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Abe Vigoda

Highest Rated: 97% The Godfather (1972)

Lowest Rated: 0% Jury Duty (1995)

Birthday: Feb 24, 1921

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

Image was everything in Hollywood, and Abe Vigoda's unusual look became his ticket to fame and fortune. The dour-faced character actor was best known for playing gritty Mafioso types, most notably as the scheming Tessio in "The Godfather" (1972) and "The Godfather: Part II" (1974). But he was more than just a tough guy; he was also a gifted comedic actor. Audiences remembered him as the aging, cynical Detective Sgt. Phil Fish on the hit sitcom "Barney Miller" (ABC, 1975-1982) - a role that earned Vigoda Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for three years in a row, between 1976 and 1978. It wasn't until 1982, however, when the actor really made headlines after a People magazine article mistakenly reported he was dead. Vigoda had a good laugh over it and always appeared to be in on the joke. The question "Is Abe Vigoda still alive?" lasted for several years, resurfacing in skits for David Letterman and Conan O'Brien's late night shows, ironically giving the actor a new life as a beloved TV icon to generations of viewers not even born when he was stealing scenes on "Barney Miller." Abe Vigoda died at his home in Woodland Park, NJ, on January 26, 2016. He was 94.

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Highest rated movies

97% 98% The Godfather Watchlist 96% 97% The Godfather, Part II Watchlist
83% 88% Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
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67% 58% Prancer
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66% 54% Joe Versus the Volcano
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60% 26% The Don Is Dead
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60% 84% Witness to the Mob
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56% 47% Look Who's Talking
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53% 57% The Cheap Detective
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33% 57% Wanted
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 42% The Unknown Trilogy Uncle Morty (Character) - 2008
33% 57% Wanted Angelo Giancarlo (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet The End of the Bar Unknown (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tea Cakes or Cannoli Unknown (Character) - 2001
23% 38% Just the Ticket Arty (Character) $427.9K 1999
60% 84% Witness to the Mob Unknown (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Misery Brothers Don Frito Layleone (Character) - 1997
33% 63% Good Burger Otis (Character) $23.7M 1997
No Score Yet 28% A Brooklyn State of Mind Uncle Guy (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 43% Underworld Will Cassady (Character) $12.6K 1996
No Score Yet 47% Love Is All There Is Rudy (Character) $61.3K 1996
0% 26% Jury Duty Judge Powell (Character) $14.8M 1995
14% 27% North Alaskan Grandpa (Character) $6.6M 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fist of Honor Victor Malucci (Character) - 1993
83% 88% Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Salvatore 'Sal the Wheezer' Valestra (Voice) $5.0M 1993
No Score Yet 9% Me and the Kid Pawn Broker (Character) $45.7K 1993
20% 69% Sugar Hill Gus Molino (Character) $18.3M 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Home of Angels Grandpa (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 33% Keaton's Cop Louis Keaton (Character) - 1990
66% 54% Joe Versus the Volcano Chief of the Waponis (Character) $39.1M 1990
56% 47% Look Who's Talking Grandpa (Character) $137.0M 1989
67% 58% Prancer Orel Benton (Character) $18.1M 1989
No Score Yet 61% Plain Clothes Mr. Wiseman (Character) $222.7K 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter Detective Abe Fossi (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 25% Death Car on the Freeway Mr. Frisch (Character) - 1979
53% 57% The Cheap Detective Sergeant Rizzuto (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Having Babies Al Schneider (Character) - 1976
96% 97% The Godfather, Part II Sal Tessio (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Best of All the Safecrackers Donzer (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd Dominic Morrell (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Newman's Law John Dellanzia (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet 29% The Devil's Daughter Alikhine (Character) - 1973
60% 26% The Don Is Dead Don Talusso (Character) - 1973
97% 98% The Godfather Sal Tessio (Character) $134.8M 1972

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 64% Family Guy Himself (Guest Voice) 2001
67% No Score Yet Norm Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mad About You Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Promised Land Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wings Unknown (Guest Star) 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Weird Science Unknown (Guest Star) 1996
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diagnosis Murder Unknown (Guest Star) 1994
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote George (Guest Star) 1991
No Score Yet 70% MacGyver Unknown (Guest Star) 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Unknown (Guest Star) 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barney Miller Det. Phil Fish (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
1975-1978 1981-1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet B.J. and the Bear Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fantasy Island Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Eight Is Enough Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rockford Files Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel (Guest Star) 1974 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fish Det. Phil Fish (Character) 1977-1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bionic Woman Barlow (Guest Star) 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tattletales Guest 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cannon Mr. Couzellous (Guest Star) 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kojak Kilty (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rookies Unknown (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mannix Anton Valine (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Studio One Unknown (Character) 1949