Abe Vigoda: 1921-2016

ABC News is reporting that eternally geriatric actor Abe Vigoda has died at the age of 94.

I expect a lot of news outlets will be very cautious about reporting his death. People Magazine famously reported his demise back on 1982, an error that has since turned into one of the weirdest comedic touchstones in America. There's even a website devoted exclusively to reporting the actor's status: www.abevigoda.com. It's not the most tasteful gag in the world, but there it is.

Vigoda's big break came in 1972 when he landed the role of "Sal Tessio" in THE GODFATHER, later joining the cast of BARNEY MILLER as the cantankerous Det. Phil Fish (a role that carried over to a short-lived spinoff in 1977, simply titled FISH.)

DARK SHADOWS fans remember Vigoda from two brief roles on the series. In 1969, he appeared in two episodes as jeweler "Ezra Braithwaite." Vigoda returned to the show near the end of 1970 as "Otis Greene." Both characters met quick deaths at the hands of supernatural entities.

Source: ABC News