• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Homeless man has lurked in the background in over 100 Hollywood movies

Home> Film & TV

Published 13:32 7 Dec 2022 GMT

Homeless man has lurked in the background in over 100 Hollywood movies

He went from living rough on the streets of New York to attending the Oscars

Emma Guinness

Emma Guinness

A lot of people dream of making an appearance on the silver screen, but one person who likely thought it impossible was a homeless man, who's now done it over 100 times.

Yes, you read that right, a homeless man made it to Tinsel Town, and he's appeared in some of Hollywood's best-known flicks, including Miss Congeniality and Shutter Island.

The man, who is known among the who's who of Hollywood as 'Radioman' because of the radio he wears around his neck, has appeared in the background of many films.

He's known as the homeless man because there was a time when he wasn't paid to be on the streets of New York, but thanks to the film industry, it's now his career.

Advert

His remarkable story has recently resurfaced thanks to TikTok, where it has been doing the rounds.

Radioman - whose real name is Craig Castaldo - has done more than just appear in flicks like Elf and Two Weeks Notice, and he's befriended some of the stars too, including Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg.

Craig Castaldo, known as Radioman.
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

In fact, Goldberg liked Radioman so much that she decided to bring him to the Oscars with her when she presented the event - now that's a rags to riches story if we've ever heard one!

Advert

Hanks, meanwhile, said of the former homeless man turned pro: "This man's a cultural institution. You get on a first-name basis with Radio, you know you've made it."

George Clooney has also said of Radioman: "No one shoots in New York and doesn't know who Radioman is."

The late great Robin Williams even described him as 'one of the fixtures of New York'.

On the subject of New York, the Big Apple is the city that Radioman calls home, and in 2012, he explained that he doesn't like to think of himself as a movie star - just a homeless person.

Advert

Radioman's name is very much a reflection of his character.
@realstoriesdocs/TikTok

"I'm just me, Radioman," he said. "I don't like to be pigeonholed into being called a movie star. People look at a guy like me and they think, 'Oh yeah, a bum'."

Radioman explained that he remembers the days when he simply saw the stars as a homeless person living in New York and revealed that he used to heckle them.

He told The Star: "I was drinking at the time. I said, 'Bruce Willis! I think your movie looks like a cartoon!'"

Advert

The extra is now such a Hollywood institution that a documentary has been made about his remarkable story, but he insists that he's not really an actor either, let alone a star in his own right.

The late Robin Williams with Radioman.
WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

"Radioman? I guess it's a character, yeah, in a way," he said.

"But I am the real one, I am the real Radioman - not really a character at all. I am what I am, it was on the film sets where I became Radioman.

Advert

"I always wanted to be part of... somewhere, to be an actor, to be in the movies. In any capacity.

"I just love it. I just like the atmosphere, I like the people. I like what happens in the movie business. Plus you get free food..."

Absolutely fair play.

Featured Image Credit: Real Stories/YouTube / Shutterstock

Topics: US News, Film and TV

Emma Guinness
Emma Guinness

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
a day ago
  • Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Trump supporters call for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired for ‘disgusting’ comments following Charlie Kirk’s assassination

    Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University last week

    Film & TV
  • Amy Sussman/Getty Images
    a day ago

    Fans shocked by Sydney Sweeney's 'incredible' transformation in new boxing movie trailer

    The sports biopic focuses on the Coal Mine's Daughter, Christy Martin

    Film & TV
  • Silver Screen Collection/Getty
    a day ago

    Hollywood legend Robert Redford dies aged 89

    Tributes have been pouring in for late actor Robert Redford

    Film & TV
  • ABC News
    a day ago

    News anchor speaks out with resignation after being suspended for 'honoring' Charlie Kirk on air

    Beni Rae Harmony quit the company after paying tribute to her former boss live on air last week

    Film & TV
  • Netflix fans have just hours left to watch one of the best ‘feel good movies’ that’s been viewed for over 10 million hours
  • Hollywood legend Robert Redford dies aged 89
  • Netflix fans rave over 'masterpiece' new thriller which 'puts Hollywood movies to shame'
  • Where to watch the Tomb Raider movies as new Lara Croft actress is revealed