Bruce MacVittie obit

Bruce MacVittie Dies: ‘The Sopranos’, ‘Law & Order’, ‘American Buffalo’ Actor Was 65

 

He was not on the list.

Bruce MacVittie, a prolific New York stage actor who made his Broadway debut opposite Al Pacino in a 1983 production of David Mamet’s American Buffalo and became familiar to television viewers through roles on The Sopranos, Law & Order and As The World Turns, died May 7 at a hospital in New York City. He was 65.

His death was announced by his wife, Carol Ochs, to The New York Times. A cause has not been determined.

MacVittie, a co-founder of the celebrated Off Broadway company Naked Angels, made his Broadway debut in 1983 under trying circumstances: He replaced actor James Hayden in the role of Bobby less than a month into the play’s run, when the up-and-coming Hayden died of a drug overdose. MacVittie would continue in the role on Broadway, in a touring production and on London’s West End.

Acclaimed for his performance in the play (a role Darren Criss plays in the current Broadway staging), MacVittie would go on to be a staple of New York’s Off Broadway scene, including prominent roles in productions at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, Naked Angels, the Public Theater, Playwright’s Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre and the Cherry Lane.

Beginning his TV career with an appearance in 1981 on Barney Miller, MacVittie subsequently had roles on Miami Vice, The Equalize, Spencer For Hire, LA Law, The Stand, Homicide: Life on the Street and Oz, among many others. In 2002, MacVittie began a recurring role on The Sopranos, appearing as Danny Scalercio

He made his first appearance on NBC’s Law & Order in 1991, beginning an association with the franchise that would last for decades. His final appearance with the shows was a 2021 role in Law & Order: SVU.

“We’ve worked together often,” tweeted longtime Law & Order franchise producer Warren Leight today. “He was a beautiful, honest actor and man. The real deal.”

Other television credits include Person of Interest, Blue Bloods, The Deuce, Manifest, Waterfront, One Life to Live, Bull and, most recently, Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series When They See Us. Feature film credits include Stonewall, 54, Million Dollar Baby, Born on the Fourth of July and The Doors.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter Sophia Oliva Ochs MacVittie.

 

Filmography

 

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1981    The Chosen Bully    

1984    The Cotton Club            Vince Hood  

1988    Vibes            Tony   

1989    The January Man            Rip      

1989    Born on the Fourth of July  Patient #2       

1991    Queens Logic    Joey Clams' Nephew          

1991    He Said, She Said            Lou the Florist  

1991    The Doors   UCLA Student

1991            Deceived        Social Security Man   

1995            Stonewall         Vinnie  

1997    The Peacemaker            DOE Helo Tech       

1998    54            Music Producer         

1998    Hi-Life            Cluck  

2000    Where the Money Is            Karl    

2001            Hannibal          FBI Tech with Lecter's Letter 

2004    Million Dollar Baby            Mickey Mack  

2006    Lonely Hearts            Detective Eastman      

2006            Bernard and Doris            Doctor

2006    Just Like the Son            Bill      

2009            Brooklyn's Finest            Father Scarpitta            Credited as Bruce Macvittie

2013    Ass Backwards            Club Owner 

2019    The Last Full Measure            Senator Martin Clayborne       

2022    Call Jane            Director Richardson    

2022    The Good Nurse            Malcolm Burrel          

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1985    Miami Vice     Officer David Blakeney            Episode: "Whatever Works"

1985    The Equalizer            Officer Frank Sergi            Episode: "Lady Cop"

1990    Night Visions Starks            Television film

1991–2006            Law & Order   Various            7 episodes

1993    L.A. Law            Andrew Varney            Episode: "Bourbon Cowboy"

1994    The Stand   Ace-High            Episodes: "The Betrayal" and "The Stand"

1997            Homicide: Life on the Street   Larry Biedron            Episode: "The Subway"

1998    Sex and the City            Allan Miller            Episode: "The Man, the Myth, the Viagra"

1999    Oz            Strauch            Episode: "Unnatural Disasters"

2002    The Sopranos            Danny Scalercio            5 episodes

2006    The Unit      Mark Harris            Episode: "Unannounced"

2007    The Black Donnellys            Lambert            Episodes: "When the Door Opens" and "Wasn't That Enough?"

2007            Numbers            Congressman Randal Amato            Episode: "The Art of Reckoning"

2011    Body of Proof            Mr. Swanson            Episode: "Pilot"

2011    Person of Interest            Defense Attorney            Episode: "Pilot"

2018    Blue Bloods Lee McByrne            Episode: "Second Chances"

2018            Chicago Med  Vic Thomas            Episode: "Born This Way"

2019    When They See Us            Detective Hartigan            Episode: "Part One"

2022    Bull            Ruben Ware            Episode: "Safe Space"

Video games

Year     Title            Role            Notes

2004    Red Dead Revolver            Cowboy, Holstein Hal, Guard  

2005    Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories  Uncle Leone  

2010    Red Dead Redemption            Clyde Evans            Credited as Bruce MacVitte

2013    Grand Theft Auto V            The Local Population