<P> At the beginning of the film , Ray Bones has two thugs with him ; one of them is played by actor Ernest `` Chili '' Palmer . Palmer was author Elmore Leonard 's model for the character in the book . According to a newspaper article , he claims not to have been involved with gangsters or loan sharking . When the filmmakers found out from Leonard that there was a real `` Chili '' Palmer , they gave him a bit part in the film . </P>
<P> At the beginning of the film , Ray Bones has two thugs with him ; one of them is played by actor Ernest `` Chili '' Palmer . Palmer was author Elmore Leonard 's model for the character in the book . According to a newspaper article , he claims not to have been involved with gangsters or loan sharking . When the filmmakers found out from Leonard that there was a real `` Chili '' Palmer , they gave him a bit part in the film . </P>
who was offered the role of chili palmer
who was offered the role of chili palmer
Ernest `` Chili '' Palmer
Ernest `` Chili '' Palmer