Tony Lo Bianco obit

Tony Lo Bianco, 'The French Connection' actor, dead at 87

Tony Lo Bianco dead at 87 after cancer battle

 

He was not on the list.

Tony Lo Bianco, best known for his role in the Academy Award-winning film "The French Connection," has died. He was 87.

Lo Bianco died Tuesday night at his horse farm in Maryland after a battle with prostate cancer, representatives for the actor confirmed to Fox News Digital.

"His beloved wife, Alyse, was by his side," the representative said in an email.

Lo Bianco was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1936. A former Golden Gloves boxer, he would go on to act in theater, film and television, famously portraying mobster Sal Boca in William Friedkin’s "The French Connection." The film, which also starred Gene Hackman and Roy Schieder, was released in 1971 and won five Academy Awards.

Lo Bianco was also known for playing the role of "lonely hearts killer" Raymond Fernandez in the 1970 crime film "The Honeymoon Killers." He would appear on screen alongside Richard Gere in "Bloodbrothers" and Clint Eastwood in "City Heat."

Lo Bianco acted in 102 films during his career, according to his website. His last film was the 2022 Ray Romano-directed comedy "Somewhere in Queens."

Lo Bianco also acted on stage, earning a Tony Award nomination in 1983 for his portrayal of Eddie Carbone in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s "A View from the Bridge." He won an Obie Award for his role in an off-Broadway production of "Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the 7th" in 1975.

His television credits include "Police Story," "Jesus of Nazareth," "Marco Polo," "The Twilight Zone," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Law and Order."

Lo Bianco was also involved in many charitable organizations throughout his life, including the United Service Organizations (USO), Building Homes for Heroes, The Wounded Warrior Project, the National Italian American Foundation, Sons of Italy in America, among others.

His support of U.S. veterans led him to produce and narrate a tribute video called "Just a Common Soldier." The video has received over 22 million views and received two Emmys, according to Lo Bianco's website.

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes            Ref.

1965    The Sex Perils of Paulette            Allen               

1970    The Honeymoon Killers  Ray Fernandez                   

1971    The French Connection            Salvatore Boca                       

1973    Mean Frank and Crazy Tony            Tony Breda              

Serpico            Rizzo            Uncredited      

The Seven-Ups            Vito Lucia               

1976            Goldenrod       Jesse Gifford            

God Told Me To        Peter J. Nicholas                      

Merciless Man            The American                     

1978    F.I.S.T.            Anthony 'Babe' Milano                       

Bloodbrothers            Tommy De Coco                     

1981    Pals            Frank Green   Short film      

Separate Ways            Ken Colby              

1983            Another Woman's Child    Mike DeBray                       

1984    City Heat     Leon Coll                 

1991    City of Hope    Joe Rinaldi             

The Good Policeman            Jerry Diangelis                      

1993    Boiling Point    Tony Dio                  

1994    La ragnatela del silenzio - A.I.D.S.            Professor Donati                     

The Ascent            Aldo                

Power and Lovers  Warren            

1995    Nixon            Johnny Roselli             

1996    The Juror    Louie Boffano                       

Sworn to Justice  Briggs              

1997    Cold Night Into Dawn            Supervisor Klyn                      

1998    Mafia!            Cesar Marzoni                       

The Pawn            Lou                 

2000    The Day the Ponies Come Back            Paul DeCruccio                   

2001    Friends & Family            Victor Patrizzi            

Down 'n Dirty            Detective Dan Ward               

2002            Endangered Species            Captain Tanzini             

2003    The Cruelest Day            Il Generale Loi                

2006    The Last Request            Monte             

2009    Frame of Mind            'Mouthman'                

2011    Kill the Irishman            Jack White              

2013    Send No Flowers            Anthony Albano                     

2016    '79 Parts    Vincent            

Blondie Johnny            Short film      

2022            Somewhere in Queens            Dominic "Pops" Russo            Final film role           

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes            Ref.

1966    Get Smart   KAOS Agent            Episode: "The Smart Assassin"         

Blue Light            Carbonne            Episode: "Jet Trial"     

Hawk   Joey Fentanello            Episode: ""H" is a Dirty Letter"    

1968            N.Y.P.D.        Muller / Joe Peconic            2 episodes          

Hidden Faces            Nick Capello Turner            Miniseries        

1971    Great Performances            Frank            Episode: "A Memory of Two Mondays"        

1972            Madigan          Joe Lakka            Episode: "The Manhattan Beat"   

1973    Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside            Detective Rick Massi            Television film 

1974    The Story of Jacob and Joseph            Joseph 

1974–76            Police Story    D.J. Perkins / Sgt. Tony Calabrese            6 episodes          

1975    The Streets of San Francisco            Al Wozynsky            Episode: "Solitaire"     

A Shadow in the Streets            Pete Mackey            Television film 

1976    Origins of the Mafia            Nino Sciallacca            Episode: "Omertà"      

1977    Jesus of Nazareth            Quintilius            Miniseries        

1978    The Last Tenant            Joey            Television film 

She'll Be Sweet            Magee 

1979            Champions: A Love Story    Alan Denschroeder  

A Last Cry for Help     Dr. Ben Abbot 

Marciano            Rocky Marciano         

1981    Today's FBI      Joey D'Amico            Episode: "The Bureau"

1982    Marco Polo     Brother Nicolas            Miniseries        

1984            Hizzoner!          Fiorello La Guardia            Television film 

Jessie            Lieutenant Alex Ascoli            Television film 

The Paper Chase            Professor Reese            Episode: "The Advocate"       

Jessie            Lieutenant Alex Ascoli            10 episodes          

1985    Lady Blue            Sergeant 'Bing' Bingham            Episode: "Pilot"          

The Twilight Zone    Paul Marano            Episode: "If She Dies"

1986    Blood Ties      Judge Guiliano Salina            Television film 

1987    Night Heat     Tony Rimbaud            Episode: "Flashback"  

Police Story: The Freeway Killings            Detective DiAngelo            Television film 

1988    CBS Summer Playhouse            Tom 'Coop' Cooper            Episode: "Off Duty"    

La romana            Astarita            Miniseries        

Body of Evidence            Evan Campbell            Television film 

The Ann Jillian Story    Andy Murcia

1989    True Blue     'Doc'            Episode: "Pilot"          

1990    Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen            Michael Garcia            Television film 

Death Has a Bad Reputation            Carlos 

ABC Afterschool Special Officer Abbott            Episode: "Over the Limit"  

CBS Schoolbreak Special Coach Douglas            Episode: "Malcolm Takes the Shot"           

1991    Palace Guard   Arturo Taft      8 episodes          

The 10 Million Dollar Getaway            Tony 'Ducks' Corallo            Television film 

1991–94            Murder, She Wrote            Paul Avoncino / Phil Mannix 2 episodes          

1992    In the Shadow of a Killer            Frederick Berger            Television film 

Stormy Weathers            Lieutenant Frank Orozco

Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story            Allen Dorfman          

1992–2002            Law & Order   Mark Menaker / Sal DiMarco / Det. Mike Foster            3 episodes          

1994    The Maharaja's Daughter            Vito Capece            Miniseries        

1995            Homicide: Life on the Street   Mitch Drummond            3 episodes          

Tyson   Jimmy Jacobs            Television film 

1997    F/X: The Series            Martin Thorne            Episode: "Reunion"     

Let Me Call You Sweetheart            Dr. Charles Smith            Television film 

Bella Mafia            Pietro Carolla

1999    Rocky Marciano            Frankie Carbo 

2001            Walker, Texas Ranger            Tony Ferrelli            Episode: "Saturday Night"  

2002    Lucky Day            Detective Marinello            Television film 

2005    The Engagement Ring     Nick Di Cenzo 

N.Y.-70            Congressman Fario Cardinale         

2007    Law & Order: Criminal Intent    Joseph            Episode: "World's Fair"    

Partial stage credits

Year     Title            Role            Original venue   Notes            Ref.

1964–65            Incident at Vichy            Prisoner           ANTA Washington Square Theatre            Understudy

1965    Tartuffe            Sergeant         ANTA Washington Square Theatre

1965–66            The Royal Hunt of the Sun Fray Marcos de Niza     ANTA Playhouse        

1966    The Office   Gucci               10 previews; never officially opened

1967    The Ninety Day Mistress            Rudy Avarian            Biltmore Theatre         

1968    The Exercise            The Actor   John Golden Theatre

1968    The Goodbye People  Michael Silverman            Ethel Barrymore Theatre

1975    Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh            Duke Bronkowski            The American Place Theatre            

1983    A View from the Bridge            Eddie            Ambassador Theatre              

1989            Hizzoner!          Fiorello La Guardia            Longacre Theatre        

2008            LaGuardia        DiCapo Opera Theater             

2012    The Little Flower