Abe Vigoda
Acting • Born 1921-02-24 – Died 2016-01-26
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
107 credits
Tea Cakes or Cannoli
Movie • 2000
North
Movie • 1994
Alaskan Grandpa
Cannonball Run II
Movie • 1984
Caesar
Prancer
Movie • 1989
Orel Benton
Look Who's Talking
Movie • 1989
Grandpa
Just the Ticket
Movie • 1998
Arty
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
Movie • 2016
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
The Cheap Detective
Movie • 1978
Sergeant Rizzuto
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Movie • 1993
Salvatore Valestra (voice)
Witness to the Mob
Movie • 1998
Paul Castellano
Sugar Hill
Movie • 1994
Gus Molino
A Brooklyn State of Mind
Movie • 1998
Uncle Guy
Jury Duty
Movie • 1995
Judge Powell
Me and the Kid
Movie • 1993
Pawn Broker
Fist of Honor
Movie • 1993
Victor Malucci
Love Is All There Is
Movie • 1996
Rudy
Underworld
Movie • 1996
Will Cassady
The Don Is Dead
Movie • 1973
Don Talusso
The Godfather
Movie • 1972
Sal Tessio
The Devil's Daughter
Movie • 1973
Alikhine
Keaton's Cop
Movie • 1990
Louis Keaton
Death Car on the Freeway
Movie • 1979
Mr. Frisch
A Christmas Journey Home
Movie • 1996
Grandpa
Good Burger
Movie • 1997
Otis
The Comedy Company
Movie • 1978
Jake
Newman's Law
Movie • 1974
John Dellanzia
Night of 100 Stars III
Movie • 1990
Self
Crime Spree
Movie • 2003
Angelo Giancarlo
Plain Clothes
Movie • 1988
Mr. Wiseman
Gridlock
Movie • 1980
Herb
The Godfather Part II
Movie • 1974
Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
Joe Versus the Volcano
Movie • 1990
Chief of the Waponis
Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter
Movie • 1986
Abe
The Misery Brothers
Movie • 1995
Don Frito Layleone
The Stuff
Movie • 1985
Stuff Commercial Spokesman
Three Rooms in Manhattan
Movie • 1965
Waiter (uncredited)
Joys
Movie • 1976
Self
Farce of the Penguins
Movie • 2006
Penguin from Boca (voz)
The Big Stuffed Dog
Movie • 1981
Carnival Pitchman
The Unknown Trilogy
Movie • 2008
Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
Dean Martin's Red Hot Scandals of 1926
Movie • 1976
Self
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd
Movie • 1974
Dominic Morrell
Chump Change
Movie • 2000
The Frog
Home of Angels
Movie • 1994
Cutaways
Movie • 2013
Having Babies
Movie • 1976
Al Schneider
How to Pick Up Girls!
Movie • 1978
Nathan Perlmutter
Farticus
Movie • 1997
Zeus
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Movie • 2003
Self
Toma
Movie • 1973
Donzer
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
George
Mad About You
TV • 1992
Kalman Wertzel
The Norm Show
TV • 1999
Supertrain
TV • 1979
B. J. and the Bear
TV • 1979
Harper Valley
TV • 1981
The Rookies
TV • 1972
Family Guy
TV • 1999
Abe Vigoda (voice)
The Adventures of the Black Stallion
TV • 1992
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Charlie Fletcher
The Bionic Woman
TV • 1976
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Abe Kemper
Deadline
TV • 2000
Joseph Spiaggio
Wings
TV • 1990
Harry
Dark Shadows
TV • 1966
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson
Kojak
TV • 1973
Kilty
Weird Science
TV • 1994
Studio One
TV • 1948
Old Train Passenger
Superboy
TV • 1988
Eight Is Enough
TV • 1977
Tattletales
TV • 1974
Monsters
TV • 1988
The Sandy Duncan Show
TV • 1972
Fish
TV • 1977
Phil Fish
Vega$
TV • 1978
Promised Land
TV • 1996
The Littlest Hobo
TV • 1979
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Philip Fish
Toma
TV • 1973
Suspense
TV • 1949
The Captain and Tennille
TV • 1976
Self - Guest
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
TV • 2003
Tony Orlando and Dawn
TV • 1974
Self
B.L. Stryker
TV • 1989
Clayton Baskin
Tales from the Darkside
TV • 1984
Jake Corelli
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Al Dancer
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Receptionist Angel
The Bob Hope Show
TV • 1950
Self
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Detective Landis
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel
Mannix
TV • 1967
Anton Valine
MacGyver
TV • 1985
Bill Cody
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Det. Phil Fish (uncredited)
Lucky Luke
TV • 1992
Judge Rinehart
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Det. Phil Fish
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
Mr. Burdick (uncredited)
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
TV • 1977
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
$weepstake$
TV • 1979
Anthony
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Self (uncredited)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Self - Guest
Cannon
TV • 1971
Mr. Couzellous