Charlie Picerni

Charlie Picerni, a native of Corona, Queens, New York, grew up as the fourth of five children in an Italian family. Early on, he worked various jobs, including construction on Manhattan’s high-rise buildings. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Marie, he welcomed a son shortly after their wedding, which prompted him to pivot from construction to pursue a career in the film industry.

Inspired by his brother Paul Picerni, who starred in the popular series "The Untouchables" (1959), Charlie began his entertainment journey as a stand-in and extra before transitioning into stunt work. His passion for stunts propelled him to California, where he thrived as a stuntman and eventually became a stunt coordinator. His breakthrough came as the stunt coordinator for "Starsky and Hutch" (1975), where he also doubled for star Paul Michael Glaser. Recognizing his talent, producers Aaron Spelling and Duke Vincent encouraged him to explore directing.

Charlie went on to direct episodes of several iconic series, including "Kojak" (1973), "Magnum, P.I." (1980), and "The A-Team" (1983). His directing prowess caught the attention of Warner Bros. producer Joel Silver, leading to his work on blockbuster films such as "Die Hard" (1988) and its sequels, as well as "Lethal Weapon" series and other notable movies.

Beyond stunts and directing, Charlie acted in various films and television shows. He honed his directing skills at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and, in 2007, helmed the feature film "Three Days to Vegas," featuring Peter Falk. His theatrical direction of Ayn Rand's play "Night of January 16th" in 2010 received critical acclaim. Currently, he is developing "Spaghetti Park," aiming to produce and direct this personal project. A distinguished member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Charlie Picerni continues to make significant contributions to the film industry