Richard Rossi
Richard Rossi | |
---|---|
Born | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | March 2, 1963
Education | B.S. & M.A. Religion, Liberty University; A.A. Theater Arts & Cinema Arts, L.A. Valley College |
Alma mater | Liberty University,[1][2] Los Angeles Valley College[3] |
Occupation | Multi-medium artist |
Years active | 1970–present |
Spouse | Sherrie Rossi (1984–present) |
Children | 2 |
Richard Rossi (born March 2, 1963)[4] is an American filmmaker, actor,[5] writer, talk radio host,[6][7] musician,[8] and former evangelical minister.[9][10] [11]
Among Rossi's projects are the film Canaan Land which contained five songs by Rossi,[12] Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories, a biopic on the life of Roberto Clemente[13][14] and two films about evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson.
In 1995 Rossi went on trial for the attempted murder of his wife. She recanted her original identification of Rossi as her attacker and espoused his innocence. The case ended in a mistrial and was front-page news in Rossi's adopted hometown of Pittsburgh[15] and was widely covered as something of a cause célèbre by syndicated television news programs.[16][17] Rossi eventually was acquitted of attempted murder[9] but pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault though he and his wife maintained his innocence.[18][19]
Early life
[edit]Rossi's father was a professional jazz guitarist in West View, Pennsylvania; the son followed in his father's footsteps, playing the guitar on stage at age 7.[16]
As a child, Rossi was fascinated with Pittsburgh-based faith healer Kathryn Kuhlman.[11] After one of his father's hospitalizations for manic depression,[20] Rossi landed in a surrogate family led by an evangelist who immersed him in Pentecostal preaching and outreach. [11] After a drug overdose, [16] Rossi became a born-again Christian and toured as a rock and roll preacher, usually in tandem with songwriting partner Johnny Walker,[21][22] playing gospel rock. Rossi and his songwriting partner Walker were featured on The 700 Club.[23]
Pennsylvania ministries
[edit]Rossi moved to Lynchburg, Virginia at age 18 to study at Liberty University, where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in biblical studies.[24][25]
His second church, created informally with ministry partner Jack Sims, was called "Matthew's Party," the name taken from the biblical story about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Matthew, the gospel writer.[26][27][28] In 1986, Rossi started First Love, a charismatic church. He rented movie theaters and showed films as an evangelistic outreach. Dramatic faith healings allegedly occurred. The healing services, called "Healing Clinics,"[29] grew from 200 to 2000. Rossi filmed the healings and co-produced a documentary on faith healing and exorcism in 1992 entitled Quest for Truth. The program first aired during the fall 1993 season on WPGH-TV 53 and WPTT-TV 22.[30][31][32]
In 1988, Rossi tried and failed to change both the name of the Church of the Three Rivers and its affiliation.[18] He then joined the Assemblies of God the next year and led the Cranberry church, but left in 1991, saying that his ministry was too radical for the Assemblies; church officials said he left owing several thousand dollars for the church building.[18]
In September 1991, Rossi began broadcasting his nightly radio show Rich Rossi Live on Pittsburgh's WPIT-FM. The program created controversy when Rossi called other evangelical churches "whores" who sell out the gospel for money.[33] Rossi appeared on the Jerry Springer Show in 1994 to discuss faith healing, exorcism, and ESP.[34]
Attempted murder charge
[edit]On June 24, 1994, Rossi's wife, Sherrie Lynn, was found near death in a coma on the side of a Pennsylvania road. She had a crushed skull and was left covered in blood; her injuries were so severe that she needed to wear a helmet.[18][35][36][37] Her rescuers thought she had been in a traffic accident, and called for an ambulance.[38] Ninety minutes later, at 8:05 pm, Richard Rossi called police, and claimed that men killed his wife and shot at him twice.[38] But when police came to interview him, his story changed, first claiming that a man that looked like him got into the passenger side of the car, then that the man who looked like him attacked from the driver's side.[38] Rossi had a cellular phone available, but said he pursued the assailant instead of dialing for help because he was a "good runner."[38] Rossi also changed his story on where the assailants approached from, first saying they were in a white car, then that they "came out of the woods out of nowhere."[38] Police testified that Rossi told them a "satanic cult" was trying to frame him; Rossi denies this.[38][39][40] Rossi was wearing only a pair of tan shorts when police interviewed him; Rossi claimed that he lost his shirt running through the woods, but did not explain why he was barefoot.[38] Several witnesses reported seeing a man with long hair near the Rossi's cars, and State Police reports suggested the presence of two other cars, one blue and one white.[41]
In October 1994, Sherrie testified her husband was "not to blame"; a state court judge refused her request to void the order of protection.[36][39] (Press accounts claimed that Ms. Rossi stated that her attacker might have been a demon in human form, but the Rossis deny she said this.)[36][39][40]
Sherrie Rossi testified in the trial that her attacker was a different man with brown eyes and that Rossi's eyes are blue. She said her earlier testimony against Rossi was coerced by police when she was still recovering and did not have a complete recollection, and that her second testimony exonerating her husband came from "flashbacks" and a "fuller complete recollection" of what occurred.[17][42] A defender of Rossi corroborated Sherrie Rossi's mystery attacker, testifying a passing motorist saw a bearded man matching Sherrie Rossi's description wearing jeans. (Rossi was wearing shorts).[43]
Sherrie Rossi said: "We have eyewitnesses who saw a white car similar to ours following us and several family members several weeks before I was attacked. My husband also received a number of threats before I was attacked. The whole police had one agenda from Day One, and that was to get my husband." During her testimony, Sherrie Rossi wore a shirt with two doll figures labeled "Rich" and "Sherrie" and flashed the American Sign Language sign for love at her husband Richard.[44][45]
Over Rossi's wife's objections, prosecutors charged him with attempted murder and won a court ruling admitting her earlier testimony at trial.[38] The parties argued whether the blood-soaked interior of Rossi's car was consistent with Sherrie's claim.[15] The secretary of Rossi's church testified that Rossi asked him shortly after the incident to forge an alibi. Sherrie Rossi refuted this, alleging police had framed her husband.
Sherrie Rossi testified, pointing at the prosecutors and police. "Your agenda was to get my husband, and I did not trust you or the lot of them."[46] The defense called two witnesses, a church member and Rossi's mother, for a total of a half-hour of testimony; Rossi himself did not testify.[47]
A five-day trial ended in a hung jury, with the vote 9–3 in favor of conviction after six and a half hours of deliberation.[15][48] Before retrial, Rossi pleaded no contest to a count of second-degree aggravated assault while maintaining his innocence. Though his followers wanted him to fight what his wife called an "assault of justice", Rossi stated he pled nolo contendere to end the ordeal. "One of my many goals is to heal our family and become the best husband and father I can be," Rossi said to the judge.[49] He received a four-to-eight-month sentence in Butler County Jail plus four years probation and required domestic violence counseling; he served 96 days.[48][50][51]
Domestic violence workers criticized the short sentence.[52][53] The Rossis renewed their wedding vows after his release.[50] Rossi wrote an apologetic letter to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette saying: "I repent of the sins I have committed and, with God's help, do not plan to repeat them."[54]
Sherrie Rossi, who had campaigned for her husband's exoneration, sued state and county officials for abridging her civil rights when courts refused to lift a bond restriction forbidding her husband to contact her while he was out on bail; the suit was dismissed by a federal court.[51][55] In 1996, Sherrie self-published Assault of Justice: The Richard Rossi Mystery, defending her husband and proclaiming his innocence, and claiming that charges were retaliation for exposing police corruption and a satanic cult on his talk radio show.[56][57] She said eyewitnesses confirmed her husband's innocence and that they had been receiving threats prior to the assault.
While charges were pending and Rossi served his sentence, membership in his church dropped from 300 to 12.[51] Media scrutiny revealed Rossi suffered mental health, depression, and addiction issues similar to his father's. Rossi enrolled in a recovery program in jail that he continued after his release, including meetings four days a week, daily monitoring, and treatment in Atlanta.[58][59][60]
After his release from jail, Rossi and his wife hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless at the Ranch House in Pittsburgh's North Park. Rossi paid for buses to transport urban children out of high-crime areas to the park. Most of the buses got to those wanting to come, but one had difficulty getting to the arranged pick-up due to snow. Native Americans danced and helped Rossi serve dinners to disadvantaged children. Some of his fellow inmates Rossi befriended in jail attended to help serve the poor.[61][62][63] Rossi filed for bankruptcy in 1996 as a result of his legal problems, and started over in California.[64]
California
[edit]After completing his probation,[18] Rossi relocated to Hollywood with his wife and two children in 1997, after a script he wrote garnered interest in Hollywood.[65] He returned to preaching, serving as a pastor and church consultant, and moved into acting and filmmaking to explore his interest in creative and cutting-edge expressions of ministry.[11]
Rossi's first Hollywood role was in the 1998 short film Jesus 2000.[66] In 1998, he appeared on stage in his own adaptation of Elmer Gantry, which he wrote, produced and starred. His stage performance resulted in an offer to Rossi to play the role in a new film version.[30][67][68][69][70]
He started "Eternal Grace",[71] a movement of Hollywood house churches for actors and celebrities who had difficulty attending public services due to paparazzi, and also for AIDS victims and others not welcome to attend other churches.[24][72][73] He was protested by followers of Fred Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, who decried his lenient attitude toward homosexuals.[18] Rossi's wife Sherrie worked with puppets in their children's ministry.[18]
In 2001, Rossi wrote and directed Saving Sister Aimee, a short documentary film about 1920s evangelist Aimee McPherson. Though some considered it a sensationalized depiction, it won the Angel Award from the Southern California Motion Picture Council for best documentary.[16]
In 2005, Rossi revisited Sister Aimee's story in the low-budget feature biographical film Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story, (aka Aimee Semple McPherson), featuring Mimi Michaels in the lead and Rance Howard as the preacher's father. It attracted a record crowd to Hollywood's New Beverly Cinema, a revival house specializing in independent and cult films owned by Quentin Tarantino.[16][18][74] A group of Evangelicals offered to invest $2 million in the film, but with conditions that the movie did not depict McPherson's divorce or drug overdose and that the actor playing the lead be a Pentecostal Christian. Rossi turned them down. "By saying no to conditions that religious people put on me, I feel I'm actually of more service to God and people because I make an honest film," he said.[24][75] In addition to his film work, Rossi acted on stage in plays and musicals to positive reviews, remaining active in the Los Angeles theater community.[76][77][78][79]
Clemente film
[edit]Between acting jobs that included small roles on TV shows, among them The King of Queens, Ally McBeal, The X-Files, Gilmore Girls and several movies,[80] Rossi began working on Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories, a film about his childhood hero, baseball great Roberto Clemente,[81][82][83] planning a "bicoastal" return to Pittsburgh to premiere his film on Roberto Clemente's birthday, August 18, 2013[84][85][86][87][88] before exhibiting the film in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, other cities, small art theaters, Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago, the Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina, and on DVD.[89][90][91][92] The feature film was a labor of love for Rossi and the cadre of actors and technicians who volunteered their time and donated their services to the project. Olympian Jamie Nieto starred as Roberto Clemente. Rossi's telling of Clemente's story of commitment, loyalty, and devotion attempts to provide a counterpoint to today's baseball culture of players suspected of steroid abuse.[18][35][93] The dramatic fulcrum of Baseball's Last Hero is a conversation Clemente has with a nun. "She talks to him about the cross. 'Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends,' is what the nun quotes to him from Scripture, talking about sacrificial love and Christ's sacrificial love," Rossi said. "This is the theme I wanted to point out – an allegory of Christ on the cross." Rossi was pressured to delete the scene from the movie for being "too preachy and too Catholic."
The controversial scene turned out to be one of the most popular scenes in the film and won over fans to the idea of pitching for Clemente's canonization as a saint in the Catholic Church.[94][95][96][97]
Rossi says he has received support for his efforts to canonize Clemente from various people.[98][99][100][101][102] "I've never thought of him in terms of being a saint", said MLB second baseman Neil Walker, a devout Catholic whose father knew Clemente. "But he's somebody who lived his life serving others, really. So if it would happen, I wouldn't be terribly surprised by it."[101][103][104]
Some claim the canonization church requirement of a miracle was met on July 22, 2017, when Jaime Nieto, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a backflip accident three years after the Clemente film was released, walked 130 steps at his own wedding to fellow Olympian Shevon Stoddart.[105][106][107][108] The miracle was predicted by Rossi as a demonstration of the power of God in a letter he wrote to Pope Francis.[109][110][111] Nieto stated that the success was due to his hard work, and the Holy See stated that they were not in continued contact with Rossi.[112][113]
Recent news
[edit]2014–2015
[edit]On November 28, 2014, Rossi was in the news again regarding the controversy over the shooting of Michael Brown. Rossi wrote and recorded a protest song expressing his feelings about a grand jury's decision not to charge a white police officer in the death of the unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri. "I wrote the song in five minutes as a way to express my emotions about the danger of trigger-happy police," Rossi said. "I filmed it on my laptop at my kitchen table and uploaded it to YouTube." Rossi uploaded the video on November 26, and provided the song's lyrics in the video description. Here is a sample from the song's beginning, printed in the Los Angeles Daily News: "Down at the courthouse on a Monday afternoon/Justice was thrown right out the window when a young white cop entered the room."[114]
Rossi continues to host his radio talk-show "Richard Rossi Live" as a podcast on BlogTalkRadio. In 2015, the format of the program changed from its Christian roots on WPIT, a Salem Radio Network station, by broadening its content for a general audience.[115] Although Rossi still on occasion discusses religion, the program's focus is on known artists, writers, and celebrity guests.
Following the positive Pittsburgh reception to Rossi's Roberto Clemente project, Rossi said they were coming home, living "bicoastal," maintaining homes in Hollywood and Pittsburgh. "We'd like to spend more time in our home, where most of our family and friends live, in the North Hills of Pittsburgh," Rossi said.[116]
2016–Present
[edit]In March, 2016, it was reported that Rossi was in pre-production on his film Canaan Land.[117] Rebecca Holden played Sister Sara Sunday.[118] [119] [120]
On September 30, 2017, CBS KCAL-TV channel 9 news reported on Rossi's founding of the support group Families Fighting Fentanyl to combat the fentanyl epidemic, to help addicts, work with law enforcement to hold drug dealers accountable, and support grieving families who lost a loved one to fentanyl. Rossi discussed the 2017 death of his youngest brother due to an overdose of heroin laced with fentanyl.[121][122]
On January 31, 2018, Rossi and his family, in tandem with Pittsburgh Police, offered a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) who gave his brother the fatal fentanyl dose.[123]
In May 2019, Rossi and other actors performed monologues based on interviews with homeless people as part of Homeward L.A., an effort to raise money for the Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles skid row shelter.[124][125]
Rossi has also co-written a children's book Lucy & the Lake Monster, with retired fourth grade school teacher Kelly Tabor.[126] It tells the story of a 9-year-old orphan girl and her grandfather searching for Champ, the legendary sea serpent of Lake Champlain.[127][128][129] The book became a film, beginning post-production in May, 2023, and finishing post-production and premiering in 2024.[130][131][132][133]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story | Director, writer, actor | [134] |
2013 | Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories | Director, writer, actor | [135][136] |
2020 | Canaan Land | Director, writer, actor | Academy Award-considered [137] |
References
[edit]- ^ O'Brien, Kelly (April 16, 2022). "Champ to star in new book and film series". WCAX. CBS. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ Riddle, Lyn. "SC teacher's book becoming a movie that will be on Netflix". The McClatchy Company. The State. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ Rivera, Patricia (October 27, 2013). "Monarch pays tribute to a true diamond king". Los Angeles Valley College. The Valley Star. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "BIOGRAPHY".
- ^ Vancheri, Barbara (August 8, 2013). "Film Notes: Strand to screen movie about Roberto Clemente". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "'Sopranos' lawsuit brings up question of idea ownership". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 27, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ "Valley Village singer responds to Ferguson with YouTube protest song". Southern California News Group. Los Angeles Daily News. November 28, 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ a b McMillen, Gabrielle (January 12, 2015). "Saint Roberto Clemente? Former pastor pushes canonization for Pirate". Sporting News. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Biertempfel, Rob (July 19, 2014). "Biertempfel: One man's cause to canonize Roberto Clemente". TribLive. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Griffiths, Lawn (August 27, 2005). "Finding Sister Aimee". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 25, 2021). "Oscars: Academy Reveals List Of Films Eligible For Best Picture Race". Penske Media Corporation. Deadline. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Roberto Clemente a saint? He's in the ballpark". Los Angeles Times. June 13, 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ Morrison, Heather (June 28, 2014). "Could baseball player Roberto Clemente become a saint?". National Catholic Reporter. Religion News Service. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Kane, Karen (April 1, 1995). "Rossi jurors can't decide". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Donnally, Ed (September 30, 2005). "Filmmaker Tells Story of 'Wounded Healer'". Strang Publications. Charisma Magazine. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Rossi: Wife intends to sue officials". North Hills News Record. January 11, 1995. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Levin, Steve (May 4, 2008). "Rev. Rossi back in news as Hollywood success story". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ Kurutz, Daveen (August 8, 2008). "Minister jailed for beating wife in '94 plans return to Pittsburgh". Richard Mellon Scaife. Tribune Review. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ ZumMallen, Ryan (August 15, 2014). "FEATURE: Roberto Clemente Biopic a Dream Come True". Gazettes. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Guydon, Lynda (October 29, 1981). "Singing 'poets' spread gospel". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
- ^ Bennett, Marcia (March 22, 1984). "Their Faith Beats the Odds". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- ^ "Their Singing and Writing Hits a High Note". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 14, 1983. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c Horwitch, Lauren (February 7, 2006). "Actor Chad Allen's lead role in a $30 million". Backstage. Backstage, LLC. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ Riddle, Lyn (June 23, 2023). "SC teacher's book becoming a movie that will be on Netflix". McClatchy Media Network. The State. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Miller, Virginia (September 5, 1986). "West View minister uses 'friendly' approach". No. Front Page. North Hills News Record. Gannett Publishing. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ Buursma, Bruce (October 3, 1986). "Minister Caters To Yuppie Tastes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ Perman, Stacy (2009). In-N-Out Burger. HarperCollins. p. 217. ISBN 978-0061872143. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "Having faith: Adams pastor holds fifth healing clinic". North Hills News Record. December 12, 1992. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Armstrong, Chris (January 1, 2005). "Aimee Semple McPherson". Christianity Today. Retrieved February 19, 2010.(subscription required)
- ^ Allen, Sue (2007). Spirit Release. 6th Books. p. 1. ISBN 978-1846940330. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "Miracles". Beaver County Times. January 10, 1993. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "Museum Fetes Fred Rogers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 4, 1994. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ a b Kurutz, Daveen Rae (August 8, 2008). "Minister jailed for beating wife in '94 plans return to Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 19, 2010.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ a b c Karen Kane (October 13, 1994). "My Husband Is Not To Blame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A1.
- ^ Kim Phillips (November 21, 1999). "Pastor Wins By Default". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. A2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kane, Karen (January 21, 1995). "Beating testimony ruled admissible". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. B-6. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ a b c Gabbay, Alyssa (January 14, 1995). "Church troubles: Work of Satan?". Associated Press. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ a b "The Trauma of Being Falsely Accused" (Press release). July 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
- ^ "Rossi's trial a whodunit with reluctant key witness". Beaver County Times. Associated Press. March 26, 1995. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "Trial, Wedding Renewal Set for Minister Accused of Wife Beating". Associated Press. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Bair, Jeffrey (March 28, 1995). "Minister's defender suggests mystery attacker". The Citizen's Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Shamrock Communications, Donald Farley. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Laskas, Jeanne Marie (May 7, 1995). "Truth Decay". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence (November 25, 1995). "Love and near-death: Sherrie Rossi announces book". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Kane, Karen (March 30, 1995). "Cover story by Rossi alleged". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1, A3. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ Kane, Karen (March 31, 1995). "Rossi jury to begin deliberations". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1, A11. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ a b Karen Kane (May 19, 1995). "No-contest plea entered for assault". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A1.
- ^ Dold, R. Bruce (May 19, 1995). "Pastor Sentenced To Jail In Wife's Beating". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ a b "Rossi renewal blocked". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 26, 1995. p. C4.
- ^ a b c Karen Kane and Mark Belko (August 30, 1995). "'Lucky' man is out of jail". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. B1.
- ^ Associated Press (May 20, 1995). "Rev's 4-month jail term for beating wife ripped sends bad message, Victims Center says". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 9.
- ^ Cindi Lash (May 19, 1995). "Domestic violence workers score 'obscene' Rossi term". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A9.
- ^ "Pastor seeks public forgiveness". Reading Eagle. September 13, 1996. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ Rossi v. Court of Butler, et al., No. 2:95-cv-01144-WLS-KJB (W.D. Pa.).
- ^ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence (November 25, 1995). "Love and near-death: Sherrie Rossi announces book". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "Richard Rossi seeks the power of forgiveness". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 12, 1996. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Rubin, Marty. "Famous Faces of Bipolar ~ YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE TO BE ~". Marty Rubin: Professional Life Coach. Rubin Publishing. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
- ^ Cohen, Doctor Martin (31 July 2011). "Bipolar Celebrities". Bipolar Directory. Psychology Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence (November 24, 1995). "Troubles don't dampen Rossis' hospitality". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence (November 16, 1995). "Rossis to host Thanksgiving festival". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ "Rossis plan event for inner-city children". North Hills News Record. TribLive. November 17, 1995. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ Levin, Steve (November 19, 1999). "Rev. Rossi again in trouble". John Robinson Block. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- ^ Riddle, Lyn (June 24, 2023). "SC teacher's book becoming a movie that will be on Netflix". No. Weekend, Front Page. McClatchy Media. The State. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ Loeffler, William (December 6, 1997). "Minister Answers Call From Hollywood". No. Front Page. North Hills News Record. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ "Chaudhri seeking investors to remake 'Elmer Gantry". Sharon Herald. April 6, 1999. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "ROSSI IN REMAKE". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 7, 1999.
- ^ "Local filmmaker to remake classic". The Vindicator. April 5, 1999. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "Controversial clergyman tapped for remake of film 'Elmer Gantry'". The Herald. April 5, 1999. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Riddle, Lyn (June 23, 2023). "SC teacher's book becoming a movie that will be on Netflix". McClatchy Media Network. The State. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Wooding, Dan (February 6, 2011). "Maverick Minister Richard Rossi Goes Hollywood". Assist News. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Walker, Ken (May 31, 2006). "God is Out of the Box". Strang Publishing. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
- ^ "Movie on founder of Four Square filmed here". Bakersfield Californian, The. November 19, 2003.
- ^ Boyer, David (April 3, 2010). "Filmmaker Interviews". Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ O'Neal, Dink (January 23, 2009). "Modern Love". Backstage. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Weaver, Neal (February 5, 2009). "Modern Love". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!". California Highways Press. May 3, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Kievskaya, Sofia. "Modern Love Play Review - New Play by Anthony Mora Review". January 16, 2009. Splash Magazine. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ Jones, Diane Nelson (January 11, 2015). "Saint Roberto Clemente?: Former Pittsburgh pastor seeks sainthood for the Pirates great". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ McCollough, J. Brady (August 4, 2012). "How an Olympic high jumper became Clemente in indie film – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Tuttle, Andrew (July 27, 2011). "Feature Film on Roberto Clemente in the Works". Seamheads Baseball Magazine. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Coughlin, Michael (March 15, 2012). "Genia Nunez...Got the Part". Backstage. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Karlovits, Bob (August 14, 2013). "Filmmaker's Clemente movie a testament to grace, power". Tribune Review. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Tady, Scott (July 29, 2013). "Clemente film to premiere in Zelienople". The Times. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Tady, Scott (July 30, 2013). "Clemente premiere comes to Strand". Ellwood City Ledger. Archived from the original on August 2, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Vancheri, Barbara (August 8, 2013). "Film Notes: Strand to screen movie about Roberto Clemente – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Arbogast, Sarah (August 14, 2013). "Film About Roberto Clemente's Life To Premiere At Strand Theater". CBS. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Mellen, Greg (August 8, 2014). "Film about baseball Hall of Fame's Roberto Clemente to play in Long Beach". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "Roberto Clemente film making NY premiere at Fingerlakes Mall". Auburn Pub. The Citizen. August 24, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "Clemente movie available for short time on DVD". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. TribLive. September 13, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Burnett, Jon (August 16, 2013). "New Film Shares Roberto Clemente's Story". Pittsburgh Today Live. CBS - KDKA. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ Chantler, Carrie (August 29, 2013). "Capturing Clemente: Film about Pittsburgh Pirates legend makes NY premiere in Auburn". Auburn Pub. The Citizen. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Grubbs, Paula (January 27, 2015). "Rossi pushes for canonization". Butler Eagle. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ Vargas, Andrew (August 22, 2015). "Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente Is Finally Getting a Biopic". Sports News. Remezcla. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Hogan, OCDS, Father John (June 23, 2014). "Another Sports Saint?". Ex Umbris Et Imaginibus.
- ^ Morrison, Heather (June 28, 2014). "Could baseball player Roberto Clemente become a saint?". Religion News Service. National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ Snyder, Matt (January 12, 2015). "Saint Roberto? There's a canonization movement for Clemente". CBS Sports.
- ^ "Saint Roberto Clemente?". Puerto Rico Report. January 17, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "Canonisation bid for star baseballer Roberto Clemente tragically killed in 1972 plane crash". Christian Today. January 13, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Biertempfel, Rob (July 19, 2014). "Biertempfel: One man's cause to canonize Roberto Clemente". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Somers, Meredith (June 18, 2014). "Off base? Effort underway to make Roberto Clemente a saint". The Washington Times. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ McCleary, Mary (April 1, 2016). "Remembering selfless baseball great Roberto Clemente". New Boston Post. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ Fenno, Nathan (June 4, 2017). "Olympic high jumper paralyzed by freak injury now hopes to walk down aisle at wedding". No. Sunday Front Page Sports Section. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ "After July 'miracle,' Pope Francis reportedly moves Roberto Clemente closer to sainthood". Orlando Sentinel. August 17, 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ Adams, Heather (June 18, 2014). "Claiming 'Healing Powers,' Catholics Push for Baseball Star Roberto Clemente's Sainthood". Strang Publishing. Charisma News. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ Graham, Pat (July 5, 2017). "Injured Olympian defies doctors to walk for his wedding". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ Tinner-Williams, Nate (September 19, 2023). "Roberto Clemente Day honored statewide in Pennsylvania". Black Catholic Messenger. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Dixon, Michael (August 15, 2017). "COULD MLB GREAT ROBERTO CLEMENTE BE GIVEN SAINTHOOD?". Sports Juggernaut. SportsNaut. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ Grossman, Evan (August 17, 2017). "Vatican denies report that Roberto Clemente up for sainthood". New York Daily News. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ "They attribute a supposed miracle to Roberto Clemente". Telemundo Puerto Rico. Telemundo. August 18, 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ Payne, Marissa (August 17, 2017). "Vatican dispels claim that Roberto Clemente is on his way to sainthood". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ^ Tinner-Williams, Nate. "Webinar on late MLB star Roberto Clemente set for Thursday evening". Black Catholic Messenger.
- ^ "Valley Village singer responds to Ferguson with YouTube protest song". Los Angeles Daily News. November 28, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
- ^ Kurutz, Daveen Rae (August 8, 2008). "Minister Jailed for Beating Wife in '94 Plans Return to Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ Hill, Tim (March 4, 2016). "Televangelists Threaten Controversial New Film 'Canaan Land' That Exposes Charismatic Movement's 'Frauds'". Faith News Network. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ Nolasco, Stephanie (November 2, 2019). "'Knight Rider' star Rebecca Holden recalls on-screen chemistry with David Hasselhoff, why she left series". Fox Corporation. Fox News. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- ^ Heyman, Macie (15 May 2017). "Knight Rider Star Rebecca Holden Lands Coveted Canaan Land Evangelist Role". Military-Technologies. International Military Press. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ Reyes, Liz (29 November 2017). "Film Director Richard Rossi Partners with Clapit in Nationwide Open Call Auditions for "Canaan Land"". Channel 8. Fox News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Huggins, Amy Johnson (September 30, 2017). "Actor Richard Rossi Discusses Founding Of Group 'Families Fighting Fentanyl'". KCAL9, CBS Los Angeles. CBS. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ Di Pietro, Paula (October 3, 2017). "Filmmaker Fights Fentanyl". AP, Huntington, W.V. Huntington News. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Rossis Offer Reward to Solve Brother's Fentanyl Death". KDKA News, Pittsburgh. CBS. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ Rogers, David (May 3, 2019). "Hollywood Actors To Perform Play To Help Alleviate Homelessness". My Christian Daily News. Global News Daily. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ Miller, Jason (April 30, 2019). "Hollywood Actors Perform 'Homeward LA' Play to Alleviate Homelessness". Homeward L.A. Standard News. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ Jones, Tammy (May 26, 2023). "Meet the Authors of Lucy and the Lake Monster". WSPA "Your Carolina". CBS. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ O'Brien, Kelly (July 19, 2022). "'Champ' movie starts filming in Port Henry's Bulwagga Bay". WCAX. CBS. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ McKinstry, Lohr (Nov 14, 2021). "Lead sought for "Lucy and the Lake Monster"". Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. Press-Republican. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Local children's book turned movie". Fox Carolina News. May 22, 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Burnquist, Margaret (May 26, 2023). "Retired teacher's book becomes a movie". Access Carolina. FOX. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Yaw, Shaundra (July 22, 2024). "Champ Day returns for 39th year". Denton Publications. Sun Community News. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ McKinstry, Lohr (13 August 2021). ""Lucy and the Lake Monster" headed for world premiere". CNHI. Press Republican. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Bartlett Yaw, Shaundra (13 August 2024). "Champ movie to hold world premiere". Denton Publications. Sun Community News. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Armstrong, Chris (January 1, 2005). "Aimee Semple McPherson". Christianity Today.
- ^ Mellen, Greg (August 8, 2014). "Film about baseball Hall of Fame's Roberto Clemente to play in Long Beach". Orange County Register. Freedom Communications, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- ^ "CDOM :: Catholic filmmaker gets to make movie about Clemente, his boyhood idol". Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 25, 2021). "Oscars: Academy Reveals List Of Films Eligible For Best Picture Race". Penske Media Corporation. Deadline. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
External links
[edit]- American experimental filmmakers
- American male screenwriters
- American talk radio hosts
- American performers of Christian music
- Musicians from Pittsburgh
- American Christian clergy
- American Charismatics
- American faith healers
- Founders of new religious movements
- Liberty University alumni
- Los Angeles Valley College people
- Living people
- Male actors from Pittsburgh
- American postmodern writers
- Writers from Pittsburgh
- Radio personalities from Pittsburgh
- American male stage actors
- American male film actors
- Contestants on American game shows
- American people of Italian descent
- People from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- People with bipolar disorder
- American substance abuse counselors
- Film directors from Pennsylvania
- Guitarists from Pennsylvania
- 20th-century American male writers
- 21st-century American male writers
- Screenwriters from Pennsylvania