‘Scarface’ Actor Robert Loggia Dead at 85

– Actor Robert Loggia, who played drug lord Frank Lopez in “Scarface”, has died, according to Variety.

The actor, he of the rugged face and craggy voice, began his television career with appearances in two soap operas, Search for Tomorrow and The Secret Storm, in 1951 and 1954 respectively.

The news of the legendary actor’s death was confirmed by his wife, Aubrey Loggia, who told Fox News that his body gave up after a struggle with Alzheimer for five years. When the series was canceled after one season, Mr. Loggia largely dropped out of the business for a time.

The actor was best know for his roles in both Scarface and Big, and particularly that famous piano scene with Tom Hanks. He didn’t want to work, explaining he needed to “respark” himself.

The Staten Island son of Italian immigrants then went on to amass more than 200 roles in a career that spanned seven decades.

Loggia was nominated for an Emmy in 1989 for his portrayal of FBI agent Nick Mancuso in the series “Mancuso FBI”.

Among his later roles was as a general and presidential adviser in the 1996 sci-fi thriller “Independence Day”. He grew up in Manhattan’s Little Italy section.

Loggia’s wife Audrey, who was married to him for 33 years broke the news of his demise. However, he was a role model for his four children in Tracy, John, Kristina, and Cynthia.