http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/abe-vigoda-sunken-eyed-character-actor-dead-94-36528884

Character actor Abe Vigoda, whose leathery, sunken-eyed face made him ideal for playing the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970s TV series "Barney Miller" and the doomed Mafia soldier in "The Godfather," died Tuesday at age 94.

Vigoda's daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, told The Associated Press that Vigoda died Tuesday morning in his sleep at Fuchs' home in Woodland Park, New Jersey. The cause of death was old age. "This man was never sick," Fuchs said.

Vigoda worked in relative obscurity as a supporting actor in the New York theater and in television until Francis Ford Coppola cast him in the 1972 Oscar-winning "The Godfather." Vigoda played 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). But Michael anticipates that Sal's suggestion for a "peace summit" among crime families is a setup and the escorts Sal thought were taking him to the meeting turn out to be his executioners.

"Tell Mike it was only business," Sal mutters to consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) as he's led away.

The great success of the film and "The Godfather Part II" made his face and voice, if not his name, recognizable to the general public and led to numerous roles, often as hoodlums.

But it was his comic turn in "Barney Miller," which starred Hal Linden and ran from 1975 to 1982, that brought Vigoda's greatest recognition.

He liked to tell the story of how he won the role of Detective Fish. An exercise enthusiast, Vigoda had just returned from a five-mile jog when his agent called and told him to report immediately to the office of Danny Arnold, who was producing a pilot for a police station comedy.

Arnold remarked that Vigoda looked tired, and the actor explained about his jog. "You know, you look like you might have hemorrhoids," Arnold said. "What are you — a doctor or a producer?" Vigoda asked. He was cast on the spot.

"The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows," a reference book, commented that Vigoda was the hit of "Barney Miller." ''Not only did he look incredible, he sounded and acted like every breath might be his last," it said. "Fish was always on the verge of retirement, and his worst day was when the station house toilet broke down."

Vigoda remained a regular on "Barney Miller" until 1977 when he took the character to his own series, "Fish." The storyline dealt with the detective's domestic life and his relations with five street kids that he and his wife took into their home.

The show lasted a season and a half. Vigoda continued making occasional guest appearances on "Barney Miller," quitting over billing and salary differences.

But he remained a popular character actor in films, including "Cannonball Run II," ''Look Who's Talking," ''Joe Versus the Volcano" and "North."

His resemblance to Boris Karloff led to his casting in the 1986 New York revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace," playing the role Karloff originated on the stage in the 1940s. (The murderous character in the black comedy is famously said by other characters to resemble Boris Karloff, a great joke back when the real Karloff was playing him.)

Born in New York City in 1921, Vigoda attended the Theater School of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall. In the early 1950s, he appeared as straight man for the Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn TV comedies.

For 30 years, he worked in the theater, acting in dozens of plays in such diverse characters as John of Gaunt in "Richard II" (his favorite role) and Abraham Lincoln in a short-lived Broadway comedy "Tough to Get Help."

Vigoda attributed his high percentage in winning roles to his performance in auditions. Instead of delivering the tired soliloquies that most actors performed, he wrote his own, about a circus barker. At a surprise 80th birthday party in New Jersey in 2001, he gave a spirited recital of the monologue to the delight of the 100 guests.

Reflecting on his delayed success, Vigoda once remarked: "When I was a young man, I was told success had to come in my youth. I found this to be a myth. My experiences have taught me that if you deeply believe in what you are doing, success can come at any age."

"Barney Miller" became his first steady acting job.

"I'm the same Abe Vigoda," he told an interviewer. "I have the same friends, but the difference now is that I can buy the things I never could afford before. I have never had a house before, so now I would like a house with a nice garden and a pool. Hollywood has been very kind to me."

He was married twice, most recently to Beatrice Schy, who died in 1992. He had his daughter with his first wife, Sonja Gohlke, who has also died. Vigoda is survived by his daughter, grandchildren Jamie, Paul and Steven, and a great-grandson.

Reruns of "Barney Miller" and repeated screenings of the two "Godfather" epics kept Vigoda in the public eye, and unlike some celebrities, he enjoyed being recognized. In 1997 he was shopping in Bloomingdale's in Manhattan when a salesman remarked: "You look like Abe Vigoda. But you can't be Abe Vigoda because he's dead." Vigoda often appeared on lists of living celebrities believed to have passed away.

———

Biographical material in this story was written by The Associated Press' late Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/abe-vigoda-sunken-eyed-character-actor-dead-94-36528884

Character actor Abe Vigoda, whose leathery, sunken-eyed face made him ideal for playing the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970s TV series "Barney Miller" and the doomed Mafia soldier in "The Godfather," died Tuesday at age 94.

Vigoda's daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, told The Associated Press that Vigoda died Tuesday morning in his sleep at Fuchs' home in Woodland Park, New Jersey. The cause of death was old age. "This man was never sick," Fuchs said.

Vigoda worked in relative obscurity as a supporting actor in the New York theater and in television until Francis Ford Coppola cast him in the 1972 Oscar-winning "The Godfather." Vigoda played 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). But Michael anticipates that Sal's suggestion for a "peace summit" among crime families is a setup and the escorts Sal thought were taking him to the meeting turn out to be his executioners.

"Tell Mike it was only business," Sal mutters to consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) as he's led away.

The great success of the film and "The Godfather Part II" made his face and voice, if not his name, recognizable to the general public and led to numerous roles, often as hoodlums.

But it was his comic turn in "Barney Miller," which starred Hal Linden and ran from 1975 to 1982, that brought Vigoda's greatest recognition.

He liked to tell the story of how he won the role of Detective Fish. An exercise enthusiast, Vigoda had just returned from a five-mile jog when his agent called and told him to report immediately to the office of Danny Arnold, who was producing a pilot for a police station comedy.

Arnold remarked that Vigoda looked tired, and the actor explained about his jog. "You know, you look like you might have hemorrhoids," Arnold said. "What are you — a doctor or a producer?" Vigoda asked. He was cast on the spot.

"The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows," a reference book, commented that Vigoda was the hit of "Barney Miller." ''Not only did he look incredible, he sounded and acted like every breath might be his last," it said. "Fish was always on the verge of retirement, and his worst day was when the station house toilet broke down."

Vigoda remained a regular on "Barney Miller" until 1977 when he took the character to his own series, "Fish." The storyline dealt with the detective's domestic life and his relations with five street kids that he and his wife took into their home.

The show lasted a season and a half. Vigoda continued making occasional guest appearances on "Barney Miller," quitting over billing and salary differences.

But he remained a popular character actor in films, including "Cannonball Run II," ''Look Who's Talking," ''Joe Versus the Volcano" and "North."

His resemblance to Boris Karloff led to his casting in the 1986 New York revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace," playing the role Karloff originated on the stage in the 1940s. (The murderous character in the black comedy is famously said by other characters to resemble Boris Karloff, a great joke back when the real Karloff was playing him.)

Born in New York City in 1921, Vigoda attended the Theater School of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall. In the early 1950s, he appeared as straight man for the Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn TV comedies.

For 30 years, he worked in the theater, acting in dozens of plays in such diverse characters as John of Gaunt in "Richard II" (his favorite role) and Abraham Lincoln in a short-lived Broadway comedy "Tough to Get Help."

Vigoda attributed his high percentage in winning roles to his performance in auditions. Instead of delivering the tired soliloquies that most actors performed, he wrote his own, about a circus barker. At a surprise 80th birthday party in New Jersey in 2001, he gave a spirited recital of the monologue to the delight of the 100 guests.

Reflecting on his delayed success, Vigoda once remarked: "When I was a young man, I was told success had to come in my youth. I found this to be a myth. My experiences have taught me that if you deeply believe in what you are doing, success can come at any age."

"Barney Miller" became his first steady acting job.

"I'm the same Abe Vigoda," he told an interviewer. "I have the same friends, but the difference now is that I can buy the things I never could afford before. I have never had a house before, so now I would like a house with a nice garden and a pool. Hollywood has been very kind to me."

He was married twice, most recently to Beatrice Schy, who died in 1992. He had his daughter with his first wife, Sonja Gohlke, who has also died. Vigoda is survived by his daughter, grandchildren Jamie, Paul and Steven, and a great-grandson.

Reruns of "Barney Miller" and repeated screenings of the two "Godfather" epics kept Vigoda in the public eye, and unlike some celebrities, he enjoyed being recognized. In 1997 he was shopping in Bloomingdale's in Manhattan when a salesman remarked: "You look like Abe Vigoda. But you can't be Abe Vigoda because he's dead." Vigoda often appeared on lists of living celebrities believed to have passed away.

———

Biographical material in this story was written by The Associated Press' late Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas.

Sad news...really sad news. May he rest in peace.

This is how Abe will always be remembered: as Fish of Barney Miller.

Kind of a shock even though he was in his 90's. He's one of the very few who I thought would have made it to 100. :( R.I.P. Abe

Rest in peace Fish.

Here's Shout!'s full-series DVD release of Barney Miller on my top shelf.

Sad news indeed, but also a time to celebrate a long and fruitful life.

Only Hal, Max and Ron left of the originals, now.

RIP Abe.

RIP. When's the BARNEY MILLER marathon? (No one was showing FISH, right?)

RIP to a great actor!

R.I.P Abe. Thanks for the memories. You were great. :(

So be it. :(

Kind of a shock even though he was in his 90's. He's one of the very few who I thought would have made it to 100. :( R.I.P. Abe
I know it always seemed like he would outlive everybody. :rip: Abe

R.I.P. Abe Vigoda

R.I.P. Abe

I also remember another false report of his death around 1987 on WOR-TV (or WWOR, I forget the exact date of the report that year). It was a casual mis-mention from ex-anchorwoman Jennifer Valoppi, and after that the phones at TV stations were going crazy. She retracted that report the next night.

RIP. When's the BARNEY MILLER marathon? (No one was showing FISH, right?)

Yes indeed. Antenna TV aired a marathon of ODAT when Pat Harrington passed away so we better get one for Abe Vigoda

Yes indeed. Antenna TV aired a marathon of ODAT when Pat Harrington passed away so we better get one for Abe Vigoda

I just checked their Facebook page . It says:


In commemoration of Abe Vigoda, who passed away today, Antenna TV is airing 12 episodes of Barney Miller centered on his character, Detective Phil Fish, starting at 4p ET on Saturday, January 30th.

https://m.facebook.com/AntennaTV

I just checked their Facebook page . It says:


In commemoration of Abe Vigoda, who passed away today, Antenna TV is airing 12 episodes of Barney Miller centered on his character, Detective Phil Fish, starting at 4p ET on Saturday, January 30th.

https://m.facebook.com/AntennaTV

Thanks for posting that! Family Net also airs Barney Miller. Maybe they'll run a marathon too.

Rest in peace, Abe. You brought us much joy.

Sad news indeed, but also a time to celebrate a long and fruitful life.

Only Hal, Max and Ron left of the originals, now.

RIP Abe.

Isn't Gregory Sierra still alive? I always enjoyed his character Chano and wish he'd stayed longer on the series.

Isn't Gregory Sierra still alive? I always enjoyed his character Chano and wish he'd stayed longer on the series.

Yes, he is. Forgive my error.

Barbara Barrie is also still living.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/exclusive-barney-miller-hal-linden-remembers-abe-vigoda-article-1.2510318

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Barney Miller’ star Hal Linden remembers the late, great Abe Vigoda: 'We lost a great character today'

BY Hal Linden /

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS /

Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 4:22 PM


Actor Hal Linden played the titular New York cop in the popular sitcom, “Barney Miller,” which co-starred the late, great Abe Vigoda and ran from 1974 to 1982. He pays tribute to his longtime friend and colleague in a piece for the Daily News.

Abe Vigoda was part of my life for 50 years.

The first time I met him was filming a car commercial in the '60s, about 10 years before we starred together in "Barney Miller." We were both breaking our backs trying to make it on Broadway and I remember pushing a car with him, though I don't remember what kind of car it was.





His death lets Rona Barrett off the hook. When we did the last episode of "Barney Miller" in 1982, we had a wrap party, and Abe wasn't there, having left the show already. So the next day Rona wrote in her gossip column that everyone was there except the "late Abe Vigoda." He never lived that down, so to speak.

Part of it was the way he looked: Abe was just 53 when he first started Barney Miller. But he just had that demeanor that made him look tired and old and he played it so well that you believed he was actually old.

He wasn't. We were the first two hired for Barney Miller and when we came out to Los Angeles, we actually did two pilots. When we came out to do the first pilot, a press agent took us to the gym to work out for some publicity photos.



We were working out on treadmills one next to the other and lifting weights, and there was a four-wall handball court next door. Abe said, "I used to play a little handball, do you want to play?" So we walked into the handball court and he handed me my ass. I don't know that I got a point.






I'm doing a concert show on the road right now and it has these clips of "Barney Miller," and I'm telling you, it really was hard finding material that did not involve Abe. He was probably more popular than I was, and I played the lead.

And that's a tribute to Abe. He was a young actor in his prime and he created this old-soul character, Sgt. Fish, totally out of thin air.

One of the last times I saw him was at this 90th birthday party a few years ago, I happened to be in the neighborhood. He was the same, you still couldn't get him off the microphone.

We lost a great character today. Boy, did we ever.

With As told to Ethan Sacks

Godspeed Abe, you are missed already.

Even though he is most famous for playing an old man he seemed eternally young and one of those you thought may always be with us. :rip: Abe Vigoda

RIP Mr. Vigoda !

I will have the marathon on this Saturday . I liked when Fish was on the show!!

Sorry to hear that Abe Vigoda won't be turning 95 this year. :rip:

That episode with the homemade brownies. Tears of laughter..and then tears of a different kind. Thank you for that, Abe, and so much more.

That episode with the homemade brownies. Tears of laughter..and then tears of a different kind. Thank you for that, Abe, and so much more.

That "Hash" episode was incredibly funny, especially when it is discovered that the brownies have hash:

Harris: "Hey, Barn...I think he's stoned." (referring to Yemana)

Barney: "Stoned? What are you talking about?"

Yemana: "Hey...what do you say we guys go down to the beach and shoot some clams?"

Barney (takes the brownie and sniffs, then asks Yemana): "How many of these things have you had?"

Yemana: "Mooshi, mooshi..."

Barney: "I think there's something in these things!" (to Harris) "Have you had any?"

Harris: "Mmm-hmm."

Barney: "WOJO!!"

Harris: "Uh, uh... he's out, Barn. I mean, he and Fish, or Fish and he..."

Barney: "You think you can still function?"

Harris: "Hey, sharp as a tack!"

Barney: "All right, get these things, have 'em analyzed and fast. Nick?" (Barney is referring to the brownies)

(Harris starts to eat one)

Barney: "Not that way!!"

Harris, while chewing: "I think they got hash in 'em, Barn."

Barney: "Hash?!"

Harris: "From the way that I feel."

That "Hash" episode was incredibly funny, especially when it is discovered that the brownies have hash:

Harris: "Hey, Barn...I think he's stoned." (referring to Yemana)

Barney: "Stoned? What are you talking about?"

Yemana: "Hey...what do you say we guys go down to the beach and shoot some clams?"

Barney (takes the brownie and sniffs, then asks Yemana): "How many of these things have you had?"

Yemana: "Mooshi, mooshi..."

Barney: "I think there's something in these things!" (to Harris) "Have you had any?"

Harris: "Mmm-hmm."

Barney: "WOJO!!"

Harris: "Uh, uh... he's out, Barn. I mean, he and Fish, or Fish and he..."

Barney: "You think you can still function?"

Harris: "Hey, sharp as a tack!"

Barney: "All right, get these things, have 'em analyzed and fast. Nick?" (Barney is referring to the brownies)

(Harris starts to eat one)

Barney: "Not that way!!"

Harris, while chewing: "I think they got hash in 'em, Barn."

Barney: "Hash?!"

Harris: "From the way that I feel."

Definitely one of my favorite episodes.

Actually, Abe Vigoda wasn't even the oldest member of the original cast. Jack Soo was older than him by about five years (Soo would be 100 next year if he were still alive).

Recurring actor James Gregory was 10 years older than Vigoda.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/exclusive-barney-miller-hal-linden-remembers-abe-vigoda-article-1.2510318

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Barney Miller’ star Hal Linden remembers the late, great Abe Vigoda: 'We lost a great character today'

BY Hal Linden /

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS /

Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 4:22 PM


Actor Hal Linden played the titular New York cop in the popular sitcom, “Barney Miller,” which co-starred the late, great Abe Vigoda and ran from 1974 to 1982. He pays tribute to his longtime friend and colleague in a piece for the Daily News.

Abe Vigoda was part of my life for 50 years.

The first time I met him was filming a car commercial in the '60s, about 10 years before we starred together in "Barney Miller." We were both breaking our backs trying to make it on Broadway and I remember pushing a car with him, though I don't remember what kind of car it was.





His death lets Rona Barrett off the hook. When we did the last episode of "Barney Miller" in 1982, we had a wrap party, and Abe wasn't there, having left the show already. So the next day Rona wrote in her gossip column that everyone was there except the "late Abe Vigoda." He never lived that down, so to speak.

Part of it was the way he looked: Abe was just 53 when he first started Barney Miller. But he just had that demeanor that made him look tired and old and he played it so well that you believed he was actually old.

He wasn't. We were the first two hired for Barney Miller and when we came out to Los Angeles, we actually did two pilots. When we came out to do the first pilot, a press agent took us to the gym to work out for some publicity photos.



We were working out on treadmills one next to the other and lifting weights, and there was a four-wall handball court next door. Abe said, "I used to play a little handball, do you want to play?" So we walked into the handball court and he handed me my ass. I don't know that I got a point.






I'm doing a concert show on the road right now and it has these clips of "Barney Miller," and I'm telling you, it really was hard finding material that did not involve Abe. He was probably more popular than I was, and I played the lead.

And that's a tribute to Abe. He was a young actor in his prime and he created this old-soul character, Sgt. Fish, totally out of thin air.

One of the last times I saw him was at this 90th birthday party a few years ago, I happened to be in the neighborhood. He was the same, you still couldn't get him off the microphone.

We lost a great character today. Boy, did we ever.

With As told to Ethan Sacks

Great article, Sonny; I love that sort of thing. Thanks for posting it.

Abe Vigoda was a wonderful actor!

From Barney Miller to the Godfather, Abe was letter perfect.

R.I.P.

Here's Shout!'s full-series DVD release of Barney Miller on my top shelf.

I'd love to see more pics of your collection