Frank Vincent obit

Frank Vincent Dies: ‘Sopranos’ & ‘Goodfellas’ Actor Was 80

He was not on the list.

Frank Vincent, the instantly recognizable actor from The Sopranos, Goodfellas and Casino with a face perhaps more familiar than his name, died today. He was 80. Sources tell Deadline that he recently had suffered a heart attack, and his prognosis was dire even as he went into surgery.

 

Vincent died in a New Jersey hospital during open-heart surgery, according to reports. His family issued a statement via a publicist: “Frank lived life on his terms, creating a dynamic and successful path in every endeavor he chose. His generosity and spirit extended beyond his family and closest friends, as he strived to promote new talent in the performing arts.”

Vincent played Tony Soprano’s archenemy Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos, one of his many wiseguy roles. He was Billy Batts in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas — the “made man” who famously told Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito to “Go home and get your f*ckin’ shinebox” — and Frank Marino in the director’s Casino. His performance with Pesci in 1976’s The Death Collector caught the attention of Robert De Niro and Scorsese, and the director offered Vincent a supporting role in Raging Bull.

Among his many credits, Vincent appeared in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever and played a detective in the 2008 indie The Tested. He had a cameo role in 2009’s Stargate Atlantis.

Born Frank Vincent Gattuso in North Adams, MA, on April 15, 1937, he was raised in Jersey City, NJ. He was the author of the 2006 book A Guy’s Guide to Being a Man’s Man.

According to his official website, Vincent spent his adolescence playing and traveling with various national championship drum and bugle corps, then began playing nightclubs in a small combo. He became a successful recording drummer for Don Costa, Paul Anka, Del Shannon, Trini Lopez and the Belmonts, and made his feature film acting debut in Ralph DeVito’s 1975 Death Collector.

Scorsese later cast him in 1980’s Raging Bull, with Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Casino following. As Billy Batts in Goodfellas, Vincent delivered the “shine box” line that would become one of the film’s most memorable moments.

Vincent also did voice work: He was Don Salvatore Leone in the video game franchise Grand Theft Auto, and was a great white shark in DreamWorks’ Shark Tale.

Just a small sampling of his other film and TV credits include Copland, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, This Thing of Ours and Spy. His IMDb page lists an upcoming 2018 film, Asbury Park, which also includes his old pal and costar Pesci.

Vincent was among The Sopranos cast when the show received the 2008 SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine; daughters Debra and Maria; son Anthony; grandchildren Tori and TJ; and siblings Nick, Jim and Fran.

A memorial service will be held at 6:30 PM Saturday at Caggiano Memorial Home in Montclair, NJ. Visiting hours will be 2:30-6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to a charity of choice.

News of Vincent’s death was first reported by the website The Blast.

Filmography

    1976: The Death Collector as Bernie Feldshuh

    1980: Raging Bull as Salvy

    1982: Dear Mr. Wonderful as Louie

    1983: Baby It's You as Vinnie

    1983: Easy Money as Mobster Dressed in a Trenchcoat (uncredited)

    1984: The Pope of Greenwich Village as 1st Crew Chief

    1985: Stiffs as Mafia Thug

    1986: Wise Guys as Louie Fontucci

    1987: Made in Argentina

    1988: Lou, Pat, and Joe D as Pop Corelli

    1989: Do the Right Thing as Charlie

    1989: Last Exit to Brooklyn as Priest

    1989: The Paradise Club (TV Series) as Walter MacHeath

    1989: The Afterlife of Grandpa (Short) as Vinny Valenti

    1990: Goodfellas as Billy Batts (based on William Bentvena)

    1990: Street Hunter as Don Mario Romano

    1991: Mortal Thoughts as Dominic, Joyce's Father

    1991: Jungle Fever as Mike Tucci

    1991: Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace (TV Movie) as Joseph F. Zanni Jr.

    1991–1999: Law & Order (TV Series) as John Franchetta / J.Z.

    1992: Civil Wars (TV Series) as Matty DiNofrio

    1993: The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV Series) as Johnny Torrio

    1994: Men Lie as Uncle Frank

    1994: Federal Hill as Sal

    1994: Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series) as Paul Mancini

    1994: Hand Gun as Earl

    1995: Ten Benny as Ray Diglovanni Sr.

    1995: Casino as Frank Marino

    1995: Animal Room as an Arcade Owner

    1996: On Seventh Avenue as (TV Movie) Angelo Occipente

    1996: Swift Justice (TV Series) as Tony Accardo

    1996: She's the One as Ron

    1996: Gotti (TV Movie) as Robert "D.B." DiBernardo

    1996: Night Falls on Manhattan as Police Captain

    1996: West New York as Tom Colletti

    1996–1997: New York Undercover (TV Series) as Bates / Ray Tarrafino

    1997: Cosby (TV Series)

    1997: Grind as Nick

    1997: Cop Land as PDA President Lassaro

    1997: The North End as Dom Di Bella

    1997: The Deli as Tommy Tomatoes

    1997: The Good Life (Never released)

    1997: Made Men as Tommy "the Bull" Vitaglia

    1998: Witness to the Mob (TV Movie) as Frankie DeCicco

    1998: Undercurrent as Eddie Torelli

    1998: Belly as Roger

    1998: Vig (TV Movie) as Pete

    1999: NetForce (TV Movie) as Johnny Stompato

    1999: Entropy as Sal

    1999: Penance (Short) as Suicide Man

    2000: Isn't She Great as Aristotle Onassis

    2000: Gun Shy as Carmine Minetti

    2000: If You Only Knew as Gino

    2000: Ropewalk

    2000: NYPD Blue (TV Series) as Dino "the Rat" Ferrera

    2000: The Crew as Marty

    2000: Under Hellgate Bridge as Big Sal

    2001: Smokin' Stogies as Johnny Big

    2001: Snipes as Johnnie Marandino

    2001: Grand Theft Auto III (Video Game) as Salvatore Leone (voice)

    2002: Hamlet in the Hamptons as Michael

    2003: Rubout (TV Movie) as Frank Santello

    2003: A Tale of Two Pizzas as Frank Bianco

    2003: This Thing of Ours as Danny Santini

    2003: Remembering Mario as Joey Big Ears

    2004: Shark Tale as Great White #3 (voice)

    2004: Coalition as Alvaro

    2004: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Video Game) as Salvatore Leone (voice)

    2004–2007: The Sopranos (TV Series) as Phil Leotardo

    2005: Remedy as Uncle Charles

    2005: Van Vorst Park as Carlo

    2005: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (Video Game) as Salvatore Leone (voice)

    2006: Last Request as Father Brice

    2007: Lucky Man (Video short)

    2007: City Teacher

    2008: Stargate Atlantis (TV Series) as Poker Player #1

    2009: Chicago Overcoat: The Glory Days Are Back as Lou Marazano

    2010: Stiffs as Jimmy the Limo King

    2010: The Tested as Lieutenant Marino

    2011: Spy as Gaetano

    2014: Killogy Animated Series as Sally Sno Cones (voice)

    2014–2016: Mr. Pickles (TV Series) as Jon Gabagooli (voice)

    2015: The Making of the Mob: New York as Himself

    2016: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) as Bishop Cattalano

    2017: Neo Yokio as Uncle Albert (voice)

    2018: The Killer's Kiss as Michael Gazzo