Buffy Dee(1923-1995)

Rotund Italian-American drummer and character actor Buffy Dee was born Anthony DeSantolo on September 15, 1923 in Middletown, New York. Dee was afflicted with polio as a child and spent a short period of his life in a wheelchair. Fortunately, Buffy was able to recover from his bout with polio, although he was left with a slight limp for the rest of his life. Dee lived for almost a half century of his life in Miami, Florida and had a law degree from the University of Miami. Moreover, Buffy not only was a club owner and a drummer for Carmen Cavallaro, but also acted in a handful of films and television shows. Dee was especially funny and memorable as fat slob club owner Barney in Les Mâchoires infernales (1976). Buffy died at age 72 from lung cancer in November, 1995.