Vincent Gardenia
Vincent Gardenia | |
---|---|
Born | Vincenzo Scognamiglio January 7, 1920[1] Ercolano, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Campania, Italy |
Died | December 9, 1992 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 72)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1945–1992 |
Vincent Gardenia (born Vincenzo Scognamiglio; January 7, 1920 – December 9, 1992) was an
Gardenia's other notable feature films include Murder Inc. (1960), The Hustler (1961), The Front Page (1974), Greased Lightning (1977), Heaven Can Wait (1978) and The Super (1991).
In 1990, Gardenia was awarded the
Early life
Gardenia was born Vincenzo Scognamiglio in Ercolano, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Campania, Italy, the elder son of[2] Elisa (née Ausiello) and Gennaro Ettore Federico Scognamiglio (or Gennaro Gardenia Scognamiglio).[3] In November, 1922, when he was almost three years old, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York.[2]
His father established an acting troupe that presented Italian-language melodramas. As a child, he performed in the troupe in Italian-American neighborhoods in and around New York City,
Gardenia also served in the
Career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2022) |
Gardenia played a small role in the film
A life member of The Actors Studio,[7] Gardenia won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1972 for his performance in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, opposite Peter Falk.[8] In 1979, he was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Ballroom.[9]
In film, he was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Bang the Drum Slowly and Moonstruck.[10][11]
In television, Gardenia won the 1990
Death
In December 1992, Gardenia was in Philadelphia to perform in the stage production of the Tom Dulack comedy Breaking Legs. He was beginning a three-week run as restaurant owner Lou Graziano in the off-Broadway hit at the Forrest Theatre. It was a role he had performed since the show's New York City opening in May 1991.[citation needed]
Around 1 a.m. on December 9, 1992, hours after the final preview performance, Gardenia had returned to his hotel room after dining with stage director John Tillinger, producer Elliot Martin and cast members. According to Martin, Gardenia showed no signs of illness, adding, "It was just a jolly evening." According to authorities, when Gardenia failed to appear the next morning for a radio interview to promote the play's run, press representative
That evening, in the theatrical tradition of "the show must go on" and just hours after Gardenia's death, the play's official opening took place. The company dedicated its opening performance to Gardenia's memory.[13] Harry Guardino assumed Gardenia's role as the restaurant owner.[14]
Gardenia never married or had children. He was survived by his younger brother, Ralph Frank Scognamiglio (September 30, 1925 – January 31, 2018).
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1945 | The House on 92nd Street | German spy trainee | Uncredited |
1958 | Cop Hater | Danny Gimp | |
1960 | Murder, Inc. | Lawyer Laslo | |
1961 | Parrish | Bit part | Uncredited |
Mad Dog Coll | Dutch Schultz | ||
The Hustler | Bartender | ||
1962 | A View from the Bridge | Liperi | |
1965 | The Third Day | Preston | |
1970 | Jenny
|
Mr. Marsh | |
Where's Poppa? | Coach Williams | ||
1971 | Little Murders | Carol Newquist | |
Cold Turkey | Mayor Quincey L. Wappler | ||
1972 | Hickey & Boggs | Papadakis | |
1973 | Bang the Drum Slowly | Dutch Schnell | Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
Lucky Luciano | Colonel Charles Poletti | ||
1974 | Death Wish | Det. Frank Ochoa | |
The Front Page | Sheriff Pete Hartmann | ||
1975 | The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery | Big Daddy Jessup | |
La banca di Monate | Santino Paleari | ||
1976 | House of Pleasure for Women | Mr. Chips | |
The Big Racket | Pepe | ||
Luna di miele in tre | Frankie, the journalist | ||
1977 | Fire Sale | Benny Fikus | |
Greased Lightning | Sheriff Cotton | ||
1978 | Heaven Can Wait | Det. Lt. Krim | |
1979 | Firepower | Frank Hull | |
Home Movies | Doctor Byrd | ||
Sensitività | Old painter | ||
Goldie and the Boxer | Diamond | ||
That's Life | |||
1980 | The Dream Merchants | Peter Kessler | |
The Last Flight of Noah's Ark | Stoney | ||
1982 | Death Wish II | Det. Frank Ochoa | |
1983 | Odd Squad | General Brigg | |
1985 | Movers & Shakers | Saul Gritz | |
1986 | Little Shop of Horrors | Mr. Mushnik | |
1987 | Moonstruck | Cosmo Castorini | Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1988 | Cheeeese | Bonjour | |
Cavalli si nasce | Il Principe | ||
1989 | Skin Deep | Barny the Barkeeper | |
1991 | The Super | Big Lou Kritski | (final film role) |
Television
Some of Gardenia's many television appearances include:
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1954 | Twelve Angry Men | Bailiff (uncredited) | Season 7, episode 1 |
1957 | The Night America Trembled | Dick | Season 10, episode 1 |
1958 | Decoy | Bull | Season1, episode 19 ("The Challenger") |
1961 | The Untouchables | Jake Petrie | Season 3, episode 1 ("The Troubleshooter") |
1965 | The Big Valley | John Sample | Season 1, episode 1 ("Palms of Glory") |
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
|
Bellini | Season 2, episode 5 ("Escape from Venice") | |
1967 | The Fugitive | Capt. Bill Gibbs | Season 4, episode 20 ("There Goes the Ball Game") |
Mannix | Eddie Cortina | Season 1, episode 2 ("Skid Marks on a Dry Run") | |
I Spy | Dr. Mellado | Season 2, episode 23 ("Get Thee to a Nunnery") | |
The Big Valley | Briggs | Season 2, episode 17 ("Image of Yesterday") | |
The Rat Patrol | Colonel Centis | Season 1, episode 27 ("Take Me to Your Leader Raid") | |
The Monkees | Bruno | Season 1 episode 17 ("The Case of the Missing Monkee") | |
Gunsmoke | Charles Shepherd | Season 12, episode 24 ("Noose of Gold") | |
Mission: Impossible | Vito Lugana | Season 2, episodes 11 & 12 ("The Council") | |
1968 | Lou Parma | Season 3, episodes 5 ("The Execution") | |
Ironside | Roy Faber | Season 1, episode 22 ("Something for Nothing") | |
1971 | McCloud | Barney Sweetwater | Season 2, episode 2 ("Top of the World, Ma!") |
1972 | The Rookies | Saul | Season 1, episode 8 ("Dirge for Sunday") |
Love American Style
|
Mr. Cooperman | Season 4, episode 4 ("Love and the Girlish Groom") | |
Maude | Judge Motorman | Season 1, episode 6 ("The Ticket") | |
1973–74 | All in the Family | Frank Lorenzo | Before being cast regularly as Frank Lorenzo in season 4, Gardenia had played neighbor Jim Bowman in a single episode of season 1 and swinger Curtis Rempley in a single episode of season 3. |
1975 | Kojak | Vince LaGuardia | Season 3, episode 13 ("A House of Prayer, a Den of Thieves") |
1977 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Frank Coleman | Season 7, episode 24 ("The Last Show") |
1980–81 | Breaking Away | Ray Stoller | Starring role (all 8 episodes) |
1985 | The Twilight Zone | Harry Faulk | Season 1, episode 3 ("Healer") |
1990 | L.A. Law | Murray Melman | 7 episodes |
References
- ^ Brennan, Sandra (2012). "Vincent Gardenia". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Murphy, Mary (January 16, 1974). "Vince Gardenia and the Actor as Coach". Los Angeles Times. p. E1.
- ISBN 9780810302419. Retrieved June 29, 2015 – via google.ca.
- ^ a b Grimes, William (December 10, 1992). "Vincent Gardenia, Character Actor, Is Dead at 71". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ "Vincent Gardenia; Actor Won Tony, Emmy Awards". Los Angeles Times. December 10, 1992. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021.
- ^ "Obituary: Vincent Gardenia". The Independent. December 11, 1992. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0020123101.
- ^ "Winners". tonyawards.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". tonyawards.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "1974 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". oscars.org. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "1988 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". oscars.org. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Folkart, Burt A. (December 10, 1992). "Vincent Gardenia; Actor Won Tony, Emmy Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ Bykofsky, Stu; Nelson, Nels; Daughen, Joseph R. "'Breaking Legs' Cast Pays Tribute To Star Dedicates Opener To Vince Gardenia Who Died In Hotel". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ "Guardino replaces Gardenia in play". The Baltimore Sun. January 20, 1993. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ Rousuck, J. Wynn (December 10, 1992). "Vincent Gardenia's final role indulged actor's twin passions APPRECIATION". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ "Local Law No. 29: Street Name - Vincent Gardenia Boulevard, Brooklyn, 1993". nyc.gov. Retrieved June 3, 2024.