Abraham Charles Vigoda (February 24, 1921 â€" January 26, 2016) was an
American actor known for his portrayals of Salvatore Tessio in The
Godfather (1972) and Phil Fish in Barney Miller (1975â€"1977, 1982)
and Fish (1977â€"1978).Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, on
February 24, 1921, the son of Samuel and Lena Vigoda (née Moses),
Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father was a tailor who had two
other sons: Hy and Bill. The latter was a comic book artist who drew
for the Archie Comics franchise and others in the 1940s. Upon leaving
school, Vigoda worked as a printer before enlisting in the U.S. Army
in 1943, serving in World War II. After his military service, he
studied acting on the GI Bill at the American Theatre Wing. In the
late 1940s, he began working in radio and made his television debut in
an installment of the live drama series Studio One.Vigoda began acting
while in his 20s, working with the American Theatre Wing. His career
as a professional actor began in 1947.He gained acting notability in
the 1960s with his work in Broadway productions, including Marat/Sade
(1967), portraying Mad Animal, The Man in the Glass Booth (1968),
portraying Landau, Inquest (1970), and Tough to Get Help (1972),
portraying Abraham Lincoln.
American actor known for his portrayals of Salvatore Tessio in The
Godfather (1972) and Phil Fish in Barney Miller (1975â€"1977, 1982)
and Fish (1977â€"1978).Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, on
February 24, 1921, the son of Samuel and Lena Vigoda (née Moses),
Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father was a tailor who had two
other sons: Hy and Bill. The latter was a comic book artist who drew
for the Archie Comics franchise and others in the 1940s. Upon leaving
school, Vigoda worked as a printer before enlisting in the U.S. Army
in 1943, serving in World War II. After his military service, he
studied acting on the GI Bill at the American Theatre Wing. In the
late 1940s, he began working in radio and made his television debut in
an installment of the live drama series Studio One.Vigoda began acting
while in his 20s, working with the American Theatre Wing. His career
as a professional actor began in 1947.He gained acting notability in
the 1960s with his work in Broadway productions, including Marat/Sade
(1967), portraying Mad Animal, The Man in the Glass Booth (1968),
portraying Landau, Inquest (1970), and Tough to Get Help (1972),
portraying Abraham Lincoln.
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