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Film and television actor (1923–1995)
Michael V. Gazzo
Born Michael Vincenzo Gazzo
(1923-04-05 ) April 5, 1923Died February 14, 1995(1995-02-14) (aged 71) Resting place
Westwood Memorial Park Occupation(s) Playwright, actor Years active 1953–1995 Spouse Grace Gazzo (3 children)
[1] Children Peppi, Michael, Christopher
Michael Vincenzo Gazzo (April 5, 1923 – February 14, 1995) was an American playwright who later in life became a film and television actor.
[2] He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in
The Godfather Part II (1974).
Biography
Gazzo was born on April 5, 1923. He was of Italian descent. Gazzo served in the
United States Army Air Forces during
World War II .
[3]
[4]
[5] He was a member of the
Actors Studio and later trained actors such as
Debra Winger ,
Henry Silva and
Tony Sirico . He wrote A Hatful of Rain , a Broadway play about drug addiction, which ran for 389 performances in 1955 and 1956. It starred
Ben Gazzara and
Shelley Winters in the two lead roles, and was adapted into a
film by Oscar-winning director
Fred Zinnemann in 1957. The movie was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (
Anthony Franciosa ). A 1968 made-for-television version (as a filmed play) starred
Peter Falk ,
Sandy Dennis and
Michael Parks .
[6] Gazzo's other screen writing credits include the
Elvis Presley American musical drama
King Creole in 1958.
[7] Gazzo authored the Broadway play The Night Circus , also starring
Ben Gazzara .
[8]
Gazzo was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as
Frank Pentangeli in
The Godfather Part II but lost to
Robert De Niro who played
Vito Corleone in the same film.
[9]
Death
Gazzo died on February 14, 1995, at age 71 due to complications from a stroke.
[10] He was buried in the
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in
Los Angeles .
Filmography
On the Waterfront (1954) - Bit (uncredited)
A Man Called Adam (1966) - (uncredited)
Out of It (1969) - Vinnie's friend
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) - A Black Suit
Crazy Joe (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974) -
Frank Pentangeli
Kojak (1975) - Joel Adrian
Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976) - Mario Russo
Ellery Queen (Season 1, Episode 20 "The Adventure of Caesar's Last Sleep") (1976) - Benny Franks
Welcome Back, Kotter (Season 2, Episode 12 "Hark, the Sweatkings") (1976) - Angelo DeMora
Alice (1977) - Gino Tarantella
Starsky and Hutch (1977) - Joe Durniak
Barnaby Jones (1977) - Mr. Farinelli
Baretta (1977) - Rico Giove
Black Sunday (1977) - Muzi
The Feather and Father Gang (Season 1, Episode 12 "The Mayan Connection") (1977) - Gutman
Columbo (Season 7, Episode 2 "
Murder Under Glass ") (1978) - Vittorio Rossi
Fingers (1978) - Ben
King of the Gypsies (1978) - Spiro Giorgio
Vega$ (Season 2, Episode 7 "Dan Tanna Is Dead") (1979) - Cruger Hallow
Love and Bullets (1979) - Lobo
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) - Harry the Trainer
Beggarman, Thief (1979) - Sartene
Fantasy Island (Season 3, Episode 14 "The Lookalikes/Winemaker") (1979) - Frank Lassiter
Taxi (1979) - Vince
Cuba Crossing (1980) - Rossellini
Alligator (1980) - Chief Clark
Border Cop (1980) - Chico Suarez
Hoodlums (1980) - Gus Azziello
Sizzle (1980)
Magnum, P.I. (Season 1, Episode 8 "The Ugliest Dog in Hawaii") (1981) - Victor DiGorgio
Back Roads (1981) - Tazio
Body and Soul (1981) - Frankie
The Winter of Our Discontent (1983) - Marullo
Sudden Impact (1983) - Threlkis (uncredited)
Cannonball Run II (1984) - Sonny
Fear City (1984) - Mike
Cookie (1989) - Carmine
Beyond the Ocean (1990)
Forever (1991)
Ring of the Musketeers [
de ] (1992)
Last Action Hero (1993) - Torelli
L.A. Law (1994) (episode "McKenzie, Brackman, Barnum & Bailey") (1994) - Roscoe Zambini
Nothing to Lose (1994) - Joe (final film role)
References
^ Brantley, Ben (February 24, 1995).
"Michael V. Gazzo, 71, Is Dead - Playwright of 'Hatful of Rain' " .
The New York Times . Retrieved June 25, 2017 .
^
Biography for Michael V. Gazzo at
IMDb
^
10 ICONIC MOVIE AND TV ROLES PLAYED BY WWII VETERANS www.sandboxx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
^
Michael V. Gazzo at
Amazon.com . Retrieved December 5, 2021.
^
Michael V. Gazzo at
Fold3 . Retrieved December 5, 2021.
^
A Hatful of Rain at
IMDb
^
King Creole at
IMDb
^
"The Night Circus @ John Golden Theatre" .
Playbill . Playbill, Inc. Retrieved June 25, 2017 .
^ Folkart, Burt A. (February 25, 1995).
"Michael Gazzo; Film and TV Actor, Playwright" .
Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 29, 2016 .
^
Brantley, Ben (February 24, 1995).
"Michael V. Gazzo, 71, Is Dead – Playwright of 'Hatful of Rain' " . The New York Times .
Sources
Bacarella, Michael, ItalActors: 101 Years of Italian Actors in U.S. Entertainment , The National Italian American Foundation[
ISBN missing ]
External links
International National People Other