Rev. Rossi back in news as Hollywood success story

I am a big fan of Mister Rossi and his work. I first encountered him when he was honored at the Screen Actor's Guild in Hollywood, California. His film "Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story" was shown in the James Cagney auditorium to a packed house and then Richard Rossi spoke and answered questions along with some of his cast and crew. It was one of those rare experiences for me to encounter an artist who is not in it for a quick buck but to express his own life and pain and experience in a way that others would understand and be enriched. Though the above article is not completely accurate, I do agree that the parallels between Mister Rossi's story and the story of his film cannot be overstated.

It's nice to see Richard's hometown acknowledge his success. I hope he continues to do more and more work. I'm glad his film is in Blockbuster Stores because rigid, religous critics tried to suppress this film and stop him every step of the way. The international distribution of the movie shows they can't destroy the art Richard created, only criticize it. Here in Hollywood, the Foursquare Church and other evangelicals accused Richard of undermining Christianity by showing Sister Aimee's breakdown, divorce, overdose, trial, etc. I think the Richard wrote and directed a human portrayal that Mimi brought to life. The film's spirituality was truthful by portraying the fleshly struggles of a gifted yet troubled woman.

Rich Rossi rocks. All the hatters and hyenas who stalked and fed on his wounded flesh can go eff themselves. His art will outlast them all as a legacy when the reporters rot

Well, this article is a mixed bag of truth and lies, but what else is new. I was in an acting class with Rich Rossi in 1996 so he could hardly be on trial in Pittsburgh at the same time. Also, I remember distinctly him leaving Long Beach to start house churches for celebrities and actors and artists and he was never fired, they sent him off with an offering of twnety thousand dollars to be a missionary to Hollywood. The media passes on one untruth after another just because someone wrote about it or said it elsewhere. But the article got right the fact that Rich Rossi made "Sister Aimee" the best guerrilla film in history and that he takes all the lemons thrown at him by the haters and turns it into lemonade. I've observed Rich Rossi enough to know he's like a cat, he has nine lives, and always lands on his feet, and I've seen karma catch up with the people who defame him and kick their arse big-time. Rich Rossi is like the road runner and his critics are like Wile E. Coyote with their crap blowing up in their face. They haven't stopped him and they never will because he's one of the chosen and it's his karmic destiny to effect the world and wittingly or unwittingly all of us who love his work are his disciples

Rich Rossi is one of the greatest artists Pittsburgh produced, along with Andy Warhol. Pittsburgh papers tried to crucify him, and like other posters mention the haters took it from prosecution to persecution. Sherrie Rossi his wife trumped them all, exposing them in her book about Richard. His vindication is making the best guerrilla film according to the International Guerrilla Film Association. Richard Rossi rules.

I agree with above that the negative things in this article can't possibly be true. I remember the Rossi's living as a family together in 1996 in Los Angeles, so he couldn't possilby be on trial in Pittsburgh. But consider the source. This is the same paper in December 2007 that ran an official editorial that Barack Obama couldn't possibly be elected President because America isn't ready to elect a black man.

I just had the privilege of seeing Richard Rossi on stage again in Burbank. Blew me away! He was a mix of weightiness, wisdom, and levity... hilarious and serious all in the same character of a barroom street preacher.

I agree with the earlier poster's remark about considering the source. This writer in some articles claims Rossi pled guilty in a trial, then in other articles says he pled nola contendere maintaining his innocence. One article says this alleged trial was in 1995, the above article says it was 1996. I read Sherrie Rossi's book about her husband Richard and it explained the motivations and facts behind the tabloid racist Post Gazette and why they've obsessively smeared and slalndered Mister Rossi, but at least there's progress, they acknowledged his positive achievements for once. A survey of their coverage yielded so much contradiction.

It was hilarious living in Pittsburgh when the Post Gazette would run outrageous stories about Rich Rossi fabricated out of thin air based on interviews with imaginary relatives of Richard Rossi that didn't exist, like his brother "Robert" who gave them the scoop. It was picked up on national tabloid tv shows even after Rich's lawyers confronted them that he didn't even have a brother named Robert. PG ran one-line retractions in the back of the paper few people saw. Another hilarious moment was when they said in PG he never graduated from college so Richard held up his diploma on the evening news and Karen Kane, a PG reporter had the gall to say "how dare he refute our stories publicly on the news without coming to us first." Rich's revenge is his sensational success in show business.

Ah, yes, success is the best revenge. I'm glad Rich Rossi left the fundamentalist black and white world to work in the glorious gray soil that grows art like "Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story."

For those of you who haven't seen Rich Rossi play the Elmer Gantry preacher character again live, he's doing it three more weekends at the Sidewalk Studio Theatre in Toluca Lake in the Anthony Mora play "Modern Love." sidewalk studio theatre dot com

Thanx BevHills Theatre Babe, I'm gonna go see Rich Rossi in Modern Love this weekend or next.

Does anyone know where I can get Rich Rossi's music? When did he last put out a CD?

Rich Rossi is putting out a new CD in a couple months, a friend of mine heard from his cousin in California. it's going to be called "Seasons of my HEart"...CAN'T WAIT been too damn long

woohoooo!!!! whoever finds out First on Richard Rossi CD being available post here

I hear Rich Rossi is really good in "Modern Love."

Can't wait for Richard Rossi to finish his film on Roberto Clemente!

No one believes the negative stuff PG writes. Rich Rossi has triumphed over the haters!

Rich Rossi rocks as an actor, he nails the part every effing time!

Just read online Richard is playing one of the leads in a new world premiere musical based on Alice In Wonderland.