Person
Abe Vigoda
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…
IMDbKnown for
Popular titles
Photos
More stills of Abe Vigoda
Biography
A closer look
Read full 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
Movies and shows, newest first
-
2016
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
Movie Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
-
2013
Cutaways
Movie
-
2008
The Unknown Trilogy
Movie Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
-
2006
Farce of the Penguins
Movie Penguin from Boca (voice)
- 2003
-
2003
Crime Spree
Movie Angelo Giancarlo
- 2003
-
2000
Tea Cakes or Cannoli
Movie
-
2000
Deadline
TV show Joseph Spiaggio
-
2000
Chump Change
Movie The Frog
-
1999
The Norm Show
TV show
-
1999
Family Guy
TV show Abe Vigoda (voice)
-
1998
Witness to the Mob
Movie Paul Castellano
-
1998
Just the Ticket
Movie Arty
-
1998
A Brooklyn State of Mind
Movie Uncle Guy
-
1997
Good Burger
Movie Otis
More credits
-
1997
Farticus
Movie Zeus
-
1996
A Christmas Journey Home
Movie Grandpa
-
1996
Promised Land
TV show
-
1996
Underworld
Movie Will Cassady
-
1996
Love Is All There Is
Movie Rudy
-
1995
Jury Duty
Movie Judge Powell
-
1995
The Misery Brothers
Movie Don Frito Layleone
-
1994
Touched by an Angel
TV show Receptionist Angel
-
1994
North
Movie Alaskan Grandpa
-
1994
Weird Science
TV show
-
1994
Sugar Hill
Movie Gus Molino
-
1994
Home of Angels
Movie
-
1993
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Movie Salvatore Valestra (voice)
-
1993
Diagnosis: Murder
TV show Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson
-
1993
Me and the Kid
Movie Pawn Broker
-
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV show Self (uncredited)
-
1993
Fist of Honor
Movie Victor Malucci
-
1992
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
Movie Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
-
1992
Mad About You
TV show Kalman Wertzel
-
1992
Lucky Luke
TV show Judge Rinehart
- 1992
-
1990
Law & Order
TV show Detective Landis
-
1990
Night of 100 Stars III
Movie Self
-
1990
Wings
TV show Harry
