Paul Mace was an American actor who had a brief but memorable career in the 1970s. He is best known for his roles in The Lords of Flatbush (1974), a cult classic film about a group of teenage greasers in Brooklyn, and Paradise Alley (1978), a boxing drama directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. He also appeared in several TV shows, such as Hill Street Blues, The Rockford Files, and St. Elsewhere. But his life was cut short by a tragic road accident in 1983, when he was only 33 years old. What happened to Paul Mace and how did he die? Here is what we know.
Paul Mace’s Early Life and Career
Paul Mace was born on April 4, 1950, in New York City, New York, USA. His full name was Paul Nicholas Mace. He started acting at a young age, appearing in TV shows such as The Doctors and the Nurses, East Side/West Side, and The United States Steel Hour in the early 1960s. He also performed on stage, notably in the Broadway production of The Wall in 1960.
He made his film debut in The Panic in Needle Park (1971), a gritty drama about heroin addicts in New York, starring Al Pacino. He then landed his breakthrough role as Wimpy Murgalo, one of the four main characters in The Lords of Flatbush (1974). The film, which also featured Henry Winkler and Perry King, was a low-budget independent project that became a surprise hit and a cult favorite among young audiences. It depicted the lives, loves, and troubles of a group of leather-jacketed youths in the late 1950s.
Mace followed up his success with another film with Stallone, Paradise Alley (1978), where he played Rat, a friend and manager of Stallone’s character, who becomes a wrestler in the 1940s. The film was Stallone’s directorial debut and received mixed reviews from critics. Mace also continued to work on television, appearing in popular shows such as CHiPs, The Hospital, and The Corner Bar.
Paul Mace’s Death and Legacy
On August 12, 1983, Paul Mace was driving his motorcycle on the Ventura Freeway in Los Angeles County, California, when he collided with a car and was thrown off his bike. He suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was only 33 years old.
His death was a shock to his fans and colleagues, who remembered him as a talented and charismatic actor with a bright future ahead of him. His ex-wife, actress Judy Ann Jordan, who had also appeared in The Lords of Flatbush with him, also died in a road accident later that year.
Paul Mace left behind a legacy of memorable performances that captured the spirit and energy of his generation. He is still fondly remembered by fans of The Lords of Flatbush and Paradise Alley, as well as by those who enjoyed his work on television. He is also regarded as one of the last representatives of the post-impressionist style of acting, which emphasized naturalism and realism over glamour and artifice.
Paul Mace was an actor who lived fast and died young. He may not have achieved the fame and fortune that some of his peers did, but he left an indelible mark on the history of American cinema. He was a true original who will never be forgotten.
