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Abe Vigoda
Actor

Abe Vigoda

24 Feb 1921Born
26 Jan 2016Died
94Age at death
91Credits

Biography

Tall, dour-faced and slouch-shouldered character actor Abraham Charles Vigoda (February 24, 1921 – January 26, 2016) proved himself in both gritty dramatic roles, and as an actor with wonderful comedic timing.

Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Lena (Moses) and Samuel Vigoda, both Russian Jewish immigrants. His father was a tailor on the Lower East Side. He made his first stage appearance at the age of 17 and plodded away in small theater shows for over 20 years.

Read the full biography

For the majority of film-goers, Vigoda first came to prominence in The Godfather (1972) as the double-crossing Tessio, pleading with Robert Duvall to get him off the hook "for old times' sake." He also appeared in its sequel.

Vigoda had roles in a few nondescript TV films before landing the plum part of Sgt. Phil Fish on the brilliant sitcom Barney Miller (1974). Perhaps his best known role, Sgt. Fish proved popular enough to be spun off to his own (short-lived) series Fish (1977).

With his long face and unusual looks, Vigoda remained in high demand in mafioso-type roles, and for a while in the mid-1980s, he was mistakenly believed to have been dead, leading producers to remark, "I need an Abe Vigoda type actor," not realizing Vigoda was still alive and well. The 1990s and beyond became busy again for him, with appearances in North (1994), The Misery Brothers (1995), A Brooklyn State of Mind (1998), and Crime Spree (2003). He continued acting into his 90s, surprising audiences with his entertaining style.

Abe Vigoda died in his sleep on January 26, 2016 in Woodland Park, New Jersey.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 91 credits.

  1. 2013CutawaysFilm
  2. 2008The Unknown TrilogyFilm: Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
  3. 2006Farce of the PenguinsFilm: Penguin from Boca (voice)
  4. 2003Crime SpreeFilm: Angelo Giancarlo
  5. 2003TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TVSeries (1 episode)
  6. 2000Tea Cakes or CannoliFilm
  7. 2000DeadlineSeries: Joseph Spiaggio (1 episode)
  8. 2000Chump ChangeFilm: The Frog
  9. 1999The Norm ShowSeries (1 episode)
  10. 1999Family GuySeries: Abe Vigoda (voice) (1 episode)
  11. 1998Witness to the MobFilm: Paul Castellano
  12. 1998Just the TicketFilm: Arty
  13. 1998A Brooklyn State of MindFilm: Uncle Guy
  14. 1997Good BurgerFilm: Otis
  15. 1997FarticusFilm: Zeus
  16. 1996A Christmas Journey HomeFilm: Grandpa
  17. 1996Promised LandSeries (1 episode)
  18. 1996UnderworldFilm: Will Cassady
  19. 1996Love Is All There IsFilm: Rudy
  20. 1995Jury DutyFilm: Judge Powell
  21. 1995The Misery BrothersFilm: Don Frito Layleone
  22. 1994Touched by an AngelSeries: Receptionist Angel (1 episode)
  23. 1994NorthFilm: Alaskan Grandpa
  24. 1994Weird ScienceSeries (1 episode)
  25. 1994Sugar HillFilm: Gus Molino
  26. 1994Home of AngelsFilm
  27. 1993Batman: Mask of the PhantasmFilm: Salvatore Valestra (voice)
  28. 1993Diagnosis: MurderSeries: Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson (1 episode)
  29. 1993Me and the KidFilm: Pawn Broker
  30. 1993Fist of HonorFilm: Victor Malucci
  31. 1992The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980Film: Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
  32. 1992Mad About YouSeries: Kalman Wertzel (1 episode)
  33. 1992Lucky LukeSeries: Judge Rinehart (1 episode)
  34. 1992The Adventures of the Black StallionSeries (1 episode)
  35. 1990Law & OrderSeries: Detective Landis (1 episode)
  36. 1990WingsSeries: Harry (1 episode)
  37. 1990Keaton's CopFilm: Louis Keaton
  38. 1990Joe Versus the VolcanoFilm: Chief of the Waponis
  39. 1989PrancerFilm: Orel Benton
  40. 1989Look Who's TalkingFilm: Grandpa
  41. 1989B.L. StrykerSeries: Clayton Baskin (1 episode)
  42. 1988MonstersSeries: Dolan (1 episode)
  43. 1988SuperboySeries (1 episode)
  44. 1988Plain ClothesFilm: Mr. Wiseman
  45. 1986Vasectomy: A Delicate MatterFilm: Abe
  46. 1985MacGyverSeries: Bill Cody (1 episode)
  47. 1985The StuffFilm: Stuff Commercial Spokesman
  48. 1984Murder, She WroteSeries: George (1 episode)
  49. 1984Tales from the DarksideSeries: Jake Corelli (1 episode)
  50. 1984Cannonball Run IIFilm: Caesar
  51. 1981The Big Stuffed DogFilm: Carnival Pitchman
  52. 1981Harper ValleySeries (1 episode)
  53. 1980GridlockFilm: Herb
  54. 1979The Littlest HoboSeries (1 episode)
  55. 1979Death Car on the FreewayFilm: Mr. Frisch
  56. 1979B. J. and the BearSeries (1 episode)
  57. 1979SupertrainSeries: Ray Yellburton (1 episode)
  58. 1979$weepstake$Series: Anthony (1 episode)
  59. 1978How to Pick Up Girls!Film: Nathan Perlmutter
  60. 1978Vega$Series (1 episode)
  61. 1978The Comedy CompanyFilm: Jake
  62. 1978The Cheap DetectiveFilm: Sergeant Rizzuto
  63. 1977Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for TelevisionSeries: Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited) (4 episodes)
  64. 1977The Love BoatSeries: Charlie Fletcher (1 episode)
  65. 1977Eight Is EnoughSeries (1 episode)
  66. 1977FishSeries: Phil Fish (35 episodes)
  67. 1976Having BabiesFilm: Al Schneider
  68. 1976The Bionic WomanSeries (1 episode)
  69. 1975Barney MillerSeries: Philip Fish, Det. Phil Fish (uncredited) (59 episodes)
  70. 1974The Godfather Part IIFilm: Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
  71. 1974The Rockford FilesSeries: Al Dancer, Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel (1 episode)
  72. 1974Newman's LawFilm: John Dellanzia
  73. 1974The Story of Pretty Boy FloydFilm: Dominic Morrell
  74. 1974TattletalesSeries (1 episode)
  75. 1973The Don Is DeadFilm: Don Talusso
  76. 1973KojakSeries: Kilty (1 episode)
  77. 1973TomaSeries (1 episode)
  78. 1973TomaFilm: Donzer
  79. 1973The Devil's DaughterFilm: Alikhine
  80. 1972The Sandy Duncan ShowSeries (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.