Abe Vigoda, the prolific character actor best known as the mobster Tessio in “The Godfather” and Detective Phil Fish on the hit sitcom “Barney Miller,” died on Tuesday morning at his daughter’s home in Woodland Park, New Jersey.
After mistaken reports of his death in 1982 (People Magazine) and 1987 (WWOR New Jersey), Vigoda was the subject of several running gags as to whether he was dead or alive.
Abe is survived by his daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs. He was married to Beatrice Schy from 1968 until 1992…when she passed away.
Vigoda was 94.
I was alive and now I’m not 🙁
— Abe Vigoda (@abevigoda) January 26, 2016