Actor/director Wally Campo has died, mere weeks shy of his one hundredth birthday. He appeared in several Roger Corman films. but was probably best known for narrating and playing as Sgt. Joe Fink in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960).
His other roles included playing First Mate Turner in Master of the World (1961), based on the Jules Verne book, an appearance in Beast from the Haunted Cave (1959) as Byron Smith, another in western Warlock (1959) with DeForest Kelley and Frank Gorshin. He also acted in Shock Corridor (1963), Devil’s Angels (2011), and Hell Squad (1985). He played Pvt. Sonny Lazzaotti in Tank Commandos (1959), Campo worked often with directors Roger Corman and Burt Topper. Campo also had numerous television roles.
Campo made his directorial debut with the western The Mark of the Gun (1969), and appeared as an actor in that same film.
Wally Campo was born Wallace Joseph Campodonico April 23, 1923 in Stockton, California. His son, jazz musician and former child actor Tony Campodonico reported that he passed away in Los Angeles, California, January 14, 2023 of natural causes.
Campo was a proud military veteran, having served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was married to actress Geraldine Matthews, who predeceased him. They are survived by hos son, Tony Campodonico.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
