Abe Vigoda dead; starred in ‘Barney Miller,’ ‘Godfather’

The determined cause of death was old age, to which Fuchs responded, “This man was never sick”.

There was even a website dedidated to watching whether or not Vigoda was alive or dead, which has now been updated for the last time after the actor died at the age of 94 on January 22.

“I’m the same Abe Vigoda”, he told an interviewer. “I was always taught to speak well of the dead”. Vigoda played mafioso Sal Tessio, an old friend of Vito Corleone’s (Marlon Brando) who hopes to take over the family after Vito’s death by killing his son Michael Corleone (Al Pacino).

Vigoda, who was adept at drama and comedy with a hang-dog face, slouched posture and slow delivery, played mobster traitor Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather in 1972, his first credited movie role.

“Alan King, Abe Vigoda, there was one other person (in the audience), Abe Beame maybe, the former mayor… and I said something to the effect of ‘holy mackerel, I’ve seen younger faces on cash!” he laughed. “We all owe a great debt of gratitude to a fine character actor who created a very memorable character that will go on and on, with all the re-runs. But Francis said, ‘I want to look at the Mafia not as thugs and gangsters but like royalty in Rome.’ And he saw something in me that fit Tessio as one would look at the classics in Rome”, he recollected. In 1975 Vigoda landed a key supporting role in the popular TV sitcom “Barney Miller”, playing a world-weary detective nicknamed “Fish”. In this romantic comedy, Kirstie Alley and John Travolta star as New Yorkers who have an affair and accidentally have a baby together.

Arnold told Vigoda he looked exhausted, adding “You know, you look like you might have hemorrhoids”. Mr. Vigoda continued making occasional guest appearances on “Barney Miller”, quitting over billing and salary differences.

As people mourn the fact that Abe Vigoda has died, they are remembering his numerous acting roles.

Performers like Vigoda may not typically become household names, tabloid sensations or haul home the hardware on Oscar night.

Vigoda’s wife, Beatrice, died in 1992. With an extended TV career he also appeared in various movies including “Cannonball Run II” (1984), “Look Who’s Talking” (1989), “Joe Versus the Volcano” (1990), “Sugar Hill” (1993) and “Underworld” (1996).

Vigoda was married twice and is survived by a daughter from his first marriage, two grandchildren and a great-grandson.

The same mistake was repeated in 1987 when a WWOR television reporter in Secaucus, New Jersey, called him “the late Abe Vigoda”. His alive-or-dead status became an often-revisited joke in his appearances on Conan O’Brien’s late-night show and in a skit on David Letterman’s show, he curtly advised the host, “I’m not dead yet, you pinhead!”