Actor. He was a prolific performer who made memorable appearances on television and film over a career that spanned eight decades. He began acting in his teens and made his first television appearance in 1949 on 'Studio One.' He would go on to have roles in dozens of TV shows and series, most notably as Sgt. Phil Fish on ABC's 'Barney Miller' from 1975 to 1977, then starring in the spinoff 'Fish' from 1977 to 1978. He first appeared on film in 'Three Rooms in Manhattan' (1965), but his most memorable role would be as mobster Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather' (1972) and 'The Godfather Part II' (1974). Among other films he would appear in were 'The Don Is Dead' (1973), 'The Cheap Detective' (1978), 'Gridlock' (1980), 'Cannonball Run II' (1984), 'Plain Clothes' (1988), 'Look Who's Talking' (1989), 'Joe Versus the Volcano' (1990), 'Me and the Kid' (1993), 'Jury Duty' (1995), 'A Brooklyn State of Mind' (1997), 'Good Burger' (1997), 'Witness to the Mob' (1998), 'Crime Spree' (2003), 'Frankie the Squirrel' (2007) and 'The Unknown Trilogy' (2008).
Actor. He was a prolific performer who made memorable appearances on television and film over a career that spanned eight decades. He began acting in his teens and made his first television appearance in 1949 on 'Studio One.' He would go on to have roles in dozens of TV shows and series, most notably as Sgt. Phil Fish on ABC's 'Barney Miller' from 1975 to 1977, then starring in the spinoff 'Fish' from 1977 to 1978. He first appeared on film in 'Three Rooms in Manhattan' (1965), but his most memorable role would be as mobster Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather' (1972) and 'The Godfather Part II' (1974). Among other films he would appear in were 'The Don Is Dead' (1973), 'The Cheap Detective' (1978), 'Gridlock' (1980), 'Cannonball Run II' (1984), 'Plain Clothes' (1988), 'Look Who's Talking' (1989), 'Joe Versus the Volcano' (1990), 'Me and the Kid' (1993), 'Jury Duty' (1995), 'A Brooklyn State of Mind' (1997), 'Good Burger' (1997), 'Witness to the Mob' (1998), 'Crime Spree' (2003), 'Frankie the Squirrel' (2007) and 'The Unknown Trilogy' (2008).
Bio by: Louis du Mort
Inscription
VIGODA, ABRAHAM C.
Rank & Branch: U.S. ARMY
War Period: WORLD WAR II
Date of Birth: 02/24/1921
Date of Death: 01/26/2016
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