Where are the Bugsy Malone cast now?

Photo credit: Paramount
Photo credit: Paramount

From Digital Spy

Bugsy Malone was the musical we all wanted to be in at school. It was made for kids, starred kids, had an awesome soundtrack and made us all wish we could have pie-fights while pedalling 1930s cars about the place.

It's been a whopping 42 years since Alan Parker's Bugsy Malone first hit the screens, and it continues to have a life in theatres around the world. But what happened to its young cast since then?

1. Scott Baio (Bugsy)

Photo credit: Gettyimages - Paramount
Photo credit: Gettyimages - Paramount

Scott truly was the coolest kid alive in 1976. Soon after becoming many young girls' first crush, he went on to take a major role as Chachi in Happy Days and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi. A year later, he was the lead in Charles in Charge until 1990.

In 1993, he took on the role as Dr Jack Stewart in Dick Van Dyke's Diagnosis Murder, but left after two seasons. Since then, he appeared in a variety of films and TV series, though none of them are quite the pedigree of his early career. These have included roles in Veronica's Closet, Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2, and most recently the sitcom See Dad Run.

However, he did play the rather inept lawyer Bob Loblaw in Arrested Development, returning for its 2013 series. He has also dipped into reality TV for VH1's Scott Baio Is 45… and Single and Scott Baio Is 46… and Pregnant.

He has also become known for his conservative views and his support of Donald Trump.

2. Jodie Foster (Tallulah)

Photo credit: Gettyimages - Paramount
Photo credit: Gettyimages - Paramount

Easily the biggest star to have come from Bugsy Malone, Jodie had already been in the business since she was three years old. The same year as Bugsy, Jodie was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as a teenage prostitute in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver.

Over the next few years, she featured in The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Freaky Friday, Candleshoe and Foxes. After a few years in the acting wilderness, she returned to huge acclaim in 1988's The Accused, winning an Oscar. She won her second three years later for The Silence of the Lambs.

She has continued to appear in many films in the last couple of decades, including the likes of Maverick, Contact, Anna and the King, Panic Room, Flightplan, and Inside Man. She has directed The Beaver, Money Monster and episodes of Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.

One peculiar incident surrounding Jodie was the 1981 assassination attempt of US President Ronald Reagan. The attacker, John Hinckley Jr, had become obsessed with Jodie, and decided to shoot Reagan in an attempt to impress her.

She later said: "I never wanted to be the actress who was remembered for that event. Because it didn't have anything to do with me. I was kind of a hapless bystander. But what a scarring, strange moment in history for me, to be 17 years old, 18 years old, and to be caught up in a drama like that."

3. Florrie Dugger (Blousey)

Photo credit: ITV - Paramount
Photo credit: ITV - Paramount

Florrie only landed the female lead after the original actress had a growth spurt. Now known by her married name Florence Garland, she didn't want a movie career and decided to leave acting behind.

"I enjoyed the acting, and the camaraderie and the joy of memorising roles. But I didn't want to do it professionally," she told The Independent in 2015.

When she was 18, she enlisted and became a medical administrator, and served in air force bases in the UK, South Korea and the United States. She left the military in 2001, and has since worked for an ophthalmology practice.

4. John Cassisi (Fat Sam)

Photo credit: New York Post / Stefan Jeremiah - Paramount
Photo credit: New York Post / Stefan Jeremiah - Paramount

John was chosen for the role as speakeasy boss Fat Sam after director Alan Parker went to a local school and asked for the naughtiest kid in class.

John later starred in the 1977 sitcom Fish, but eventually stopped acting and moved into the construction business.

From 2012 to 2014, John served as the Director of Global Construction for Citigroup. However, in 2015, he pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme, and was sentenced to up to six years in prison plus a $500,000 fine. He is married with three children.

5. Martin Lev (Dandy Dan)

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Martin's sinister, chilling portrayal of Fat Sam's nemesis Dandy Dan was one of the most underrated crime performances of all time, but he soon left acting and began working as a designer.

An ME sufferer, he was a founder and director of the charity Action for ME, a self-help group for others with the condition.

Sadly, he took his own life on March 11, 1992 in London at the age of 32.

6. Dexter Fletcher (Babyface)

Photo credit: Gettyimages - YouTube
Photo credit: Gettyimages - YouTube

Dexter had a small but memorable role as the smallest of all the "down and outs". Since then, he has become known for his work as both an actor and director.

After roles in the likes of The Long Good Friday and Press Gang, he rose to prominence in the 1990s thanks to his appearance in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He later had roles in shows including Hotel Babylon and Band of Brothers, and had a short stint hosting Channel 4's GamesMaster.

In recent years he has turned to directing, and was behind the camera for Sunshine on Leith, Eddie the Eagle and Bohemian Rhapsody (though original director Bryan Singer is still credited.)

7. Paul Murphy (Leroy)

Photo credit: YouTube - Paramount
Photo credit: YouTube - Paramount

Londoner Paul was chosen by Parker to play shy boxer Leroy Smith, despite little acting experience.

Paul didn't stay with acting after Bugsy. While little is known about what he's been up to in recent years, he has taken part in various celebration events and Q&As about the movie, including this lovely little interview.

8. Sheridan Earl Russell (Knuckles)

Photo credit: YouTube - Paramount
Photo credit: YouTube - Paramount

Knuckles was always a favourite character of ours, and we're still distraught over his "death" by custard pie.

Sheridan continued to act for over 10 years, appearing in the likes of Jabberwocky and Scum, but his last TV role was a 1989 episode of The Bill. Sheridan has also turned up in various Bugsy reunions, including this YouTube interview.

9. Albin Jenkins (Fizzy)

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

It appears Albin fell off the face of the earth since appearing in Bugsy Malone as tapdancing cleaner Fizzy, but we'll always love his song 'Tomorrow'. We just don't know what happened to him after the movie.

10. Bonnie Langford (Lena)

Photo credit: Gettyimages - YouTube
Photo credit: Gettyimages - YouTube

She may have only appeared in one scene, but Bonnie sure did steal the show as desperate singer Lena.

You may now know her best as Kush's mum Carmel in EastEnders, but Bonnie has been performing since a very young age.

For years, she was best known for playing The Doctor's companion Mel Bush in Doctor Who in the mid-1980s, and has since appeared in many musicals in the West End and Broadway, including Peter Pan, Cats, The Pirates of Penzance and Chicago.

She has also been a contestant on Dancing on Ice, and won a British Soap Award in 2016 for her role in EastEnders.


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