Abe Vigoda Biography

Fast Facts

• His brother Bill worked as a comic book artist for many years on the "Archie" franchise during the 1940s
• After attending the Theater School of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall, he began working theater, and had a stage career for 30 years before making it big on the silver screen
• Quote: "[on working with Marlon Brando in "The Godfather"] "I found him to be a quiet man․ He kept mostly to himself․ I respected his privacy․ He was a great star․ This was my first big thing -- I felt lucky and grateful I was with these people․""
• Quote: "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․"
• Despite having acted for several years prior, he landed one of his biggest roles to date after answering an open casting call for "The Godfather" in which he was selected by Francis Ford Coppola amongst a group of 500 unknown actors
• Following "The Godfather" fame, he transitioned from film to television and agreed to a supporting role in the series "Barney Miller" in the 1970s
• In 1982․ People Magazine mistakenly reported that he had died, leading to him taking a picture of himself sitting upright in a coffin to debunk the rumor