Posted on 01/26/2016 11:28:17 AM PST by massmike
Character 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.
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."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Fish was such a great character and Vigoda a fine actor. RIP
no, it’s finally real. Rest in Peace Mr. Vigoda. His wife said he was never sick his entire life, died peacefully in his sleep of old age.
I saw him once at my Grand Union food store in Ringwood, NJ. I lived in Wanaque, next town over. I was behind him as he went into the store and wondering is that who I think it is, it was indeed and I always wished I’d asked for an autograph but also glad I didn’t in a way.
It was 1986 or 87
Gist of the story is Vigoda played a mobster who had an unsuccessful hip replacement operation, and he was trying to exact revenge on the doctor who did the surgery. Well played plot.
I've always been struck by the number of people in that scene that are dead by the end of GF II - many by Michael's order.
I always liked him in Barney Miller, however, when they decided to spin off his character into his own show, “Fish”, it was an absolutely terrible concept. It’s no surprise that it didn’t last very long.
-PJ
That feeling was intended.
Antenna TV is rerunning Barney Miller episodes. But I think they’re up to a time in the series past Sgt. Fish’s retirement and he pops in now and then, not as a regular.
RIP Mr. Vigoda, you were a funny funny man.
Some photos of Abe Vigoda from the FB page of, it appears, a friend of the family:
https://id-id.facebook.com/BarbaraPepperMoquinArtist/?_fb_noscript=1
LOL! I have a pic in my phone of the exact spot in Calvary cemetery that that pic was taken.
Oh, this is terrible news from the celeb front. Too many interesting characters did this man play. Rest in peace and thanks for the memories. “Tell Michael that it was only business.” Classic line.
RIP to a very talented guy.
He was a health nut, which helped to account for his longevity. Oddly, he still always appeared far older than his actual age. His character, Fish, on Barney Miller was supposed to be a decade or so older than he.
The picture gave me a chuckle.
RIP
At least we still have Hal Linden and Jack Soo.
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