9
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.
0.0
2013
Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
2.0
2008
Penguin from Boca (voice)
4.0
2006
Self
6.8
2003
Angelo Giancarlo
5.6
2003
(1 episode)
0.0
2003
0.0
2000
Joseph Spiaggio · (1 episode)
0.0
2000
The Frog
3.9
2000
(1 episode)
6.8
1999
Abe Vigoda (voice) · (1 episode)
7.4
1999
Paul Castellano
7.2
1998
Arty
5.5
1998
Uncle Guy
4.8
1998
Otis
6.1
1997
Zeus
0.0
1997
Grandpa
0.0
1996
(1 episode)
6.6
1996
Will Cassady
5.2
1996
Rudy
5.4
1996
Judge Powell
4.4
1995
Don Frito Layleone
2.0
1995
Receptionist Angel · (1 episode)
7.2
1994
Alaskan Grandpa
5.0
1994
(1 episode)
6.7
1994
Gus Molino
5.6
1994
0.0
1994
Salvatore Valestra (voice)
7.5
1993
Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson · (1 episode)
7.1
1993
Pawn Broker
4.7
1993
Victor Malucci
5.3
1993
Kalman Wertzel · (1 episode)
6.7
1992
Judge Rinehart · (1 episode)
5.6
1992
(1 episode)
6.3
1992
Detective Landis · (1 episode)
7.4
1990
Self
4.0
1990
Harry · (1 episode)
6.9
1990
Louis Keaton
3.7
1990
Chief of the Waponis
5.7
1990
Orel Benton
5.9
1989
Grandpa
6.3
1989
(1 episode)
6.0
1989
(1 episode)
7.0
1988
(1 episode)
6.4
1988
Mr. Wiseman
6.2
1988
Abe
0.0
1986
Bill Cody · (1 episode)
7.7
1985
Stuff Commercial Spokesman
6.0
1985
George · (1 episode)
7.5
1984
Jake Corelli · (1 episode)
7.2
1984
Caesar
5.4
1984
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
9.3
1981
Carnival Pitchman
3.0
1981
(1 episode)
6.3
1981
Herb
6.0
1980
(1 episode)
6.9
1979
Mr. Frisch
5.3
1979
(1 episode)
5.5
1979
(1 episode)
4.3
1979
(1 episode)
0.0
1979
Nathan Perlmutter
2.0
1978
(1 episode)
7.0
1978
Jake
0.0
1978
Sergeant Rizzuto
6.2
1978
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited) · (4 episodes)
8.5
1977
Charlie Fletcher · (1 episode)
6.3
1977
(1 episode)
6.1
1977
Phil Fish · (35 episodes)
5.7
1977
Self
0.0
1976
Al Schneider
6.0
1976
Self · (1 episode)
5.5
1976
Self
4.0
1976
(1 episode)
7.0
1976
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
6.9
1975
Philip Fish · (58 episodes)
7.3
1975
Det. Phil Fish (uncredited) · (1 episode)
7.3
1975
Det. Phil Fish · (1 episode)
7.3
1975
Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
8.6
1974
Self · (1 episode)
3.5
1974
Al Dancer · (1 episode)
7.5
1974
Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel · (1 episode)
7.5
1974
John Dellanzia
6.0
1974
Dominic Morrell
4.0
1974
(1 episode)
6.0
1974
Don Talusso
5.9
1973
Kilty · (1 episode)
6.9
1973
Donzer
7.5
1973
(1 episode)
7.8
1973
Alikhine
6.5
1973
(1 episode)
0.0
1972
(1 episode)
6.9
1972
Sal Tessio
8.7
1972
(1 episode)
6.5
1971
Mr. Burdick (uncredited) · (1 episode)
5.8
1969
Abe Kemper · (1 episode)
7.1
1968
Anton Valine · (1 episode)
6.7
1967
(3 episodes)
7.2
1966
Waiter (uncredited)
6.0
1965
Self · (1 episode)
7.0
1950
(1 episode)
4.6
1949
Old Train Passenger · (1 episode)
4.7
1948