hostage"
1994 Weird Science Damien Episode: "Lisa's Virus"
1996 Boston Common Doctor Bob Episode: "Trustee and Sympathy"
1998 Maggie Winters Jeff Foster unknown episode
2000 Providence Ted Lumley Episode: "Don't Go Changin' "
2000 The Invisible Man GAO Agent Episode: "Tiresias"
2000 Baby Blues unknown role Episode: "God Forbid"
2000 Will & Grace Lenny Episode: "Gypsies, Tramps and Weed"
2001 V.I.P. Dr. Bob Landesberg Episode: "Amazon Val"
2007 Fawlty Tower Oxnard Basil recurring role (7 episodes)
2008 My Own Worst Enemy Sullivan Episode: "Henry and the Terrible...Day"
2009 Cold Case Dwight Barnes '09 Episode: "Iced"
2011 Cloud Boy Steve Majors unknown episode
2012 Touch Nelson Episode: "Tessellations"
2012 Wedding Band Reggie the Landlord Episode: "I Don't Wanna Grow Up"
2012 Bite Me Pizzeria Cook Episode: "Shot Gun"
2013 Legit Smirkowski Episode: "Justice"
2013 Family Guy Mike Damone (voice role) Episode: "Chris Cross"
2013 The Flipside unknown role Episode: "Pre-Date"
2014 Cougar Town Director Episode: "Hard on Me"
2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Taxi Driver Episode: "Angle of Attack"
2014 Mac and Abby Director unknown episode
2016 Code Black Henry Underwood Episode: "Second Year"

Music videos

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 "Kilroy Was Here" Jonathan Chance's Friend artist: Styx

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Robert Romanus". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. April 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014.
  2. ^ Boardman, Madeline (August 17, 2016). "'Fast Times At Ridgemont High': Where Are They Now?". Entertainment Weekly. p 4 of 12.
  3. ^ Abaroa, Patricia (2024). "Richard Romanus, Mean Streets and the Sopranos Actor, Dies at 80". Movieweb.com.
  4. ^ "Richard Romanus, Actor Known for 'Mean Streets' and 'The Sopranos,' Dies at 80". Yahoo! Sports. 2024.
  5. ^ ROMANOS, Eileen (Maloof) – tribunedigital-thecourant. Hartford Courant. (March 19, 2009). Retrieved 2015-06-30.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Robert Romanus". IMDb. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bob's Espresso Bar (CLOSED)". Time Out Los Angeles. August 6, 2014.
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