Radioman, or "Radio" is a bum. His real name is Craig Castaldo and he’s a former homeless man from NYC who earned his name by having a large radio hanging from his neck. What makes him stand out from other homeless guys is the fact that he’s appeared in over 30 major motion pictures, including The Departed, Mr. Deeds, Elf, and Godzilla.
I first encountered Radioman while I was waiting in line to meet Paul McCartney last November. At first I thought he was just trying to find a place to sleep, but then the next day we actually saw him in the building waiting in line with the rest of us. I learned his name when a couple of guys walked by and shouted "Hey Radio!" He sat there all night rewinding his tape and singing along to commercial jingles that he liked. It was really annoying.
Fast forward to yesterday – I was in New Haven picking up my costume for Indiana Jones 4, when Radioman bursts into the door and runs right past security. At first everyone was kind of startled, but once they realized who he was they brought him over, gave him a shave and a costume, and let him be an extra.
Following the last shoot of the day, Radioman walked towards Steven Spielberg to personally thank him for allowing him be in the movie. Spielberg let him come right up to him, shook his hand and said "No problem! Great to see you again". Again? They know each other? So I looked him up online. There are pictures of Radioman kissing Jessica Simpson, a story about him in the New York Times, and even a profile on IMDB. His website features pictures of himself alongside people like Tom Cruise, Pierce Brosnan, and Johnny Depp.
Radioman used to be homeless and a drunk, but now is able to support himself by collecting the small amount of money he earns from being an extra in movies, and by selling the autographs of the celebrities he meets. Sometimes he sells autographs for sandwiches. He’s become well known among New York celebrities, and is a source of information for paparazzi because he’s "in the know" when it comes to celebrity appearances and movie filming. He has hopes of becoming a big actor himself one day.
From the New York Times.
I got to meet this Radio Man myself while filming the Indian Jones 4 on Saturday, June 30th in New Haven. I had no clue who he was. When he told me he had long johns underneath all the other clothes he was wearing, he said he wore them to fight the elements while riding his bicycle. I just assumed he meant on the set because their were people riding bicycles while fiming. I talked with him that day and truly enjoyed hanging with him as he gave me pointers on what to do as an extra myself. Later I found out, he rides his own bicycle everywhere. I wish I would have known sooner of his background because I would have offered to personally cooked him a home cooked meal and just talk with him more. He was an interesting man with a kind soul.
Julie, I wish I got the opportunity to chat with him a bit myself. I didn’t find out about his background until after I left the set on Saturday, and didn’t see him long enough to talk to him any of the other days. If you ever go to another casting call in the nyc area I’m sure you’ll run into him again.
In the fall when I go to college in NYC, I’m buying this guy a 5 star dinner. He just moved up to number 4 on my heros list. Only in America can a homelessman be in over 30 films, while he is homeless.
Remember when I slept with Radio? Seriously, before meeting Paul, in the morning, in that covered area, it was just me & him sleeping like a few feet apart while everyone else was awakening with their cups of coffee. Oh, and that random Japanese man that didn’t talk to anyone. All I remember is him LOVING the “Empire Today” jingle, a bunch of newspaper crumpling under him, and his random bursts of nonsense. Good times.
I was trying to remember what commercial it was. What a freakin night. He seemed much more normal in New Haven.
My fondest memory of him was on the set of 15 Minutes (Robert DeNiro, Eddie Burns) in Central Park. He had his radio duct-taped around his neck and made a huge scene by running onto the set during filming. He also gorged himself at the crafts service table. 🙂
I first met Radio Man on set of the movie Julia Johnson in 2000. Since then I have bumped into him a million times.
I heard of various rumors about how he got started. He even appears in a book called New York Characters.
He always has something interesting to say.
He used to have a hotline that told exactly who was shooting where and when…..
Oh and there is a documentary on him called Radioman the Collector…. it used to be online for viewing.
HES an ahole, responds very abrubly. He called hugh jackman jackas!