Abe Vigoda
Known for Acting · 103 credits
- Born
- 1921-02-24
- Died
- 2016-01-26
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- 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.
Known For
TV Shows (53)
Law & Order
1990
as Detective Landis
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Family Guy
1999
as Abe Vigoda (voice)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self (uncredited)
Mannix
1967
as Anton Valine
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as George
The Love Boat
1977
as Charlie Fletcher
Dark Shadows
1966
MacGyver
1985
as Bill Cody
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Alfredo Bartolo / Al Bartell / Mr. Johnson
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Abe Kemper
Love, American Style
1969
as Mr. Burdick (uncredited)
Mad About You
1992
as Kalman Wertzel
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Receptionist Angel
The Rockford Files
1974
as Al Dancer / Phil 'The Dancer' Gabriel
Wings
1990
as Harry
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self (uncredited) / Self - Guest
Barney Miller
1975
as Philip Fish / Det. Phil Fish (uncredited)
Cannon
1971
as Mr. Couzellous
Studio One
1948
as Old Train Passenger
Tales from the Darkside
1984
as Jake Corelli
The Rookies
1972
Kojak
1973
as Kilty
Vega$
1978
The Bionic Woman
1976
Dinah!
1974
as Self
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
Eight Is Enough
1977
Monsters
1988
as Dolan
Weird Science
1994
Suspense
1949
Promised Land
1996
The Littlest Hobo
1979
B. J. and the Bear
1979
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
1977
as Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
The Norm Show
1999
The Adventures of the Black Stallion
1992
Deadline
2000
as Joseph Spiaggio
Supertrain
1979
as Ray Yellburton
Superboy
1988
Toma
1973
Fish
1977
as Phil Fish
Tony Orlando and Dawn
1974
as Self
$weepstake$
1979
as Anthony
The Captain and Tennille
1976
as Self - Guest
B.L. Stryker
1989
as Clayton Baskin
Lucky Luke
1992
as Judge Rinehart
The Sandy Duncan Show
1972
Harper Valley
1981
Tattletales
1974
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
2003
Buck Rogers
1950
Movies (50)
The Godfather
1972
as Sal Tessio
The Godfather Part II
1974
as Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
1993
as Salvatore Valestra (voice)
Good Burger
1997
as Otis
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
2016
as Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
The Stuff
1985
as Stuff Commercial Spokesman
Cannonball Run II
1984
as Caesar
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
2003
as Self
North
1994
as Alaskan Grandpa
Joe Versus the Volcano
1990
as Chief of the Waponis
Look Who's Talking
1989
as Grandpa
Jury Duty
1995
as Judge Powell
Crime Spree
2003
as Angelo Giancarlo
Farce of the Penguins
2006
as Penguin from Boca (voz)
The Cheap Detective
1978
as Sergeant Rizzuto
Sugar Hill
1994
as Gus Molino
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
Prancer
1989
as Orel Benton
Plain Clothes
1988
as Mr. Wiseman
Joys
1976
as Self
The Devil's Daughter
1973
as Alikhine
Death Car on the Freeway
1979
as Mr. Frisch
Love Is All There Is
1996
as Rudy
Underworld
1996
as Will Cassady
The Don Is Dead
1973
as Don Talusso
Gridlock
1980
as Herb
Witness to the Mob
1998
as Paul Castellano
The Misery Brothers
1995
as Don Frito Layleone
Chump Change
2000
as The Frog
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd
1974
as Dominic Morrell
How to Pick Up Girls!
1978
as Nathan Perlmutter
A Brooklyn State of Mind
1998
as Uncle Guy
Three Rooms in Manhattan
1965
as Waiter (uncredited)
Toma
1973
as Donzer
Me and the Kid
1993
as Pawn Broker
Just the Ticket
1998
as Arty
Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter
1986
as Abe
Having Babies
1976
as Al Schneider
The Comedy Company
1978
as Jake
Keaton's Cop
1990
as Louis Keaton
Farticus
1997
as Zeus
Newman's Law
1974
as John Dellanzia
The Big Stuffed Dog
1981
as Carnival Pitchman
The Unknown Trilogy
2008
as Uncle Morty (segment "Frankie the Squirrel")
A Christmas Journey Home
1996
as Grandpa
Tea Cakes or Cannoli
2000
Fist of Honor
1993
as Victor Malucci
Dean Martin's Red Hot Scandals of 1926
1976
as Self
Cutaways
2013
Home of Angels
1994
About Abe Vigoda
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 God… With 103 credits spanning from 1948 to 2016, Abe Vigoda has appeared in 50 films and 53 TV shows.
Fans searching for Abe Vigoda movies, Abe Vigoda filmography, or the latest projects starring Abe Vigoda can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Abe Vigoda Movies
- The Godfather (1972) — as Sal Tessio
- The Godfather Part II (1974) — as Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) — as Salvatore Valestra (voice)
- Good Burger (1997) — as Otis
- The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959 (2016) — as Salvatore "Sal" Tessio (uncredited)
Where to Watch Abe Vigoda Films
Most Abe Vigoda movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Abe Vigoda, check our movies catalogue and browse page.