'Dirty Harry' star Reni Santoni, who played Poppie in 'Seinfeld,' has died at 81 - USA TODAY

Reni Santoni, who partnered with Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry" and Sylvester Stallone in "Cobra," has died at 81.

Prolific character actor Reni Santoni, who partnered with Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry" and Sylvester Stallone in "Cobra," and who portrayed Poppie the pizza chef in "Seinfeld," has died at 81.

Reni Santoni, pictured in 1998, who starred in "Dirty Harry" and "Seinfeld" has died. (Photo: 20th Century Fox).

The New York City native Santoni starred in 1971's "Dirty Harry" as rookie detective and college sociology major Chico Martinez who gets paired up with Eastwood's "Dirty" Harry Callahan.

Director Edgar Wright paid homage to the line and character on Twitter, writing "RIP Reni Santoni."

In 1986's "Cobra," Santoni played Sgt

Writer and director Carl Reiner tapped a then-unknown Santoni to star in his semi-autobiographical 1967 film "Enter Laughing." He played New York City delivery boy David Kolowitz, who dreams of starring in movie