If you didnt have an uncle who looked a whole lot like abe vigoda, then you probably arent italian even though the brooklynborn. Phil fish on the 1970s abc sitcom barney miller, has died. According to nbc news, he was once approached in a bloomingdales by a fan who told him, you look like abe vigoda. In 1982 people magazine mistakenly referred to vigoda as dead. Abraham charles vigoda was an american actor known for his portrayals of salvatore tessio. Part ii, and playing detective phil fish on television shows barney miller and fish, fish having been a. In 1982, people magazine killed abe vigoda with two words. But for decades, vigodas death had been rumored and mistakenly reported. Minutes after the news broke, an apparent fan site. Vigoda played sal tessio, an old friend of vito corleones marlon brando who hopes to take over the family after vitos death by killing his son. In 1997 he was shopping in bloomingdales in manhattan when a salesman remarked.
Abe vigoda secrets and scandals he took to his grave. Abe vigoda simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Fish on barney miller and mobster sal tessio in the godfather, and for weathering years of. Abe vigoda fan site has been updated in wake of his death.
He was 94, and his family cited the cause of death as old age in a statement to the press. Abraham abe vigoda, the american character actor best known for playing salvatore tessio in the godfather, has died. Im sure there are many who may have thought about me for a role but said, no, hes dead. The character actor best known for roles in the godfather and barney miller died tuesday at the age of 94.
Though vigoda took it in stride, the question of whether he was dead or alive became something of a running joke. Whether or not the actor is alive has become a popular. Abe vigoda s dead premortem mix music bauhaus vocals spinn lyrics two gregs i kinda want to say something about the site, but i dont want to clutter up the page with my dumb thoughts that the vast number of visitors wouldnt care about. Abe vigoda, barney miller and godfather actor, dead at. Though he hadnt read the book and was jewish, not italian he had a presence coppola. Abe vigoda, the beloved actor known for playing det. Character actor whose greatest success was as sal tessio in the godfather films my experiences have taught me that if you deeply believe in what you are doing, success. Fish on barney miller and mobster sal tessio in the godfather, and for weathering years of mistaken reports about his death, died in his sleep.
Abe vigoda february 24, 1921 january 26, 2016 was an actor in both television and movie. Abe vigoda, actor in the godfather, dead at 94 news. Vigodas comic turn in barney miller, which starred hal linden and ran from 1975 to 1982, that brought mr. On tuesday, it had been updated with yes, with the date of his death. Abe vigoda, who earned emmy award nominations in three straight years for his portrayal of the worldweary det. Rumors of his death began with an erroneous people magazine story in 1982, and never stopped. Abe vigoda, actor who played fish in tv series barney. His most well known roles are playing mobster sal tessio in the movies the godfather and the godfather. Duvall said tuesday it was great working with abe in the godfather and wonderful to have him among us. Reruns of barney miller and repeated screenings of the two godfather epics kept vigoda in the public eye, and unlike some celebrities, he enjoyed being recognized.
Vigoda, a wonderful actor famous for his appearances in the godfather and as phil fish in barney miller, became the late abe vigoda. Long before the internet helped celebrity death rumors spread like rapid fire, there was the abe vigoda hoax. Kqed arts provides daily indepth coverage of the bay areas music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism. She told the associated press that he died of old age and was never. Abe vigoda, who played the overthehill detective phil fish in the 1970s tv series, barney miller, and the doomed mob soldier in the godfather, died in his sleep tuesday, jan. Gilbert gottfried leads eulogy at abe vigodas funeral. Abe vigoda, character actor of the godfather, dead at 94. Abe vigoda, sadeyed character actor, dead at 94 abc.
Character actor abe vigoda dead at 94 6abc philadelphia. Abe vigodas leathery, sadeyed face made him ideal for playing the overthehill. The decadeslong history of the abe vigoda death hoax the. In 1997, he was shopping in bloomingdales in manhattan when a salesman remarked. He took the mistake with good humor, posing for a photograph published in variety in which he was sitting up in a coffin, holding the erroneous issue of people.
Abe vigoda, who played fish on barney miller, dead at 94. His death brought to an end years of speculation on whether he was still. At the time, vigoda, aged 60, was performing in a stage play in calgary. After mistaken reports of his death in 1982 and 1987, vigoda was the subject of several running gags as to whether he was dead or alive. The godfather actor abe vigoda dead at 94 hollywood. Actor abe vigoda smiles as he attends the friars club roast of betty white in new york in this file photo from may 16, 2012. Abe vigoda, sadeyed character actor, dead at 94 news.
After playing the ancient detective on barney miller and its lukewarmlyreceived spinoff, fish, vigoda played old age for laughs in look whos talking 1989 and an ongoing series of even more forgettable films. Abe vigoda has passed away at the age of 94 but the beloved barney miller star told the national enquirer that he wasnt afraid of death. Vigoda was reported dead 34 years ago erroneously a story that stuck. New york actor abe vigoda, who played the decrepit detective phil.
Godfather, barney miller actor abe vigoda dead at 94. Character actor abe vigoda, whose leathery, sadeyed face made him ideal for playing the overthehill detective phil fish in the 1970s tv series barney miller and the doomed mafia soldier in. Though abe vigoda took it in stride, the question of whether he was dead or alive became something of a running joke. Vigoda, an american actor best known for roles in the godfather and. The veteran actor revealed his supernatural secret in an exclusive 1978 interview where he revealed he was visited by the ghost of his dead. Vigoda died in his sleep, according to his daughter, carol vigoda fuchs. Abe vigoda, of godfather and internet hoax fame, is dead at 94. The complete directory to prime time network and cable tv shows a reference book, commented that vigoda was the hit of barney miller. The latter was a comic book artist who drew for the archie comics franchise and others in the. The complete directory to prime time network and cable tv shows, a reference book, commented that vigoda was the hit of barney miller. Actor abe vigoda from the godfather dead at 94 in a june 9, 2006 file photo, actorcomedian abe vigoda attends the friars club celebrity roast of legendary comedian jerry lewis in new york city. Barney miller, died on tuesday morning in woodland park, n. Abe vigoda, sunkeneyed character actor, dead at 94.
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