Service to Honor Actor-Director Paul Bartel

The American Cinematheque will host a public memorial gathering Sunday at 11 a.m. for actor-director Paul Bartel, who suffered a fatal heart attack May 13, two weeks after surgery for liver cancer. Bartel was 61.

Bartel made his directorial debut in the kinky 1972 “Private Parts” for producer Gene Corman and moved on to Corman’s brother Roger to make two low-budget sci-fi classics, “Death Race 2000” and “Cannonball.” He hit the high point of his career in 1982 with the black comedy “Eating Raoul,” in which he starred with Mary Woronov and Robert Beltran. At the time of his death, he was planning a 20-years-later sequel.

Bald, goateed and rotund, Bartel became an increasingly familiar droll presence in some 70 films, among them “Rock ‘n’ Roll High” (teamed with Woronov), last year’s “Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss” and the current “Hamlet” (as Osric).

Friends and colleagues will share reminiscences along with a presentation of clips from his films. His family suggests those wishing to make donations in Bartel’s name should send them to Stop Cancer, the Next Generation, 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1740, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Betty Moss has more information on the memorial at (323) 850-3905. American Cinematheque: (323) 466-FILM.