Abe Vigoda

Abraham Charles "Abe" Vigoda (born February 24, 1921) is an American movie and television actor who appeared in dramas, including The Godfather, and in comedies such as Barney Miller and Joe Versus The Volcano. Vigoda is well known for his portrayal of Sal Tessio in The Godfather and for his portrayal of Detective Sgt. Phil Fish on the sitcom television series Barney Miller from 1975 to 1977 and on its spinoff show Fish that aired from February 1977 to June 1978 on ABC. After mistaken reports of his death in 1982 and 1987, Vigoda has been the subject of running gags as to whether he is dead or alive. --- Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of Samuel and Lena (Moses) Vigoda, Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father was a tailor who had three sons: Abe, Hy and Bill—a comic-book artist who drew for the Archie comics franchise and others in the 1940s. The name "Vigoda" in Russian means a "benefit". Vigoda began acting while in his teens, working with the American Theatre Wing. His career as a professional actor began in 1947. Vigoda gained acting notability in the 1960s with his work in Broadway productions, including Marat/Sade (1967) playing "Mad Animal", The Man in the Glass Booth (1968) playing "Landau", Inquest (1970), and Tough to Get Help (1972). His best-known film role is that of elder mobster Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather (1972). He also appeared briefly in The Godfather II in a flashback sequence at the end of the film. According to director Francis Ford Coppola's commentary on the DVD's widescreen edition, Vigoda landed the role of Tessio in an "open call," in which actors who don't have agents can come in for an audition. He gained further fame playing Detective Sgt. Phil Fish on Barney Miller, a character known for his world-weary demeanor and persistent hemorrhoids. Vigoda landed the role after an unusual audition in which he unwittingly displayed his perfection for the role. As recounted by Vigoda: While living in Los Angeles, I'd jog three to five miles a day. One morning jogging, my agent calls about a new series called Barney Miller, saying, "Go there at once." Well, I was tired and exhausted ... I must have run five miles that morning. I said. "I have to go home and take a shower." "No, no, no. go right now to Studio City, you're very right for it, they know you from The Godfather, they want to see you." "With my shorts?" "Go" Danny Arnold and Ted Flicker, the producers, look at me, I look at them, they look at me again. "You look tired." "Of course I'm tired, I jogged five miles this morning, I'm exhausted." "Yeah, yeah, tell me, you look like you have hemorrhoids." "What are you, a doctor or a producer?" --- Vigoda was married to Beatrice Schy from February 25, 1968 until her death on April 30, 1992. The couple had one daughter, Carol. Vigoda enjoys playing handball, and stated in an interview that he was "almost" a champion at the game in his youth.