Carl Ciarfalio
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{short description|American actor and stuntman|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Carl Ciarfalio
|birth_name = Carl Nick Ciarfalio
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|11|12}}
|birth_place = Alhambra, California, U.S.
|occupation = {{hlist|Actor|stuntman}}
|yearsactive = 1979–present
}}
Carl Nick Ciarfalio (born November 12, 1953) is an American actor and stuntman. He has appeared in over 300 film and television projects. He is best known for portraying the Thing in the Roger Corman produced, but unreleased movie The Fantastic Four.
Career
Carl Ciarfalio started his career as a plumber's associate when he was invited by one of his wrestling associates to join him at Knott's Berry Farm as they were looking for big and tall actors to perform for audiences. Ciarfalio took the job for the summer, but he found himself enjoying it. "[W]ithin a couple of months I had a cowboy hat and a gun and I was on stage and people were applauding and laughing, and I told my parents, 'I'll go back to school one day'." He never did. He began appearing in numerous film and television projects over the years such as Fight Club, Mission: Impossible III and The Amazing Spider-Man.{{cite web|url=http://beverlygray.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-unsung-stuntman-carl-ciarfalio.html|title=The Unsung Stuntman: Carl Ciarfalio Takes a Bow|website=Beverly in Movieland|date=January 13, 2013|accessdate=April 25, 2019}}
In 1993, Ciarfalio received a call to appear in a Roger Corman production. "They were looking for a stunt man. They were looking for somebody about six feet tall and weighed about 220 pounds or so...So, I went to the audition and we talked a little bit and they thought I was the guy, which was, you know, very cool." While the actor who was playing Ben Grimm (Michael Bailey Smith) was tall, he was unable to fit in the Thing suit and thus Ciarfalio found himself wearing the costume which he found "the hottest fucking thing" he ever wore.{{cite web|url=https://keeping-it-reel.com/2016/10/11/interview-with-stunt-actorcoordinator-carl-ciarfalio/|title=Interview with stunt actor/coordinator Carl Ciarfalio|website=Keeping It Reel|publisher=Wordpress|last=Fowlie|first=David J.|date=October 11, 2016|accessdate=April 25, 2019}}
On October 20, 2014, Ciarfalio launched a Kickstarter campaign to have a biography book published. He reached his goal at $11,055 and in September 2015 published Stars, Stunts and Stories: A Hollywood Stuntman's Fall to Fame. The book was co-written by Teri Ryan.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carlciarfalio/stars-stunts-and-stories-one-mans-fall-to-fame|title=Stars, Stunts and Stories: One Man's Fall to Fame|website=Kickstarter|last=Ciarfalio|first=Carl|date=October 17, 2015 |accessdate=April 25, 2019}}{{cite book|last1=Ciarfalio|first1=Carl|last2=Ryan|first2=Teri|date=August 18, 2015|title=Stars, Stunts and Stories: A Hollywood Stuntman's Fall to Fame|publisher=Ryan Publishing Group|isbn=9780986155277}}
Filmography
=Stunts=
| class = "wikitable"
|+ Television roles |
| Year
|Title |Note |
| 1979
| Episode: "The Eyes of Texas"; Stunt performer; uncredited |
| 1984
| Episode: "Fearless Dotty"; Stunt performer |
| 1985
| TV movie; Stunt double: Paul Sorvino |
| 1985
| J.O.E. and the Colonel | TV movie; uncredited |
| 1988
| Episode: "Road Kill"; uncredited |
| 1988
| Episode: "First, Let's Kill All the Lawyers"; uncredited |
| 1989
| Fair Game | TV Pilot; Stunt performer; uncredited |
| 1990
| The Great Los Angeles Earthquake | TV movie |
| 1991
| Episode: "Play Doctor"; uncredited |
| 1991
| Episode: "Alpha"; uncredited |
| 1991–1995
| 3 episodes; uncredited |
| 1992
| 2 episodes; uncredited |
| 1995
| Episode: "The Substitute Son"; uncredited |
| 1995
| TV movie |
| 1998
| TV movie |
| 1998
| TV movie; uncredited |
| 1999
| TV movie |
| 2001
| 2001 ABC World Stunt Awards | TV special; Stunt coordinator |
| 2001–2003
| 7 episodes; Stunt coordinator |
| 2003
| 1 episode; Stunt double |
| 2005
| The O.C. | Episode: "The O.C. Confidential"; Stunt performer |
| 2006
| ER | Episode: "Twenty-One Guns"; Stunt performer |
| 2006
| Episode: "The Calm Before"; Stunt performer |
| 2012
| Episode: "James Franco Is Preggers"; Stunt coordinators |
| 2014
| Isa | TV movie; Stunt coordinator |
| 2014
| TV movie; Utility stunts |
| 2014–2015
| 2 episodes; Stunt performer |
| 2015
| Episode: "Modern Espionage"; uncredited |
| 2015
| Rellik | TV movie |
| 2016
| Episode: "Dissonance Theory"; uncredited |
| 2019
| The Adventures of Gin and Sapphy | Episode: "Pharoahs Catacomb Part Two"; Stunt Supervisor |
| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles |
| Year
|Title |Note |
| 1979
| Do It in the Dirt | |
| 1983
| |
| 1983
| D.C. Cab | |
| 1984
| Stunt double: Alex Karras |
| 1985
| |
| 1985
| Commando | |
| 1985
| Stunt player |
| 1985
| |
| 1986
| Police Academy 3: Back in Training | |
| 1986
| Stunt marine |
| 1987
| |
| 1987
| Uncredited |
| 1987
| Real Men | Stunt player |
| 1987
| Stunt player |
| 1987
| Stunt player |
| 1988
| |
| 1988
| |
| 1988
| Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers | |
| 1989
| Stunt player |
| 1989
| Criminal Act | |
| 1989
| Stunt player |
| 1989
| Lock Up | |
| 1989
| Cage | |
| 1989
| |
| 1989
| Glory | Stunt player |
| 1989
| |
| 1990
| Stunt double: Voyo Goric |
| 1990
| |
| 1990
| |
| 1990
| Unnamed gun store robber |
| 1990
| |
| 1990
| Stunt player |
| 1990
| |
| 1991
| Additional stunts |
| 1991
| |
| 1992
| |
| 1992
| |
| 1992
| |
| 1992
| |
| 1992
| Sneakers | |
| 1992
| |
| 1992
| Stunt player |
| 1992
| Sweet Justice | |
| 1993
| |
| 1993
| |
| 1993
| |
| 1993
| Ring of Fire 2: Blood and Steel | Uncredited |
| 1993
| Stunt double: Beau Starr |
| 1993
| Unnamed resistance fighter against OCP |
| 1993
| Private Wars | Direct-to-video |
| 1993
| |
| 1993
| Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | |
| 1993
| No Escape, No Return | |
| 1994
| Stunt player |
| 1994
| Direct-to-video |
| 1994
| Stunt performer |
| 1994
| |
| 1994
| Blankman | |
| 1994
| |
| 1994
| Direct-to-video |
| 1994
| |
| 1994
| T-Force | |
| 1994
| Ring Of Fire 3: Lion Strike | |
| 1995
| |
| 1995
| Excessive Force II: Force on Force | |
| 1995
| Cover Me | Direct-to-video |
| 1995
| Mallrats | |
| 1995
| |
| 1995
| Stunt coordinator and stunt performer |
| 1995
| |
| 1996
| |
| 1996
| Foxfire | |
| 1996
| |
| 1996
| Direct-to-video |
| 1996
| Stunt double: Don Stark |
| 1997
| Romy and Michele's High School Reunion | Stunt limo driver |
| 1997
| |
| 1997
| Lolita | |
| 1998
| Vampires | |
| 1998
| |
| 1998
| |
| 1999
| |
| 1999
| Stunt performer |
| 2001
| A.I. Artificial Intelligence | |
| 2001
| |
| 2001
| |
| 2002
| Uncredited |
| 2002
| |
| 2002
| Leaving the Land | Stunt coordinator |
| 2003
| |
| 2003
| |
| 2003
| |
| 2003
| |
| 2003
| Utility stunts |
| 2003
| Stunt performer |
| 2004
| |
| 2004
| |
| 2004
| |
| 2005
| Stunt performer |
| 2005
| Shackles | Direct-to-video |
| 2006
| Uncredited |
| 2006
| The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift | Direct-to-video |
| 2007
| |
| 2007
| Redline |xStunt performer |
| 2007
| Forced Alliance | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2007
| |
| 2008
| The Hustle | Stunt coordinator |
| 2008
| Direct-to-video; uncredited |
| 2008
| Crazy Girls Undercover | Stunt player |
| 2009
| The Grind | Stunt coordinator |
| 2009
| |
| 2009
| Ballistica | |
| 2010
| Stunt coordinator |
| 2010
| Stunt double: Joe Pingue |
| 2011
| Stunt performer; uncredited |
| 2011
| |
| 2012
| Stunt performer; uncredited |
| 2012
| |
| 2012
| The Misadventures of the Dunderheads | Stunt performer |
| 2012
| Set Apart | Documentary short; Stunt performer |
| 2013
| Channeling | Stunt coordinator |
| 2013
| Extraction | Stunt performer; uncredited |
| 2013
| A Truth in Silence | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2013
| Stunt performer; uncredited |
| 2014
| Precision driver |
| 2014
| Swelter | Additional stunts; Stunt performer |
| 2014
| Stunt coordinator |
| 2014
| Stunt coordinator |
| 2014
| Stunt performer |
| 2014
| Isa | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2014
| Precision driver |
| 2014
| Tell | |
| 2014
| Taken 3 | Stunt coordinator |
| 2014
| The Spy Who Came to Brunch | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2015
| Stunt rigger |
| 2015
| Tooken | Stunt co-coordinator |
| 2015
| Pontiac Angel | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2015
| Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness | Direct-to-video |
| 2015
| Chaser | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2016
| Stunt coordinator |
| 2016
| Black Mass | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2017
| Wyrm | Short film; Stunt coordinator |
| 2018
| Stunt driver |
| 2018
| Almost Home | Stunt coordinator |
| 2019
| I Hate Kids | Stunt coordinator |
| 2019
| American Bistro | Stunt coordinator |
| 2020
| Big America | Stunt coordinator |
| 2021
| Uncredited |
| 2022
| Tribute | Stunt coordinator |
=Actor=
| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles |
| Year
|Title |Role |Note |
| 1982
| Tackle | |
| 1986
| Ringer's Man #1 | |
| 1987
| Monte | |
| 1987
| Henchman At Roller Rink | Uncredited |
| 1989
| Warehouse Guard | |
| 1989
| Cage | Hood #1 | |
| 1989
| Edwards | |
| 1989
| Lock Up | Prison Guard | Uncredited |
| 1990
| Cellblock Officer | Direct-to-video |
| 1991
| Trooper Sergeant | |
| 1991
| Man In Alley | |
| 1991
| Scissors | Attacker | |
| 1991
| Paulie | |
| 1991
| Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time | Policeman #2 | |
| 1992
| Freejack | Bonejacker #3 | |
| 1992
| Italian Boxer | |
| 1992
| Pax, Bar Bully | Direct-to-video |
| 1992
| Gunman | Uncredited |
| 1993
| Ted | |
| 1993
| The Hit List | Second Hitman | |
| 1993
| Bounty Tracker | Hook | Direct-to-video |
| 1993
| Guard #1 | |
| 1993
| CIA Agent Collins | |
| 1993
| No Escape, No Return | Bouncer At Club | |
| 1994
| Forced to Kill | Unknown | |
| 1994
| Officially starred |
| 1994
| Mallory's Guard #2 | |
| 1994
| Ned's Thug In Hotelroom | Uncredited |
| 1994
| Hank | Direct-to-video; uncredited |
| 1994
| Ring of Fire 3: Lion Strike | Vito | |
| 1995
| Thug | |
| 1995
| Lobby Cop #2 | Direct-to-video |
| 1995
| Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh | Bartender | |
| 1995
| Casino | Tony 'Dogs' | |
| 1995
| Police #1 | |
| 1996
| Spy Hard | Thug #1 | |
| 1996
| Security Guard | |
| 1996
| The Undercover Kid | Terrorist #2 | |
| 1996
| Lou | |
| 1997
| Con Air | Con #1 | |
| 1997
| Executive Power | Thug | Direct-to-video |
| 1999
| BitterSweet | 'Puss' | Direct-to-video |
| 1999
| Warehouse Thug | |
| 1999
| Lou's Body Guard | |
| 2000
| Traffic | Ruiz's Assistant | |
| 2003
| Stanton | |
| 2003
| Hit Man #1 | Uncredited |
| 2004
| Goon #1 | |
| 2005
| Traffic Cop | |
| 2006
| Stump the Band | Guido | |
| 2008
| This Life | Man | |
| 2009
| Jake | |
| 2009
| The Grind | The Punisher | |
| 2009
| Thug 3 | |
| 2011
| 3 Musketeers | Agent Flowers | Direct-to-video |
| 2012
|The Misadventures of the Dunderheads |Pink Suit Gambler | |
| 2013
| Man At Drive In | |
| 2014
| A.D. | |
| 2014
| Driver | |
| 2014
| Chasing the Past | Zach's Boss (voice) | Short film |
| 2015
| Pontiac Angel | John Yoder | Short film |
| 2016
| Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel | Diamond | |
| 2019
| American Bistro | Man #1 | |
| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Television roles |
| Year
|Title |Role |Note |
| 1980 |
| 1980
| The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) | Biker | Season 3: episode 15: "Long Run Home" uncredited |
| 1980
| The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) | Swingtime Patron | Season 4: episode 4: "Dark Side" uncredited |
| 1981
| The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) | Brad's friend | Season 4: episode 13: "The First: Part 2" uncredited |
| 1984
| Unknown | Episode: "Baja 1000" |
| 1985
| Henchman #1 | Episode: "A Relative Situation" |
| 1985
| Thompson | Episode: "Parts Unknown" |
| 1986
| Scott, Second Hitman | Episode: "Summer School" |
| 1986
| Joe | Episode: "The Avenging Angel" |
| 1986
| Reed | Episode: "Mike's Baby" |
| 1986
| MacGyver | Gorman | Episode: "Silent World" |
| 1987
| Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife | Unknown | TV movie |
| 1987
| Mark | Episode: "The Bulls Change Hands" |
| 1987
| Black Crow | Episode: "The Housekeeper" |
| 1987
| rowspan="4" |Sledge Hammer! | Sokolsky | Episode: "Comrade Hammer" |
| 1987
| Man In Restaurant | Episode: "Vertical"; uncredited |
| 1987
| Party Guest | Episode: "Hammer Hits the Rock" |
| 1987
| Unknown | Episode: "Hammeroid" |
| 1988
| Hopkins | Episode: "Temptation" |
| 1988
| Barner | TV movie |
| 1988
| Dynasty | Truck Driver | Episode: "Broken Krystle" |
| 1988
| Fireman #2 | Episode: "Dust to Dust" |
| 1989
| Pure Melrose | TV movie |
| 1989
| Falcon Crest | Deputy Sheriff #1 | Episode: "Charley" |
| 1989
| Sailor #1 | Episode: "The Nutt Cracker Suite" |
| 1990
| Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase | Colin | TV movie |
| 1990
| Gunman | Episode: "211 Cabs" |
| 1991
| Bruno | Episode: "Play Doctor" |
| 1991
| Rick | Episode: "Every Time We Say Goodbye" |
| 1992
| Man | Episode: "Rites of Passage" |
| 1992
| Ted Davis | Episode: "Stuck on You" |
| 1992
| Baywatch | Riggs | Episode: "Princess of Tides" |
| 1992
| Biker | Episode: "Double or Nothing" |
| 1993
| Claude | Miniseries |
| 1993
| Gergen | Episode: "End Run" |
| 1994
| Poker Participant | Episode: "The Quality of Mercy"; uncredited |
| 1995
| Arm Wrestler | Episode: "The Substitute Son" |
| 1995
| Unknown | Episode: "Jersey Girl" |
| 1995
| The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise | Brother Bob | TV movie |
| 1995
| Renegade | Parking Supervisor | Episode: "Another Place and Time" |
| 1995
| Sanders | Episode: "On Sacred Ground" |
| 1995
| Computer Chip Dealer | Episode: "Whitewater Part 1"; uncredited |
| 1996
| Garrett | Episode: "If You Love Someone..." |
| 1996
| Thug #1 | Episode: "Thin Blood" |
| 1996
| Sisters | Thug #2 | Episode: "Dreamcatcher" |
| 1996
| Bood Holland | Episode: "Lucky" |
| 1997
| Supervisor | Episode: "The Last Wave" |
| 1997
| Security Guard | Episode: "Screams from a Marriage" |
| 1997
| Spy Game | Roth | Episode: "What, Micah Worry?" |
| 1997
| Riley | Episode: "A Woman's Place" |
| 1998
| Babylon 5 | Drazi Vendor | Episode: "Meditations on the Abyss" |
| 1998
| Bar Patron | TV movie; uncredited |
| 1998
| Cadre Member #1 | Pilot: Part 1 |
| 1998
| Officer #3 | Episode: "Line of Duty" |
| 1999
| Cowboy Guy | Episode: "Daddy's Girl" |
| 1999
| rowspan="2" | Walker, Texas Ranger | Murphy | Episode: "Team Cherokee: Part 1" |
| 2000
| McKnight | Episode: "Turning Point" |
| 2001
| Sal Primavera | Episode: "A Family Upside Down"; uncredited |
| 2001
| The Practice | Morris | Episode: "Vanished: Part 1" |
| 2002
| Alias | Vatican Guard | Episode: "The Prophecy"; uncredited |
| 2002
| Charmed | Huntsman | Episode: "Happily Ever After"; uncredited |
| 2002
| 24 | Marshall Goren | Episode: "Day 2: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m." |
| 2003
| Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt | Slim, The Henchman | TV movie |
| 2003
| Sammy Banachi | Episode: "Spy Finance" |
| 2004
| Monk | First Goon | Episode: "Mr. Monk Meets the Godfather" |
| 2006
| The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman | Gunman | Episode: "Turning Manure Into Soy" |
| 2006
| Heroes | Jumpsuit | Episode: "Chapter Two 'Don't Look Back'" |
| 2007
| Bus Driver | Episode: "What If It's Him?"; uncredited |
| 2007
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Hank Connors | Episode: "Leapin' Lizards" |
| 2010
| Eric Boden | Episode: "Patient John" |
| 2011
| Billy | TV movie |
| 2011
| CSI: NY | Carlo | Episode: "Party Down" |
| 2011
| Officer #1 | Episode: "Strawberries and Cream: Part 1" |
| 2011
| Rikers Guard | Episode: "The End" |
| 2013
| Cleaners | 'Scarface' | Episode: "It's a Classic" |
| 2014
| Extant | Service Truck Driver | Episode: "A Pack of Cards" |
| 2015
| Cook #2 | Episode: "Modern Espionage" |
| 2015
| Ominous | Cook | TV movie |
| 2016
| The GPS Zone | Randy | TV movie |
| 2020
| Shoot from the Hip | The Cooler | Episode: "Rage of the Phantom" |
| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Video game role |
| Year
|Title |Role |
| 1993
| Card Player #2 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official|https://carlciarfalio.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|0161893}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ciarfalio, Carl}}
Category:American stunt performers