"Goodfellas" actor files $250 million lawsuit over "Simpsons" mafia character

An actor who played mobster roles in "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather Part II" has filed a $250 million lawsuit against Fox Television Studios over one of the mafia characters on "The Simpsons."

The Hollywood Reporter, which obtained a copy of the lawsuit, reports that Frank Sivero alleges that "Simpsons" writers modeled the character "Louie," a Mafioso who reports to "Fat Tony," after his "Goodfellas" character, Frankie Carbone.

In the suit, Sivero claims that in 1989 he was living in an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks, California, and that writers of the long-running Fox animated series were living next door.

"They knew he was developing the character he was to play in the movie 'Goodfellas,'" reads the lawsuit. "In fact, they were aware the entire character of 'Frankie Carbone' was created and developed by Sivero, who based this character on his own personality. . . Louie's appearance and mannerisms are strongly evocative of character actor Frank Sivero."

According to the complaint, Louie made his "Simpsons" debut in season 3, in an episode titled "Bart the Murderer," and has appeared in 15 more episodes (the most recent one being earlier this year in "What to Expect When Bart's Expecting"). The suit adds that Dan Castellaneta, who provides the voice of Louie and numerous other characters including Homer Simpson, "modeled his voice after Italian American actor Joe Pesci, who also had a role in 'Goodfellas.'"

Sivero also claims that "Simpsons" producer James L. Brooks was aware of who he was, and that Brooks' Gracie Films told him over the years that he "would be part of the future" in connection to "The Simpsons" and that they would make a film together. Sivero also alleges that he and Brooks had a conversation around 1996 in which he said "it's about time we do something together" and that Brooks agreed, but nothing ever materialized.

The lawsuit claims Gracie Films "never intended to make a film with Sivero, and that they were simply studying him further for the character Louie."

Sivero alleges his publicity rights were violated and that, by stealing his likeness and idea, the defendants have "diluted the value of the character created by Plaintiff, and contributed to the 'type-casting' of Plaintiff." He's seeking $50 million in damages related to loss of his likeness, $100 million more for "improper interference," $50 million for "improper appropriation" of his idea and another $50 million in exemplary damages over the idea, plus injunctive relief and attorney fees.

This isn't the first time Sivero has taken legal action over his likeness -- per The Hollywood Reporter, he sued a restaurant earlier this year over a sandwich named after his "Goodfellas" character.