The Resume

(June 14, 1952-November 27, 2021)
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts
Birth name was Rudolph Edward Mekjian
Portrayed Carmine ‘The Big Ragu’ Ragusa on Laverne & Shirley (and several Happy Days episodes)
Film appearances include ‘Beaches,’ ‘A League of their Own,’ and ‘Dreamgirls’
Webside: therealeddiemekka.com

Why he might be annoying:

He stood only five foot three.
‘You know, when Survivor came on, I thought that this stuff is not going to last. Boy, was I wrong! You know why… it’s capitalism.’
For his one-man show – ‘My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m in Therapy’ – he played some 15 different characters (even though he’s actually of Armenian lineage while claiming Italian blood).

Why he might not be annoying:

He headed the Worcester County Light Opera as a vocal instructor.
When he moved to New York, he worked as a cab driver and a janitor — the latter position at a dance studio where he could automatically get lessons.
Over nearly four decades, he made countless guest appearances on daytime, prime-time, stage (including ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Grease’), and animation.

Credit: Cool It All Right?

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Ant Eaters/Pinocchios [Big Noses]
• Bears
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [June] (Ranked: 6141952)
• Circus of the Stars: Performers
• Cool It All Right?'s Profiles [Series 15]
• I am Armenian
• I Boarded the Love Boat [L-Q]
• I Died in 2021 (Ranked: 69)
• I Married in 1983
• I Married in 1994
• I Portrayed an Italian Character
• I Portrayed Tevye in 'Fiddler on the Roof' [Broadway]
• I Visited Fantasy Island [L-Q]
• Little People [5'3 and Shorter] - Male
• Opera Singers and Composers
• Profiles 45251-45500 (Ranked: 45487)
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 20211127)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 75 Votes: 45.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 80 Votes: 42.50% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying