Abe Vigoda, Sunken-Eyed Character Actor, Dead at 94

http://abcnews.go.com/ ^ | 01/26/2016 | HILLEL ITALIE

[NJRighty]

A female detective on Barney Miller once saw very lewd graffiti with a phone number on a wall. Incensed, she wrote it down with the intention of arresting the guy who wrote it. Her note was left on Fish's desk by mistake. Fish walks in and is told his wife called, message is on his desk. Of course, he picks up the note with the lewd comment on it instead. The look on his face was just great.

Fish was such a great character and Vigoda a fine actor. RIP

[tina07]

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.

[oh8eleven]

Latest (?) list:

• Natalie Cole
• Pat Harrington Jr.
• David Bowie
• David Margulies
• Monte Irvin
• Celine Dion's husband and brother
• Alan Rickman
• Bill Johnson
• Dan Haggerty
• Louis Arroyo
• Dale "Buffin" Griffin
• Glenn Frey
• Abe Vigoda

[tina07]

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.

[tina07]

It was 1986 or 87

[Autonomous User]

http://www.abevigoda.com/abe_vigodas_dead.mp3

http://www.abevigoda.com/

[abb]

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.

[safeasthebanks]

I've always said there are entire movies not as good as that one scene.

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.

[GreenHornet]

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.

[Political Junkie Too]

Also Richard Libertini, January 7, 2016.

-PJ

[Borges]

That feeling was intended.

[JimRed]

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.

[Rumplemeyer]

RIP Mr. Vigoda, you were a funny funny man.

---

Amen.

[SunkenCiv]

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

[TalBlack]

LOL! I have a pic in my phone of the exact spot in Calvary cemetery that that pic was taken.

[ConservativeStatement]

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.

[fieldmarshaldj]

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.

[dfwgator]

The picture gave me a chuckle.

[NRx]

AC Repair Man: "I don't understand. I plug it in and nothing happens."

Sgt. Fish: "My very words to Bernice."

[ClearCase_guy]

RIP

At least we still have Hal Linden and Jack Soo.