Charles RichFrank “Mickey” James Caruso, a former...

Charles Rich

Frank “Mickey” James Caruso, a former standout football player at

Glendale High School and Glendale Community College before beginning

a lengthy career as a Hollywood stuntman, died Dec. 4 from heart

failure at his Glendale home. He was 67.

Caruso, who was born in Glendale on Feb. 15, 1937, was a center

and middle linebacker for the Nitros under Coach Roy Vujovich. He

earned All-CIF Southern Section second-team honors following the 1954

season, and participated in the seventh annual College Prep All-Star

Charity Football Game as a member of the Southern California squad at

Balboa Stadium in San Diego on Aug. 31, 1955.

Caruso, who graduated in 1955, was honored for his sports

achievements with a lifetime pass to Glendale High athletics events

more than 20 years ago.

He attended GCC from 1955-57 and starred as a linebacker before

being named the team’s most valuable player in 1957 under Coach Bill

Reinhard.

Caruso then transferred to the University of Utah in 1957, where

he was a linebacker and named all-conference in the Skyline

Conference. He then played briefly for the Hartford Charter Oaks of

the Continental Football League in 1966. The league lasted from

1965-69 and was geared to be a major force in professional football

outside of the National Football League and American Football League.

In 1973, Caruso chose to work in the film industry as a stuntman

after one of his former football teammates told him he had a

connection in Hollywood.

Caruso worked in films ranging from “The Towering Inferno” to “The

Longest Yard” to “Enter the Dragon.” He also did television work in

shows such as “The Six-Million Dollar Man,” Magnum P.I.” and

“Charlie’s Angels” before retiring in 1986.

His son, Mickey Caruso, said football would always be the topic of

conversation.

“We’d talk every Sunday after all of the football games were

over,” Caruso said. “We’d rehash all of the games, and he loved the

San Diego Chargers and the University of Utah.

“He was a colorful character, and he told a lot of stories about

working with Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Lee Majors and Farrah

Fawcett.

“His body was completely tattered, and he’d be hospitalized after

doing a stunt or being stuck in snow while filming on location

somewhere in Montana.”

The elder Caruso had his left leg amputated in 2002, but never let

it affect him.

“Up to just about that point, he would ride a bicycle to stay in

shape,” Caruso said. “He maintained a bubbly personality, and would

talk to his neighbors about anything.

“He was proud of his Glendale High School achievements.”

Angelo Brovelli competed against Caruso as a guard for Burbank

High. The duo would become teammates at GCC before transferring to

four-year universities.

Brovelli, who was an All-American at GCC before moving on to

Washington State University, recalled trying to block the 5-foot-9

Caruso.

“He wasn’t that big, and you couldn’t block him because he could

spot a play rather easily,” Brovelli said from his residence in

Mendenhall, Miss. “We were roommates for three or four years, and it

was fun finally being on the same team with him.

“He helped make me a ballplayer.”

Caruso brought his tough-guy image from the football field to

Hollywood, and remained relentless.

Roger Montgomery, a cameraman who worked with Caruso, said Caruso

understood the professional risks.

“Mickey would do anything,” Montgomery said. “He had a lot of

bumps and bruises.

“I remember him doing a stunt and a car supposed to hit him, and

he caught his thigh on the hood ornament.

“We told him to go to the hospital, and he would never go.”

He is survived by two sisters, Evelyn Langan and Helen Burch of

Simi Valley; daughter, Gina Caruso Pappanastos of San Bernardino;

son, Mickey Caruso of North Hollywood; his aunt, Marguerite Morris of

Lake View Terrace; and his uncle, James Long of Moreno Valley.