Cast
Abe Vigoda
Acting
Cast
Abe Vigoda
Known for
Acting
Born
1921-02-24
From
New York City, New York, USA
Died
2016-01-26
Also known as Abraham Charles Vigodah, ایب ویگودا
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.
The Godfather
as Sal Tessio
The Godfather Part II
as Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
as Salvatore Valestra (voice)
The Stuff
as Stuff Commercial Spokesman
Good Burger
as Otis
Cannonball Run II
as Caesar
Jury Duty
as Judge Powell
Look Who's Talking
as Grandpa
North
as Alaskan Grandpa
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
as Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
Joys
as Self
Joe Versus the Volcano
as Chief of the Waponis
Crime Spree
as Angelo Giancarlo
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self
The Cheap Detective
as Sergeant Rizzuto
Farce of the Penguins
as Penguin from Boca (voz)
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
Sugar Hill
as Gus Molino
Plain Clothes
as Mr. Wiseman
Prancer
as Orel Benton
Underworld
as Will Cassady
Love Is All There Is
as Rudy
Witness to the Mob
as Paul Castellano
Death Car on the Freeway
as Mr. Frisch
The Devil's Daughter
as Alikhine
Gridlock
as Herb
The Don Is Dead
as Don Talusso
Just the Ticket
as Arty
Chump Change
as The Frog
Toma
as Donzer
How to Pick Up Girls!
as Nathan Perlmutter
A Brooklyn State of Mind
as Uncle Guy
A Christmas Journey Home
as Grandpa
Keaton's Cop
as Louis Keaton
The Misery Brothers
as Don Frito Layleone
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd
as Dominic Morrell
Three Rooms in Manhattan
as Waiter (uncredited)
Me and the Kid
as Pawn Broker
Newman's Law
as John Dellanzia
Home of Angels
The Comedy Company
as Jake
The Big Stuffed Dog
as Carnival Pitchman
Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter
as Abe
Farticus
as Zeus
Having Babies
as Al Schneider
Tea Cakes or Cannoli
Fist of Honor
as Victor Malucci
The Unknown Trilogy
as Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
Dean Martin's Red Hot Scandals of 1926
as Self