Charles RichFrank “Mickey” James Caruso, a former...
Charles Rich
Frank “Mickey” James Caruso, a former standout football player at
Glendale High School and Glendale Community College before beginning
a lengthy career as a Hollywood stuntman, died Dec. 4 from heart
failure at his Glendale home. He was 67.
Caruso, who was born in Glendale on Feb. 15, 1937, was a center
and middle linebacker for the Nitros under Coach Roy Vujovich. He
earned All-CIF Southern Section second-team honors following the 1954
season, and participated in the seventh annual College Prep All-Star
Charity Football Game as a member of the Southern California squad at
Balboa Stadium in San Diego on Aug. 31, 1955.
Caruso, who graduated in 1955, was honored for his sports
achievements with a lifetime pass to Glendale High athletics events
more than 20 years ago.
He attended GCC from 1955-57 and starred as a linebacker before
being named the team’s most valuable player in 1957 under Coach Bill
Reinhard.
Caruso then transferred to the University of Utah in 1957, where
he was a linebacker and named all-conference in the Skyline
Conference. He then played briefly for the Hartford Charter Oaks of
the Continental Football League in 1966. The league lasted from
1965-69 and was geared to be a major force in professional football
outside of the National Football League and American Football League.
In 1973, Caruso chose to work in the film industry as a stuntman
after one of his former football teammates told him he had a
connection in Hollywood.
Caruso worked in films ranging from “The Towering Inferno” to “The
Longest Yard” to “Enter the Dragon.” He also did television work in
shows such as “The Six-Million Dollar Man,” Magnum P.I.” and
“Charlie’s Angels” before retiring in 1986.
His son, Mickey Caruso, said football would always be the topic of
conversation.
“We’d talk every Sunday after all of the football games were
over,” Caruso said. “We’d rehash all of the games, and he loved the
San Diego Chargers and the University of Utah.
“He was a colorful character, and he told a lot of stories about
working with Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Lee Majors and Farrah
Fawcett.
“His body was completely tattered, and he’d be hospitalized after
doing a stunt or being stuck in snow while filming on location
somewhere in Montana.”
The elder Caruso had his left leg amputated in 2002, but never let
it affect him.
“Up to just about that point, he would ride a bicycle to stay in
shape,” Caruso said. “He maintained a bubbly personality, and would
talk to his neighbors about anything.
“He was proud of his Glendale High School achievements.”
Angelo Brovelli competed against Caruso as a guard for Burbank
High. The duo would become teammates at GCC before transferring to
four-year universities.
Brovelli, who was an All-American at GCC before moving on to
Washington State University, recalled trying to block the 5-foot-9
Caruso.
“He wasn’t that big, and you couldn’t block him because he could
spot a play rather easily,” Brovelli said from his residence in
Mendenhall, Miss. “We were roommates for three or four years, and it
was fun finally being on the same team with him.
“He helped make me a ballplayer.”
Caruso brought his tough-guy image from the football field to
Hollywood, and remained relentless.
Roger Montgomery, a cameraman who worked with Caruso, said Caruso
understood the professional risks.
“Mickey would do anything,” Montgomery said. “He had a lot of
bumps and bruises.
“I remember him doing a stunt and a car supposed to hit him, and
he caught his thigh on the hood ornament.
“We told him to go to the hospital, and he would never go.”
He is survived by two sisters, Evelyn Langan and Helen Burch of
Simi Valley; daughter, Gina Caruso Pappanastos of San Bernardino;
son, Mickey Caruso of North Hollywood; his aunt, Marguerite Morris of
Lake View Terrace; and his uncle, James Long of Moreno Valley.