Frank Sivero has launched a $250 million dollar lawsuit against 20th Century Fox, Fox Tv Studios and Matt Groening, over likeness rights of the character Louie ( a mafioso in the employ of Fat Tony) in The Simpsons.
Sivero, who played Frankie Corbone in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 Gangster flick Goodfellas, is basing his lawsuit around his evidence that the character Louie, is a derivative of his character Frankie Corbone (who in turn is based on real life mobster Angelo Sepe), from his personality, to his appearance and mannerisms.
A five page complaint has been filed by Sivero’s lawyers, and in it the actor claims that while living at the same Sherman Oaks apartment complex as several writers for The Simpsons, they had first hand knowledge of his preparation for the character, and that producer James L. Brooks was,
Highly aware of who Sivero was, the fact that he created the role of Frankie Carbone, and that The Simpsons character Louie would be based on this character
This will be the second lawsuit of its kind filed by Sivero this year, a recent lawsuit against a Deli Belly in Southern California was a success when he had the use of his likeness pulled from the Frankie Carbone Sandwich.
The lawsuit seems oddly timed, considering the character Louie first appeared in the 1991 Simpsons episode Bart the Murderer.
Fox has yet to respond.
Have A Question? Ask Jessica!
-
Jessica: Hi, I'm Jessica, the Consumer Press AI, can I help you with a consumer question?
