Abe Vigoda
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 24, 1921
- Died
- January 26, 2016
- Birthplace
- 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.
Filmography
- Cutaways
Cutaways 2013
Actor
The Unknown Trilogy 2008
as Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
Farce of the Penguins 2006
as Penguin from Boca (voice)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special 2003
as Self
Crime Spree 2003
as Angelo Giancarlo
Tea Cakes or Cannoli 2000
Actor
Chump Change 2000
as The Frog
Witness to the Mob 1998
as Paul Castellano
Just the Ticket 1998
as Arty
A Brooklyn State of Mind 1998
as Uncle Guy
Good Burger 1997
as Otis
Farticus 1997
as Zeus
- A Christmas Journey Home
A Christmas Journey Home 1996
as Grandpa
Underworld 1996
as Will Cassady
Love Is All There Is 1996
as Rudy
Jury Duty 1995
as Judge Powell
The Misery Brothers 1995
as Don Frito Layleone
North 1994
as Alaskan Grandpa
Sugar Hill 1994
as Gus Molino
Home of Angels 1994
Actor
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 1993
as Salvatore Valestra (voice)
Me and the Kid 1993
as Pawn Broker
Fist of Honor 1993
as Victor Malucci
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 1992
as Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
Night of 100 Stars III 1990
as Self
Joe Versus the Volcano 1990
as Chief of the Waponis
Keaton's Cop 1990
as Louis Keaton
Prancer 1989
as Orel Benton
Look Who's Talking 1989
as Grandpa
Plain Clothes 1988
as Mr. Wiseman
Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter 1986
as Abe
The Stuff 1985
as Stuff Commercial Spokesman
Cannonball Run II 1984
as Caesar
The Big Stuffed Dog 1981
as Carnival Pitchman
Gridlock 1980
as Herb
Death Car on the Freeway 1979
as Mr. Frisch
How to Pick Up Girls! 1978
as Nathan Perlmutter
The Comedy Company 1978
as Jake
The Cheap Detective 1978
as Sergeant Rizzuto
- Dean Martin's Red Hot Scandals of 1926
Dean Martin's Red Hot Scandals of 1926 1976
as Self
Having Babies 1976
as Al Schneider
Joys 1976
as Self
The Godfather Part II 1974
as Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
Newman's Law 1974
as John Dellanzia
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd 1974
as Dominic Morrell
The Don Is Dead 1973
as Don Talusso
Toma 1973
as Donzer
The Devil's Daughter 1973
as Alikhine
The Godfather 1972
as Sal Tessio
Three Rooms in Manhattan 1965
as Waiter (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.