Rodney Harvey

Rodney Michael Harvey (born July 31, 1967 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , † April 11, 1998 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actor and model .

life and career

Harvey was born in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , and grew up in South Philadelphia. In 1984 he was approached by director Paul Morrissey in New York City on the corner of Broadway and 42nd Street and invited to the casting for his film Mixed Blood . Subsequently, Harvey was in Mixed Blood - The Rats of Harlem as well as in 1988 in Brooklyn Kid . Shortly thereafter, Harvey moved to Los Angeles, signed with a casting agency and began working as a model on the side. Among other things, he was seen on the life cover with Madonna and worked for Calvin Klein .

1990 made him the role of "Sodapop Curtis" in the Fox TV series The Outsiders known, after which, after only one season, he had a guest appearance in the pilot episode of the series Twin Peaks . Rodney Harvey was later seen as "Gary" in Gus Van Sant's drama My Own Private Idaho - The End of an Innocence . It is said that Harvey first came into contact with heroin while the film was being made, as did Hollywood star River Phoenix , who played the main character Mike Waters . This was the beginning of an addiction that determined his life from now on and ruined his career. Harvey had his last appearances in the films Guncrazy (1992) and God's Lonely Man (1996).

In 1996, after multiple convictions, Harvey was sent to prison for eight months, where he made up his high school diploma. In 1997 he became the assistant to his former agent Allan Mindel, who tried to get Harvey back into contact with the film business. However, after a short time Harvey was addicted to drugs again. He stayed with friends and family in Philadelphia until he was re-imprisoned in the spring of 1997.

Rodney Harvey was released on April 9, 1998, two days later he was found dead in the Hotel Barbizon (room 222) in Los Angeles, the cause of death was given as a cocaine and heroin overdose. He found his final resting place in the Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Trivia

Harvey was of Irish-Italian descent. His father left the family early, and Harvey grew up with his older brother Edward Jr. "Eddy" and his younger half-brother Joseph. The boys spent much of their time in the streets of Philadelphia, Harvey was expelled from schools and involved in gang disputes.

He had several self-made tattoos, including a tattoo of his first name on his left upper arm. Harvey was dating model Lisa Marie and later dated his Salsa co-star , Magali Alvarado. Roxana Zal was one of his last friends. As a young actor, Rodney Harvey was friends with colleagues such as Balthazar Getty , Drew Barrymore , David Arquette and Amanda Anka (daughter of Paul Anka ).

Gus Van Sant originally intended Harvey to play one of the leading roles in My Private Idaho , who would play Scott Favor before the role went to Keanu Reeves .

Mugshots and other images of Rodney Harvey drugged were used in an anti-drug television commercial. Harvey's body was buried in the grave of his beloved grandfather, but his own name is not mentioned on the headstone.

Filmography

year	title	role	Others
1985	Delivery boys	Fast action
1985	Mixed Blood - The Rats of Harlem	Jose	Original title: Mixed Blood
1987	initiation	Danny Molloy
1987	Five Corners	Castro
1988	Salsa	Ken
1988	Brooklyn Kid	Frankie	Original title: Spike of Bensonhurst
1990	Silent Love	Giulio
1990	Twin peaks	Biker Scotty	TV series; Episode: pilot
1990	The Outsiders	Sodapop Curtis	TV series; 13 episodes
1991	My Private Idaho	Gary
1992	Guncrazy	Tom
1996	God's Lonely Man	Glen

Web links

• Rodney Harvey in the Internet Movie Database (English)