Who was Abe Vigoda? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Abraham Charles Vigoda

Died At Age: 94

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Beatrice Schy, Sonja Gohlke

father: Samuel

mother: Lena (Moses) Vigoda

siblings: Bill Vigoda, Hy Vigoda

children: Carol

Jewish Actors Actors

Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males

Died on: January 26, 2016

place of death: Woodland Park, New Jersey, United States

Cause of Death: Natural Causes

Ancestry: Russian American

City: Brooklyn, New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

Recommended For You

1

Is Abe Vigoda still alive?

No, Abe Vigoda passed away on January 26, 2016.
2

What movies did Abe Vigoda appear in?

Abe Vigoda appeared in movies such as "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II," "Barney Miller," "Joe Versus the Volcano," and "Look Who's Talking."
3

Was Abe Vigoda a mobster?

No, Abe Vigoda was an actor known for playing mobster roles in movies and TV shows, but he was not a real-life mobster.
4

What is Abe Vigoda's most famous role?

Abe Vigoda is most famous for his role as Salvatore Tessio in "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II."
5

Did Abe Vigoda have a sense of humor about the "Is Abe Vigoda still alive?" meme?

Yes, Abe Vigoda had a good sense of humor about the "Is Abe Vigoda still alive?" meme and even appeared in a commercial poking fun at the rumors of his death.

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Childhood & Early Life

Abraham Charles "Abe" Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, on 24 February 1921 to parents Samuel and Lena, who were Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father was a tailor. Abe had two brothers.

He developed an early interest in performing on the stage and began acting while in his teens. He also worked with the American Theatre Wing.

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Career

Abe Vigoda began his career as a professional stage actor in 1947 but it would be many years before he finally tasted big success. Over the next few years he appeared in a variety of Shakespearean plays, musical comedies, and Broadway productions.

After struggling for several years, the talented actor finally started getting recognition in the 1960s for playing notable roles like Landau in Harold Pinter's ‘The Man in the Glass Booth’ in 1968 and parts in ‘Inquest’ (1970), and ‘Tough to Get Help’ (1972).

His success on the stage led to a film role in 1972 where he portrayed the elder mobster Salvatore Tessio in ‘The Godfather’. At the age of 51, he finally found the popularity and success he deserved. He soon reprised this role in the film’s sequel ‘The Godfather Part II’ in 1974.

Another memorable role followed in 1975, that of Detective Phil Fish, a police officer in the television series ‘Barney Miller’. Vigoda’s portrayal of the grumpy and aged detective who was constantly suffering from a variety of maladies won over the audiences’ hearts. He played the role until 1977.

The popularity of the character of Phil Fish led to a spin-off of ‘Barney Miller’ in 1977 titled ‘Fish’. Vigoda played the title role while Florence Stanley appeared as his wife Bernice. In the series, Fish and Bernice became foster parents to five racially mixed children. The series was wrapped after two seasons.

He continued acting on stage and appearing on television and films throughout the 1980s. In 1982, he was erroneously referred to as the “late” Abe Vigoda in the ‘People’ magazine. He took this in good humor and even posed for a photograph for ‘Variety’ magazine, sitting up in a coffin holding the erroneous issue of ‘People’.

During the late 1980s, he appeared in films like ‘Keaton's Cop’ (1988), ‘Plain Clothes’ (1988), ‘Look Who's Talking’ (1989), and ‘Prancer’ (1989). He was also a cast member in the television soap opera ‘Santa Barbara’ in 1989. In addition, he was a frequent guest on the television show ‘Late Night with Conan O'Brien’.

A health conscious man, he exercised regularly and enjoyed good health well into his eighties. He remained active on the professional front as well despite his advancing age. In the 2000s he appeared in films such as ‘Crime Spree’ (2003) and ‘Chump Change’ (2004), and lent his voice to ‘Farce of the Penguins’ (2007).

Major Works

Abe Vigoda’s portrayal of Salvatore "Sal" Tessio in the film ‘The Godfather’ is one of his memorable roles. The film became a big critical as well as commercial success and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema.

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He was also much loved for playing Detective Phil Fish in the television sitcom ‘Barney Miller’. His portrayal of the cantankerous but efficient senior detective endeared him greatly to his fans. His character became very popular, leading to the creation of a spin-off with Fish as protagonist.

Personal Life & Legacy

Abe Vigoda married Beatrice Schy in 1968 and had one daughter, Carol. The couple remained married until Beatrice’s death in 1992.

He was an avid jogger and a fitness enthusiast who remained in good health until the end of his long life. He died on 26 January 2016, at his daughter's home in Woodland Park, New Jersey.

Facts About Abe Vigoda

Abe Vigoda was known for his sense of humor and often joked about the false rumors of his death, even appearing on late-night talk shows to address the issue.

In addition to his acting career, Vigoda was an accomplished amateur photographer and enjoyed capturing moments behind the camera.

Vigoda was a lifelong New Yorker and took great pride in his city, often sharing stories about his experiences growing up in Brooklyn.

Despite his portrayal of tough characters on screen, Vigoda was known to be a gentle and kind-hearted individual off-screen, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.

In his later years, Vigoda became a beloved pop culture icon, with fans celebrating his unique charm and memorable performances in films and TV shows.

Abe Vigoda Biography

You wanted to know

Is Abe Vigoda still alive?

What movies did Abe Vigoda appear in?

Was Abe Vigoda a mobster?

What is Abe Vigoda's most famous role?

Did Abe Vigoda have a sense of humor about the "Is Abe Vigoda still alive?" meme?