Raymond Castellani

Raymond Castellani is a former character actor, Skid Row alcoholic, and more recently, the founder of the Frontline Foundation, which serves meals to the homeless on Los Angeles, California's Skid Row.

In 1995, Castellani received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton at a White House ceremony. During the early 1990s, President George H. W. Bush included Castellani among his "thousand points of light."

Castellani attended The Albany Academy, class of 1952. Upon graduation, he spent a semester at Springfield College. During this time he received a draft notice, and then served as a Marine during the Korean War.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Castellani acted in numerous plays, television shows, and films, including "Bonanza", "The Lawman", and "Dragnet". Often he played villains. As Castellani's alcoholism increased, his career suffered and his acting skills eroded. Despite this, he appeared in television shows such as "Emergency!", "Simon and Simon", "Adam-12", "The Dakotas", "Temple Houston", "Night Gallery", "Kojak", "Planet of the Apes", "McNaughton's Daughter", "Judd for the Defense", "The D.A.", "Sam", "Mobile One", "Quincy", "The Redd Foxx Show", "Lucan", "Turnabout", "General Hospital", "CHiPs", "Riker", "Oklahoma City Dolls", and "Hart to Hart".

In New York, he appeared in plays such as "The Curious Savage", "Hat Full of Rain", "The Rain Maker", "What Makes Sammy Run", and "Light Up The Sky" ( [http://frontline-foundation.org/acting.htm] ).

During the 1970s, Castellani occasionally found himself homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Castellani returned to acting in the 1980s, but quit to found the Frontline Foundation in 1987. As of July 2006, he continues to operate this charity.