The world is a little less well off with the passing of Peter Boyle. The venerable actor, who has entranced audiences for years, died last night at the age of 71. Whether it was his charming take on The Monster in Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein or a dramatic turn in Monster’s Ball, there was an intangible element to the man which was inviting. He took character acting from a throwaway role to scene enhancement.
Boyle has had a notable career in films, but most know him as Frank Barone on TV’s Everybody Loves Raymond. The show netted a few Emmy’s over the years, and Boyle was nominated. He never won the statue, but there was no doubt he deserved the recognition. Boyle’s take on the “miserable bastard” (Marie Barone’s description, not mine) never failed to make us smile.
Playing the title character in the ‘X-Files’ episode “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” in 1996 netted him his much-deserved Emmy award. Fans of the series will recall Boyle’s portrayal of the reluctant seer as probably the best guest role of the show’s entire run. It’s this ability to walk on screen of a show with years of history, and character development, and simply make you deeply empathize with Bruckman that enthralled audiences throughout Boyle’s career.
When you mention that Peter Boyle has passed, there’s a moment where you ask, “Who?” He wasn’t a “name” actor, and that’s OK. It’s better than OK. Boyle enhanced every scene he was in, and we’ll never forget that.
