Jeff Cahill, 44, actor had role in 'Blues Brothers'

[Matthew Kruk]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/18166813-418/jeff-cahill-44-actor-had-role-in-blues-brothers.html

Jeff Cahill, 44, actor had role in 'Blues Brothers'
BY MAUREEN O'DONNELL modo...@suntimes.com Twitter @suntimesobits
February 11, 2013 8:02PM
Updated: February 12, 2013 2:19AM

Jeff Cahill's film career started with a "Mission from God."

Jake and Elwood Blues, a k a "The Blues Brothers," put the band back together to
save Cahill and the other child actors who played the ragamuffin residents of
St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud orphanage.

John Landis' 1980 film became a cult classic that showed off Chicago in all its
rusty, dented, bluesy glory.

A lot of child actors don't make the transition to adult roles, but after moving
to Los Angeles in his 20s, Mr. Cahill was cast in popular TV shows including
"Prison Break," "Southland," "Deadwood," "ER," "NYPD Blue," "Joan of Arcadia,"
"Without a Trace" and "Mad About You."

He worked as a well-liked talent booker and promoter at On the Rox, a private,
after-hours boite above the Roxy nightclub, a Sunset Strip landmark. He also
painted canvases and shoes. His artwork was in the collections of celebrities
including Michelle Branch, Reese Witherspoon, Tony Shalhoub and Madonna, said
his mother, Josephine, and his sister, Gina Monaco.

Mr. Cahill's paintings, primitive and colorful, sometimes contained affirmations
and quirky sayings, including "No Fake Smiles No Hidden Agendas;" "Don't Trust
Anyone Who Doesn't Like the Beatles," and "Dior Not War."

His colorful, paint-spattered Converse and slip-on sneakers, dubbed Cahillz,
were sold at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

Roxy nightclub owner Nic Adler said Mr. Cahill instilled confidence in fledgling
musicians, talking them up - and calming them down - as they waited to appear
onstage.

"When you're a new band and you're walking into a place like the Roxy, there's
probably not a more comforting phrase than, 'You can do it. This is your stage.
This is your night,' '' said Adler, the son of actress Britt Ekland and record
producer Lou Adler, a 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Mr. Cahill "gave everybody a chance," and that extended to the so-called "little
people" up and down the Strip, Nic Adler said. It wasn't unusual for him to hand
$30 to a homeless person, his mother said.

When he walked along Sunset Blvd., wearing his red Vans, a porkpie hat, and pink
or blue watches, people called out "Hey, Jeff!" Adler said. "He knew the door
guys, he knew the valet guys, but he also knew some of the biggest stars. He
could be in any setting and be comfortable."

"My brother was just the best; kind, funny," said Gina Monaco.

Mr. Cahill, 44, was found dead Jan. 18 at his West Hollywood apartment after a
bout of abdominal bleeding. He had been feeling ill for a couple of weeks, and
told his family he thought he had a bad case of the flu. The night before he
died, he went to the emergency room, but the wait was long, and he left the ER
and went home, according to his mother and sister. His family is awaiting tests
to determine the cause of his death.

He grew up in Northbrook, where he attended Westmoor School, Northbrook Junior
High and Glenbrook North High School.

As a boy, he landed modeling gigs, including the Sears catalog and Carson's ads.
He appeared in a Pillsbury commercial with actor George "Cheers" Wendt, and with
Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose in a spot for Rose's energy bar.

Sometimes, when he emerged from an audition, his mother couldn't tell if he'd
won a role. But as they walked toward their car, he'd tell her, "Mom, I got it -
but I didn't want to hurt the other kids' feelings."

He was about 8 when he was cast as one of the Blues Brothers orphans. He
especially liked being in scenes with jazz legend Cab Calloway, who was kind to
the child actors.

After high school, Mr. Cahill tried Colorado Mesa University, but decided to
move out West to act, his sister said. He studied drama with Roy London. His
classmates included Sharon Stone and a couple of Baldwin brothers, his family
said.

Memorials were held in California and Northbrook. At the Northbrook service,
friends came who'd known him all the way back to second grade.

[R H Draney]

Matthew Kruk filted:

>
>Jeff Cahill's film career started with a "Mission from God."
>
>Jake and Elwood Blues, a k a "The Blues Brothers," put the band back together to
>save Cahill and the other child actors who played the ragamuffin residents of
>St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud orphanage.
>
>John Landis' 1980 film became a cult classic that showed off Chicago in all its
>rusty, dented, bluesy glory.

I thought he was going to turn out to be the kid who tried to rip off the guitar
from the pawn shop and got a warning shot fired at him by Ray Charles....r


--
Me? Sarcastic?
Yeah, right.

[Brigid Nelson]

On 02/12/2013 04:18 AM, Matthew Kruk wrote:
> http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/18166813-418/jeff-cahill-44-actor-had-role-in-blues-brothers.html
> snip<

>
> Mr. Cahill, 44, was found dead Jan. 18 at his West Hollywood apartment after a
> bout of abdominal bleeding. He had been feeling ill for a couple of weeks, and
> told his family he thought he had a bad case of the flu. The night before he
> died, he went to the emergency room, but the wait was long, and he left the ER
> and went home, according to his mother and sister. His family is awaiting tests
> to determine the cause of his death.

I wonder if it was something as insidious as taking an NSAID on top of
alcohol.

brigid