Abe Vigoda

Abraham Charles Vigoda (February 24, 1921 – January 26, 2016) was an American actor known for his portrayals of Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather (1972) and Phil Fish in both Barney Miller (1975–1977, 1982) and Fish (1977–1978). Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, New York, on February 24, 1921, the son of Samuel Vigoda and Lena Moses, Jewish immigrants from Russia. After serving in World War II, he studied acting on the GI Bill at the American Theatre Wing. Vigoda began acting professionally in 1947 and worked in radio and television. He gained fame for his roles in The Godfather and the TV series Barney Miller and Fish.