'Sopranos' and 'Goodfellas' actor Frank Vincent dies aged 78
Frank Vincent, a veteran character actor who often played tough guys, including mob boss Phil Leotardo on "The Sopranos," has died. He was 78.
Vincent died peacefully on Wednesday, a statement from his family said. No cause of death was given.
Besides Leotardo, the ruthless New York mob boss who frequently clashed with Tony Soprano on the popular HBO drama and who was memorably whacked at a service station, Vincent portrayed gangsters for director Martin Scorsese. He appeared in "Raging Bull," ”Goodfellas" - where he played Billy Batts, a made man in the Gambino crime family - and "Casino," playing Frank Marino, based on real-life gangster Frank Cullotta.
Vincent had small roles in two Spike Lee films, "Do the Right Thing" and "Jungle Fever," and also was in "The Pope of Greenwich Village," ”Last Exit to Brooklyn," ”Night Falls on Manhattan" and "Shark Tale," among his more than 50 movies.
Tributes flowed on social media as news of his death spread.
We lost one of our family today. Frank Vincent. Wonderful actor and lovely man. Rest In Peace, Frankie.
— Maureen Van Zandt (@MVZaGoGo) September 13, 2017
Frank Vincent with Diddy and others in Ciroc commercial in Vegas. Outstanding. pic.twitter.com/vS526VMydJ
— Aram Tolegian (@aramtolegian) September 13, 2017
#FrankVincent
One time he let me get my shinebox in 94.Great guy pic.twitter.com/PunWpNZFbP— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) September 13, 2017
No! Such a great actor. So glad he got revenge on Pesci in Casino. Played Phil Leotardo with so much depth. https://t.co/BiJ1dZeI4E
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) September 13, 2017
Raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, he acted in school plays and learned piano, trumpet and drums. As an adult, he became a session drummer for such singers as Paul Anka, Del Shannon, Trini Lopez and The Belmonts.
In 1975, he made his feature film acting debut in Ralph DeVito’s "Death Collector," where he was spotted by Scorsese.
In 2006, Vincent published "A Guy’s Guide to Being a Man’s Man."