Rick Aviles (born Richard Anthony Aviles, October 14, 1952-March 17, 1995, in New York City) was a stand-up comedian who is best remembered for the role of "Willie Lopez" in the movie Ghost.

Rick's parents imagrated from Puerto Rico in the late 1940s looking for a better way of life. They settled in Manhattan, where Rick was born. He was raised in a tough neighborhood and at times got himself into trouble. One of his assets was that he had a comical side to him.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Rick worked as a stand-up comedian in the Greenwich Village night club circuit in New York. In 1981, he auditioned and landed the role of "Mad Dog" in the movie Cannonball Run. Since then, he was to participate in 14 movies.

In 1987, Rick landed a small part as the "maintenance man", in the movie The Secret of My Succe$$, starring Michael J. Fox. That very same year, he became the host of "It's Showtime at the Apollo" and continued as host until 1991.

In 1990, Rick auditioned and landed his most memorable role. He was cast as "Willie Lopez", a killer, in the movie Ghost. The movie received multiple Oscar nominations and included the participation of Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg.

Rick also participated in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III (1990) as "Mask #1"; Brian DePalma's Carlitos Way (1993) as "Quiqueya", starring Al Pacino; in Waterworld (1995) as "the Gatesman", starring Kevin Costner and in Joe's Apartment (1996) as the voice of a cockroach.

Among the television series in which he appeared are: Mr. & Mrs. Dracula (1980); The Day Women Got Even (1980); The Carol Burnett Show (1991) and Stephen King's The Stand (1994).

Having contracted HIV, Rick Aviles died on March 17, 1995 in Los Angeles, California, from AIDS.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans