Abe Vigoda
Acting
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
Acting104
movieThe Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
2016
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
movieThe Unknown Trilogy
2008
Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
movieFarce of the Penguins
2006
Penguin from Boca (voice)
movieCrime Spree
2003
Angelo Giancarlo
tvDeadline
2000
Joseph Spiaggio
movieChump Change
2000
The Frog
tvFamily Guy
1999
Abe Vigoda (voice)
movieWitness to the Mob
1998
Paul Castellano
movieA Brooklyn State of Mind
1998
Uncle Guy
movieUnderworld
1996
Will Cassady
movieJury Duty
1995
Judge Powell
movieThe Misery Brothers
1995
Don Frito Layleone
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Receptionist Angel
movieNorth
1994
Alaskan Grandpa
movieSugar Hill
1994
Gus Molino
movieBatman: Mask of the Phantasm
1993
Salvatore Valestra (voice)
tvDiagnosis: Murder
1993
Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson
movieMe and the Kid
1993
Pawn Broker
tvLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Self (uncredited) / Self - Guest / Self
movieFist of Honor
1993
Victor Malucci
movieThe Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
1992
Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
tvMad About You
1992
Kalman Wertzel
tvLucky Luke
1992
Judge Rinehart
tvLaw & Order
1990
Detective Landis
tvWings
1990
Harry
movieKeaton's Cop
1990
Louis Keaton
movieJoe Versus the Volcano
1990
Chief of the Waponis
moviePrancer
1989
Orel Benton
movieLook Who's Talking
1989
Grandpa
tvB.L. Stryker
1989
Clayton Baskin
tvMonsters
1988
Dolan
moviePlain Clothes
1988
Mr. Wiseman
tvMacGyver
1985
Bill Cody
movieThe Stuff
1985
Stuff Commercial Spokesman
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
George
tvTales from the Darkside
1984
Jake Corelli
movieThe Big Stuffed Dog
1981
Carnival Pitchman
movieDeath Car on the Freeway
1979
Mr. Frisch
tvSupertrain
1979
Ray Yellburton
$weepstake$
1979
Anthony
movieHow to Pick Up Girls!
1978
Nathan Perlmutter
movieThe Cheap Detective
1978
Sergeant Rizzuto
tvMario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
1977
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Charlie Fletcher
tvFish
1977
Phil Fish
movieHaving Babies
1976
Al Schneider
tvThe Captain and Tennille
1976
Self - Guest
movieJoys
1976
Self
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self (uncredited)
tvBarney Miller
1975
Philip Fish / Det. Phil Fish (uncredited) / Det. Phil Fish
movieThe Godfather Part II
1974
Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
tvDinah!
1974
Self
tvThe Rockford Files
1974
Al Dancer / Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel
movieNewman's Law
1974
John Dellanzia
movieThe Story of Pretty Boy Floyd
1974
Dominic Morrell
movieThe Don Is Dead
1973
Don Talusso
tvKojak
1973
Kilty
movieToma
1973
Donzer
movieThe Devil's Daughter
1973
Alikhine
movieThe Godfather
1972
Sal Tessio
tvCannon
1971
Mr. Couzellous
tvLove, American Style
1969
Mr. Burdick (uncredited)
tvHawaii Five-O
1968
Abe Kemper
tvMannix
1967
Anton Valine
movieThree Rooms in Manhattan
1965
Waiter (uncredited)
tvStudio One
1948
Old Train Passenger