Fox Hit With $250M ‘Simpsons’ Lawsuit By ‘Goodfellas’ Actor
by Dominic Patten October 21, 2014 4:23pm
This is so good and so big that you have to wonder if it is a joke – in which case the state courts are going to be plenty peeved off. Here’s the deal, here’s the deal: Frank Silverosays that The Simpsons ripped off the Frankie “Two Times” Carbone character he played in 1990’s Goodfellas and he wants to be paid for it. In a lawsuit filed today, the actor says wants to be paid a lot – $250 million and more for the Springfield Mafia’s Louie.
Claiming that long long running animated series has made $12 billion over the decades from TV, the big screen, video games and other revenue streams, Silvero alleges in his very detailed 5-claim complaint (read it here) that Simpsonsproducers James L. Brooks was “highly aware of who Silvero was, the fact that he created the role of Frankie Carbone, and that The Simpsons character Louie would be based on this character.”
Not that Silvero wasn’t patient – the Louie character first appeared on The Simpsons in Season 4 back in October 1991. To that end,Fox had no comment today on the mega-suit.
“The Simpsons continued use of Silvero’s image and likeness for commercial purposes are all done without Silvero’s consent and without compensating Silvero,” says the complaint for misappropriation of name and/or likeness and unjust enrichment againstt Fox TV Studios, 21st Centruy Fox American and Simpsons creator Matt Groening. “Over the years, Silvero was told by Gracie Films that, “he[Silvero] would be part of the future ” in connection to the success of The Simpsons. He was promised that they would make a film together; but it never happened. On one occasion, at a party in or around1995-/96, Silvero had another conversation with Mr. Brooks where Silvero stated, “It’s about time we do something together.”Mr. Brooks said yes, but this again never materialized.”
Well now something really has materialized. Can’t wait to see the reaction from the defendants …maybe even Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese will have something to say as well. One can only hope.
Silvero is represented by Alex H. Herrera of the Bev Hills firm Hess, Hess & Herrera, P.C.
http://deadline.com/2014/10/simpsons-lawsuit-goodfellas-character-rip-off-fox-857282/
this fukkin nobody must be struggling
