Obit of Massengale, Joe - Grady County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Debbie Mecca 29 Jan 2006 Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Actor in "Stir Crazy" Has Roots in Chickasha If you've seen the movie "Stir Crazy", then you've probably already seen Joe Massengale in it. Massengale, born in Chickasha and now living in Tucson, Ariz., plays the part of Ceasar Geronimo, a Chicano, in the movie. Geromino is an inmate in one of the two prisons competing in a rodeo for prize money. In a memorable scene, inmates from both prisons are trying to grab a bag of money tied to the horn of an angry bull. Geromino manages to get the bag, but instead of giving it to the warden as intended, he rips the bag open and throws it to the prisoners in the stands. The rodeo has been a part of Massengale's life since he was fifteen years old, and it has helped him break into the world of acting. Ten years ago, he obtained a Screen Guild card and did stunt work for such famous actors as Burt Reynolds. Three years ago he started acting on his own. The son of Mrs. Kirby Smith and the late Elard Massengale, Joe lives in Tucson close to his work, but he was born and reared in Chickasha, until the seventh grade, when he moved to Oklahoma City. "We're all proud of Joe," said his mother, Nadine, who along with her husband, Kirby and Joe's grandmother, Golda Smith, still live in Chickasha at 720 Minnesota. "I really enjoyed the movie. Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder were really funny in it. If I get a chance, I'm going to go see it again." "After I saw the movie I told Joe that I need to send him a bar of soap to wash his mouth out with," Mrs. Smith joked, referring to the sometimes harsh language in the "R" rated movie. "Joe told me he's made a new commercial for Budweiser," said Mrs Smith. "He intends to start his own production company in the near future. It's going to be called T-X Production Co." The 6'1", 180 pound Massengale has appeared in several other motion pictures and television productions. Beside "Stir Crazy," he has appeared in "Tom Horn," "Hunter's Moon," "Frisco Kid," "The Buffalo Soldiers," "Wildtimes," "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing," "Most Wanted Women," and Electra Glide in Blue." Massengale has also appeared in several commercials, ranging from Hubba- Bubba Bubble Gum to Olympia Beer. Massengale is married to Kathleen O'Haco, who has done bit parts on television shows. He has five brothers, two of who, Bob Massengale and Bill Smith, live in Chickasha. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html