Paul Picerni

Interviewed about his appearance in the movie The Scalphunters (1968) in the book "Wild Wild Westerners" by Tom Weaver (BearManor, 2012).

Picerni and wife Marie Mason, had eight children and ten grandchildren. He brought his brother, Charlie Picerni, out to Hollywood in 1961 to become his stand-in and (eventually) stunt double on The Untouchables (1959). Charles later directed TV and served as stuntman/coordinator for the popular "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon" film franchises. Some of his children and extended relatives (such as Paul V. Picerni Jr., Gina Picerni, Marilyn Picerni, Paula Picerni, and Rick Picerni) are also involved in the film industry.

During his enlistment as a bombardier in the Army during WWII, he flew 25 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was the bombardier on the plane that bombed and destroyed the real bridge made famous in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).

Appeared in the trailer, but not the film, of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

As a child Paul Picerni had aspirations to become an attorney until he acted in an eighth-grade play and later learned that the school principal liked his performance and called him "a born actor". He next appeared in little theater productions, then (after World War II Air Force service) on the stage at Loyola University. Picerni was acting in a play in Hollywood when he was spotted by Solly V. Bianco, head of talent at Warner Brothers; brought to the studio, the young actor was given a role in Breakthrough (1950). This WWII actioner turned out to be aptly named, as it led to a Warners contract for Picerni and a long succession of roles at that studio.