MovieChat Forums > The Towering Inferno (1974) Discussion > RIP: Actor Paul Comi dies at 84

RIP: Actor Paul Comi dies at 84

posted 8 years ago by Shadow2700
3 replies | jump to latest

Paul Comi

Paul Comi of North Quincy passed away Aug. 26 in Pasadena, California.

Paul was born Feb 11. 1932 and died of complications related to Alzheimer’s. He was a three-time Purple Heart veteran who served in Korea.

He had a long and well-respected career both as an actor (known for his roles in over 600 stage, film and television) and also as a businessman.

His film credits include the role of Pvt. Abbott in The Young Lions with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. He was also cast as Lt. Tim, Steve McQueen’s assistant, in The Towering Inferno.

He is survived by his wife Eva and his children Diane, Kristin and Paul Jr.

http://thequincysun.com/2016/09/12/paul-comi/

[–] chicago103 8 years ago

Was he the guy who brief's Steve McQueen's character when he arrives at the tower?

[–] hobnob53 8 years ago

No, that was Don Gordon, who played Cappy, McQueen's actual number-two man. In real life Gordon was a close pal of McQueen's who co-starred with him in three movies. (He was his fellow police detective in Bullitt.)

Paul Comi was the firefighter to whom McQueen, when he gets in the elevator to go up to the ballroom to speak to Duncan, says, "Tim -- watch yourself," to which Comi gives him a nod and a thumbs-up. I believe he's also seen later on when McQueen gets to the 65th floor after the fires there have been put out (this is after he and the other three had to rappel down the elevator shaft). If I recall correctly it's Comi who tells McQueen the Coast Guard wants to see him in the lobby, to which McQueen sarcastically replies, "Just walk right down, 65 floors?" and Comi replies, "No, it's only five. They have a freight elevator running on 60."

Comi had a lot of TV and film appearances, including in two 60s sci-fi series, The Twilight Zone and Star Trek.

[–] mariakelly-04164 8 years ago

Paul Comi and Don Gordon both appeared in several episodes of Twelve O'Clock High The TV series in the mid 1960's.

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night.