Harry E. Northup (born September 2, 1940) is an American actor and poet. As an actor, he made frequent appearances in the films of Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme and Jonathan Kaplan.
Early life and education Northup was born in Amarillo, Texas. He lived in 17 places by age 17, but mostly in Sidney, Nebraska, where he graduated from high school in 1958. From 1958 to 1961 he served in the United States Navy, where he attained the rank of Second Class Radioman. From 1963 to 1968, he studied Method acting with Frank Corsaro in New York City.Cinema Retro interview by Raymond Benson
Northup received his B.A. in English from California State University, Northridge, where he studied poetry with Ann Stanford.
Career Northup has made a living as an actor for over 30 years and has been in 37 films, including Martin Scorsese's first six feature films: Who's That Knocking at My Door, Boxcar Bertha, Mean Streets, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Taxi Driver and New York, New York. He was Mr. Bimmel in Jonathan Demme's film The Silence of the Lambs and starred in Over the Edge and Fighting Mad.in am/fm magazine, Mar 22, 2020:https://www.amfm-magazine.tv/harry-e-northup-from-acting-in-martin-scorsese-films-to-writing-poetry/
Northup has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1976. Poets such as Walt Whitman,LA Reader, article by James Cushing, Friday, September 3, 1982, vol 4, No. 45, p. 12 Leland Hickman,LA Reader, James Cushing, September 3, 1982, vol 4,#45, p. 12 Paul Blackburn,Chiron Review, Issue 78, Spring, 2005 p.4 Ann Stanford,LA Reader, article by James Cushing, Friday, September 3, 1982, vol 4, No. 45, p 13 William Carlos Williams,Chiron Review, Issue 78, Spring, 2005, p. 4 & 5 and Holly PradoLummox Journal, July 2001, p. 11 have influenced Northup's poetry. He conceived and coordinated the weekly poetry reading series "Poetry on Melrose" at Gasoline Alley in Los Angeles, from 1986 to 1988. Poets who read at the venue include Robert Peters, Jack Hirschman and Lewis MacAdams.Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Personal life Northup's second wife, poet and novelist Holly Prado, died on June 14, 2019. He has a son, Dylan, by his first marriage.Northup's Archives
Honors The City of Los Angeles, as represented by the L.A. City Council, awarded Northup a Certificate of Recognition on November 15, 2006.Cinema Retro vol 5, Issue No. 14 2009 interview by Raymond Benson
Poetry Amarillo Born, Victor Jiminez Press, 1966 The Jon Voight Poems, Mt. Averno Press, 1973 Eros Ash, Momentum Press, 1976 Enough The Great Running Chapel, Momentum Press, 1982 The Images We Possess Kill The Capturing, Jesse Press, 1988 The Ragged Vertical, Cahuenga Press, 1996 Reunions, Cahuenga Press, 2001 Greatest Hits, 1966–2001, Pudding House Press, 2002 Red Snow Fence, Cahuenga Press, 2006 Where Bodies Again Recline, Cahuenga Press, 2011 East Hollywood: Memorial To Reason, Cahuenga Press, 2015 Love Poem to MPTF, Cahuenga Press, 2020 To Ask For Love, Cahuenga Press, 2025
Anthologies Venice Thirteen, Bayrock Press, 1971 The Streets Inside: Ten Los Angeles Poets, Momentum Press, 1978 Foreign Exchange, Biographics, 1979 Poetry Loves Poetry, An Anthology of Los Angeles Poets, Momentum Press, 1985 Gridlock: An anthology of Poetry About Southern California, Applezaba Press, 1990 Grand Passion, The Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond, Red Wind Books, 1995 Corners of the Mouth, A Celebration of Thirty Years at the Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival, Deer Tree Press, 2014 Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond, Pacific Coast Poetry Series/Beyond Baroque Books, 2015 Coiled Serpent, Poets Arising from the Cultural Quakes & Shifts of Los Angeles, Tia Chucha Press, 2016 Beat Not Beat anthology, Moon Tide Press, 2022 Poetry Goes To The Movies, Pacific Coast Poetry Series, 2025
Audio Personal Crime, New Alliance Records, 1993 Homes, New Alliance Records, 1995 As Long As I Tell The Truth What Difference Does It Make To You – An Interview with Harry Northup, Alright, Dude Productions, 2010
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1967Who's That Knocking at My Door Harry 1971Alias Smith and Jones Hank TV Episode 1972Boxcar Bertha Deputy Sheriff Harvey Hall 1973 Mean Streets SoldierThe All-American Boy Parker 1974 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Joe & Jim's Bartender Crazy Mama FBI Agent 1976 Fighting Mad Sheriff Skerritt starring role Two-Minute Warning Lieber (The S.W.A.T. Team) Taxi Driver 'Doughboy' 1976 Palme d'Or winner at Cannes 1977 New York, New York 'Alabama' Handle With Care The Red Baron Which Way Is Up? Chief Goon 1978 Blue Collar Hank 1979 Over the Edge Sergeant Dobermanstarring role 11th Victim Officer Thorpe 1980 Tom Horn Thomas Burke Used Cars Carmine 1982 The Day the Bubble Burst Andrew Arvay TV movie Knots Landing Wayne Harkness TV, recurring role 1984 Nickel Mountain Frank 1986 The Deliberate Stranger Tom Hargreaves TV MiniSeries 1986 North and South: Book II Major TV miniseries 1987 Project X Congressman 1988 Kansas Governor Dellit 1991 The Silence of the Lambs Mr. Bimmel 1991 Oscar winner for Best Picture 1992 Unlawful Entry McMurtry, Desk Sergeant Hero Mr. Fletcher 1993 Philadelphia Juror No. 6 1994 Bad Girls Preacher Sloan Reform School Girl Uncle Charlie 1996 In Cold Blood Minister TV MiniSeries 1998 Beloved Sheriff 1998 Four Corners Tom Brothers TV series 1999 Brokedown Palace Leon Smith 2001 ER Competency Evaluator TV Episode 2002 The Court Justice Fitzsimmons TV, recurring role 2004 The Manchurian Candidate Congressman Flores 2014 That Guy Dick Miller Himself 2018 Carry Tiger to Mountain Isaac Solomon
References
External links
Harry Northup Papers MSS 598. ** Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library. Cahuenga Press Bio Sketch Video of Harry Northup reading at the Word Benefit Poetry Marathon, Ave. 50 Studio in Highland Park, CA – as featured on www.Poetry.LA Getting in character with Harry Northup:an Interview Over the Edge," by Mike Sachs extensive interview interview