Anthony Tony Matthew Lanza

Anthony (Tony) Matthew Lanza, age 74, passed away Saturday, October 16, 2010, at Rosewood Nursing Home in Lake Charles.

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1936, Tony had a life long passion for the film industry. He began making his own home movies as a young boy and has preserved many family memories by restoring old footage, setting it to music and transferring such footage from 16mm film to VHS and DVD. He received a B.A. in communications from the University of Southern California where he studied film and was in the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Tony lived and worked in Hollywood, California on and off for much of his life. Tony was also proud to have served his country from 1960 to 1963 in the Army National Guard of California and from 1964 to 1967 in the United States Army Reserve.

After graduating from U.S.C., Tony edited a number of movies including "Deadwood 76" and directed three theatrical features: "The Glory Stompers" (this film was star Dennis Hopper's first ever biker flick), the talk show spoof "The Irv Carlson Show," and the sci-fi/horror film "The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant" starring Casey Kasem. It was on the set of The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant that Tony met his wife, who was an actress in the film. In addition, he directed: "Desert Gems," "Freedom Riders," and "Squeeze Play" starring the Dallas Cowboy players such as Drew Pearson, Ed "Too Tall" Jones" and "Hollywood"" Henderson. He was a member of the The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, a division of the Communications Workers of America union and a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

He retired back home to Lake Charles in 2005.

Tony was a quiet and gentle man, father and grandfather. He loved children and animals. His best friend for the last 10 years was his four-legged companion Nala, a rescue from the Lake Charles Animal Shelter, who preceded him in death.

Also preceding him in death were his parents, Mike and Josephine Lanza, his sister Camille Lanza Guinn and his nephew Michael Lanza.

Those left to cherish his memory are his only wife of 17 years, Laura Lanza, from whom he was divorced but remained very close; five children, Leslie Lanza Feagans, Laura Lanza Tyson and husband Michael J. Tyson, Mark Roland Lanza, Heather Lanza Turpin and husband Gerald Turpin, and Marie Ellen Lanza; four grandchildren, Ashley Marie Feagans, Alyssa Michelle Feagans, Meagan Ashley Tyson and David Michael Tyson; two siblings, Lana Lanza Roberts and husband Randy Roberts, and Joe Lanza and wife Flo Lanza and many nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be held at Johnson's Funeral Home on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. and services will be held at Johnson's Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Deacon Glenn Viau will officiate. Burial will follow at Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home. Visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning on Thursday, October 21, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. and again on Friday, October 22, from 8 a.m. until time of services.

Donations can be made in his name to ASPCA, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128-6804, 212.876.7700 or www.aspca.org.

The family wishes to thank Dubuis Hospital of Lake Charles, Home Instead Senior Care, Rosewood Nursing Home and Southern Care Hospice for their loving care.

uj