Actor in 'Goodfellas' sues Fox for $250M, says wise guy in 'Simpsons' cartoon is based on him
An actor known for the mob characters he played in the The Godfather Part II and Goodfellas has sued Fox Television Studios for $250 million over a wise-guy character in The Simpsons known as Louie.
Plaintiff Frank Sivero says The Simpsons used both his likeness and physical characteristics and a persona that he created to portray the “Louie” character on the popular cartoon series. That, Sivero alleges, violates his right of publicity under California law, and he also seeks damages for the alleged misappropriation of his ideas, among other claims, the Hollywood Reporter’s Hollywood, Esq. blog reports.
In 1989, Sivero says, writers for The Simpsons lived next door to him in a Sherman Oaks, California, apartment complex.
The suit was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
