Abe Vigoda

Abe Vigoda

  • Birthday: 1921-02-24
  • Deathday: 2016-01-26
  • Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA
  • Also know as: Abraham Charles Vigodah

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. 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.

Filmography

Farticus

1997

As Zeus

Keaton's Cop

1990

As Louis Keaton

Cutaways

2013

As

Witness to the Mob

1998

As Paul Castellano

A Brooklyn State of Mind

1998

As Uncle Guy

Good Burger

1997

As Otis

The Unknown Trilogy

2008

As Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")

A Christmas Journey Home

1996

As Grandpa

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

1993

As Salvatore Valestra (voice)

Underworld

1996

As Will Cassady

Newman's Law

1974

As John Dellanzia

Look Who's Talking

1989

As Grandpa

Jury Duty

1995

As Judge Powell

Fist of Honor

1993

As Victor Malucci

The Big Stuffed Dog

1981

As Carnival Pitchman

The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd

1974

As Dominic Morrell

Prancer

1989

As Orel Benton

How to Pick Up Girls!

1978

As Nathan Perlmutter

The Comedy Company

1978

As Jake

Death Car on the Freeway

1979

As Mr. Frisch

Plain Clothes

1988

As Mr. Wiseman

The Misery Brothers

1995

As Don Frito Layleone

Chump Change

2000

As The Frog

Joe Versus the Volcano

1990

As Chief of the Waponis

The Devil's Daughter

1973

As Alikhine

Three Rooms in Manhattan

1965

As Waiter (uncredited)

Me and the Kid

1993

As Pawn Broker

Crime Spree

2003

As Angelo Giancarlo

Having Babies

1976

As Al Schneider

Sugar Hill

1994

As Gus Molino

The Godfather

1972

As Sal Tessio

The Cheap Detective

1978

As Sergeant Rizzuto

The Don Is Dead

1973

As Don Talusso

North

1994

As Alaskan Grandpa

Just the Ticket

1998

As Arty

Gridlock

1980

As Herb

The Stuff

1985

As Stuff Commercial Spokesman

The Godfather Part II

1974

As Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio

Cannonball Run II

1984

As Caesar

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic

1981

As Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)

Farce of the Penguins

2007

As Penguin from Boca (voice)

Joys

1976

As Self

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