Sal Viscuso
Acting • Born 1948-10-05
Biography
The dedication of Sal Viscuso to the craft of acting can be dated to a singular evening in 1967. A college freshman, he happened upon a teleplay of Ronald Ribman's CBS Playhouse: The Final War of Olly Winter (1967) and was so inspired by Ivan Dixon's Emmy-winning rendition of the title role that he entered the drama department the very next day, later explaining, "I felt that there I had found my family." He earned his BA from the University of California at Davis, then went on to study with Olympia Dukakis at NYU School of the Arts, from which he graduated with an MFA. Opportunities presented themselves rapidly, and Sal made his film debut in the classic The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). An introduction to Burt Metcalfe, associate producer of the iconic series M*A*S*H (1972), led to his move to Los Angeles, and soon Sal was a regular on NBC's sitcom The Montefuscos (1975). He was an off-screen loudspeaker announcer (as well as various other characters) on M*A*S*H (1972); appeared in Gene Wilder's homage to 1920's Hollywood, The World's Greatest Lover (1977); improvised in Robert Altman's Three Women (1977); and played multiple parts on the beloved Barney Miller (1975) (one of which was written especially for him by the show's creator, Danny Arnold). He was also to feature in what TIME magazine has rated as one of the "Top 100 TV shows of all time," Susan Harris's Soap (1977). His vocationally challenged Father Timothy Flotsky (and the show's depiction of one of the first openly gay characters on network television), created instant controversy that attracted 19 million viewers to the series premiere. Shortly thereafter, Sal commenced his professional association with the Bancroft/Brooks combine of talent, first appearing in Anne Bancroft's Fatso (1980), and then in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), about which he has remarked, "I continue to get more attention from that project than from anything I've ever done!"
Filmography
75 credits
Max Dugan Returns
Movie • 1983
Coach Roy
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
Movie • 1978
When Billie Beat Bobby
Movie • 2001
Sports Writer Mike
Kicking and Screaming
Movie • 1995
Bar Teacher
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Movie • 1974
Ptl. O'Keefe
The Amati Girls
Movie • 2001
Father Dedice
Hollywood Seagull
Movie • 2013
Dr. Don Dorn
This Wife for Hire
Movie • 1985
Paul Bellini
The World's Greatest Lover
Movie • 1977
Assistant Director
The Cure for Boredom
Movie • 2001
Joey
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Movie • 2022
Judge
Fatso
Movie • 1980
Vito
2 1/2 Dads
Movie • 1986
Spaceballs
Movie • 1987
Radio Operator
Fantasies
Movie • 1982
Jake Speed
Movie • 1986
News stand Attendant
14 Going on 30
Movie • 1988
Mr. Lloyd
Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester
Movie • 1995
Pinocchio's Revenge
Movie • 1996
Jail Guard
The Dentist
Movie • 1996
Matthew Zeigler
Confessions of a Sexist Pig
Movie • 1998
Marty
Falcon Crest
TV • 1981
Judge Connor Stewart
Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980
Herbie
Boston Public
TV • 2000
Arthur Ryan
Family Ties
TV • 1982
Richard Jacobs
American Dreamer
TV • 1990
Sledge Hammer!
TV • 1986
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Patient John
Spenser: For Hire
TV • 1985
Fame
TV • 1982
The Facts of Life
TV • 1979
Providence
TV • 1999
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Doug Ketchum
Silver Spoons
TV • 1982
Bailiff
Matlock
TV • 1986
Charlie
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Sal Avelino
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Sergeant Raymond McGill
Cagney & Lacey
TV • 1982
Keppler
Jake and the Fatman
TV • 1987
Soap
TV • 1977
Father Tim
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Dick Douglas
Soap
TV • 1977
Tim Flotsky
Cover Up
TV • 1984
Hunter
TV • 1984
Sam Olan
ER
TV • 1994
Mr. Weller
Booker
TV • 1989
Freddy Larson
The Montefuscos
TV • 1975
Nunzio Montefusco
Batman: The Animated Series
TV • 1992
Monk (voice)
It Takes Two
TV • 1982
Castle
TV • 2009
Tommy Valentine
Amazing Stories
TV • 1985
Sergeant Redmond
The Mentalist
TV • 2008
Walter
Princess Daisy
TV • 1983
Wingo
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Phil
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Family Ties
TV • 1982
Richard Grasso
Scandal
TV • 2012
Clark
Station 19
TV • 2018
Mr. Phillips
Beverly Hills, 90210
TV • 1990
Hal Zareth
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Mark Carlson
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Charley Cole
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
TV • 1993
Bobby Bigmouth
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Brenner
Dream On
TV • 1990
Policeman (uncredited)
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Thomas Vitella
Today's F.B.I.
TV • 1981
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Joseph Beatty
EZ Streets
TV • 1996
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Victor Renaldi
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Dennis
9-1-1
TV • 2018
Anton
Fantasy Island
TV • 1978
Prosecutor
Soap
TV • 1977
Father Timothy Flotsky
Clueless
TV • 1996
Dr. Fleming