Buffy Dee(1923-1995)

Rotund Italian-American drummer and character actor Buffy Dee was born Anthony DeSantolo on September 15, 1923 in Middletown, New York. Dee was afflicted with polio as a child and spent a short period of his life in a wheelchair. Fortunately, Buffy was able to recover from his bout with polio, although he was left with a slight limp for the rest of his life. Dee lived for almost a half century of his life in Miami, Florida and had a law degree from the University of Miami. Moreover, Buffy not only was a club owner and a drummer for Carmen Cavallaro, but also acted in a handful of films and television shows. Dee was especially funny and memorable as fat slob club owner Barney in Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976). Buffy died at age 72 from lung cancer in November, 1995.