Abe Vigoda
Born
February 24, 1921
Died
January 26, 2016 (94 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
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. 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
Cutaways
2013
The Unknown Trilogy
Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
2008
Farce of the Penguins
Penguin from Boca (voice)
2006
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
2003
Crime Spree
Angelo Giancarlo
2003
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
(1 episode)
2003
Tea Cakes or Cannoli
2000
Deadline
Joseph Spiaggio · (1 episode)
2000
Chump Change
The Frog
2000
The Norm Show
(1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Abe Vigoda (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Witness to the Mob
Paul Castellano
1998
Just the Ticket
Arty
1998
A Brooklyn State of Mind
Uncle Guy
1998
Good Burger
Otis
1997
Farticus
Zeus
1997
A Christmas Journey Home
Grandpa
1996
Promised Land
(1 episode)
1996
Underworld
Will Cassady
1996
Love Is All There Is
Rudy
1996
Jury Duty
Judge Powell
1995
The Misery Brothers
Don Frito Layleone
1995
Touched by an Angel
Receptionist Angel · (1 episode)
1994
North
Alaskan Grandpa
1994
Weird Science
(1 episode)
1994
Sugar Hill
Gus Molino
1994
Home of Angels
1994
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Salvatore Valestra (voice)
1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson · (1 episode)
1993
Me and the Kid
Pawn Broker
1993
Fist of Honor
Victor Malucci
1993
Mad About You
Kalman Wertzel · (1 episode)
1992
Lucky Luke
Judge Rinehart · (1 episode)
1992
The Adventures of the Black Stallion
(1 episode)
1992
Law & Order
Detective Landis · (1 episode)
1990
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
Wings
Harry · (1 episode)
1990
Keaton's Cop
Louis Keaton
1990
Joe Versus the Volcano
Chief of the Waponis
1990
Prancer
Orel Benton
1989
Look Who's Talking
Grandpa
1989
B.L. Stryker
Clayton Baskin · (1 episode)
1989
Monsters
(1 episode)
1988
Superboy
(1 episode)
1988
Plain Clothes
Mr. Wiseman
1988
Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter
Abe
1986
MacGyver
Bill Cody · (1 episode)
1985
The Stuff
Stuff Commercial Spokesman
1985
Murder, She Wrote
George · (1 episode)
1984
Tales from the Darkside
Jake Corelli · (1 episode)
1984
Cannonball Run II
Caesar
1984
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
1981
The Big Stuffed Dog
Carnival Pitchman
1981
Harper Valley
(1 episode)
1981
Gridlock
Herb
1980
The Littlest Hobo
(1 episode)
1979
Death Car on the Freeway
Mr. Frisch
1979
B. J. and the Bear
(1 episode)
1979
Supertrain
(1 episode)
1979
Sweepstakes
(1 episode)
1979
How to Pick Up Girls!
Nathan Perlmutter
1978
Vega$
(1 episode)
1978
The Comedy Company
Jake
1978
The Cheap Detective
Sergeant Rizzuto
1978
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited) · (4 episodes)
1977
The Love Boat
Charlie Fletcher · (1 episode)
1977
Eight Is Enough
(1 episode)
1977
Fish
Phil Fish · (35 episodes)
1977
Dean Martin's Red Hot Scandals of 1926
Self
1976
Having Babies
Al Schneider
1976
The Captain and Tennille
Self · (1 episode)
1976
Joys
Self
1976
The Bionic Woman
(1 episode)
1976
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Barney Miller
Philip Fish · (58 episodes)
1975
Barney Miller
Det. Phil Fish (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Barney Miller
Det. Phil Fish · (1 episode)
1975
The Godfather Part II
Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
1974
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self · (1 episode)
1974
The Rockford Files
Al Dancer · (1 episode)
1974
The Rockford Files
Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel · (1 episode)
1974
Newman's Law
John Dellanzia
1974
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd
Dominic Morrell
1974
Tattletales
(1 episode)
1974
The Don Is Dead
Don Talusso
1973
Kojak
Kilty · (1 episode)
1973
Toma
Donzer
1973
Toma
(1 episode)
1973
The Devil's Daughter
Alikhine
1973
The Sandy Duncan Show
(1 episode)
1972
The Rookies
(1 episode)
1972
The Godfather
Sal Tessio
1972
Cannon
(1 episode)
1971
Love, American Style
Mr. Burdick (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1969
Hawaii Five-O
Abe Kemper · (1 episode)
1968
Mannix
Anton Valine · (1 episode)
1967
Dark Shadows
(3 episodes)
1966
Three Rooms in Manhattan
Waiter (uncredited)
1965
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Bob Hope Show
Self · (1 episode)
1950
Suspense
(1 episode)
1949
Studio One
Old Train Passenger · (1 episode)
1948