American actor Tony Ganios, renowned for his portrayal of Meat in Bob Clark’s ‘Porky’s,’ passed away on February 18 at the age of 64, following surgery at a New York hospital, as reported by Variety on Tuesday evening.
Ganios’ fiancee shared the heartbreaking news on X, posting a photo of them holding hands with the caption, “I love you so much, my love. I’m broken.” In a subsequent tweet, she posted another photo of Ganios, expressing, “The last words we said to each other were, ‘I love you.’ Love is an understatement. You are everything to me. My heart, my soul, and my best friend.”
Known for his roles in 1980s teen comedies and action films, Ganios gained recognition for portraying rough, muscular characters, utilizing character acting to bring physical presence and toughness to his roles.
Making his film debut in Kaufman’s ‘The Wanderers,’ Ganios played Perry, a Bronx Italian-American street tough in the 1963 picture based on Richard Price’s novel. He later reunited with co-star Ken Wahl for a recurring role as a mob lawyer in Wahl’s 1987-90 crime series ‘Wiseguy.’
However, Ganios’ most iconic role was that of Meat in the 1981 comedy series ‘Porky’s,’ where a group of high school friends seeks revenge on a nightclub owner named Porky. Despite initial criticism, the film became the sixth highest-grossing of 1982, spawning two sequels.
Among his other movie credits are ‘Porky’s II: The Next Day’ (1983) and ‘Die Hard 2’ (1990). Ganios semi-retired from acting after ‘Rising Sun,’ making brief cameos in three films between 1991 and 1993.
Born in Brooklyn, Ganios is survived by his fiancee, Amanda.
