Eddie Rio; Vaudeville Performer, Actor

Eddie Rio, 86, vaudeville performer and actor for seven decades. The Brooklyn-raised Enrico Rotunno wanted to be in show business from the time he was 10. He imitated vaudeville headliners and befriended name dancers such as George Raft and James Cagney at nightly dance contests. He got a job as a vaudeville dancer at the age of 16, shortened his name to Eddie Rio, and soon was on bills with Jack Benny and Ginger Rogers. After appearances on Broadway, Rio produced shows in Las Vegas. In the 1950s, he was West Coast regional director of the American Guild of Variety Artists. On Monday in North Hollywood.