Frank Vincent

Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr. (April 15, 1937 – September 13, 2017) was an American actor. Known for often portraying violent mobsters and criminals, he was a frequent collaborator of filmmaker Martin Scorsese, appearing as Salvy in Raging Bull, Billy Batts in Goodfellas (1990), and Frank Marino in Casino (1995). On television, he played Phil Leotardo on the fifth and sixth seasons of the HBO crime drama The Sopranos (2004–2007). Vincent voiced Salvatore Leone in the Grand Theft Auto video game series from 2001 to 2005. Vincent also worked as an acting coach, providing assistance and guidance to co-stars who did not have formal acting training.

Early life Vincent, who was of Italian descent with roots in Sicily and Naples, was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father, Frank Vincent Gattuso Sr., was an iron worker and businessman. He had two brothers, Nick and Jimmy, and a half-sister, Fran.

Vincent and Pesci later landed parts in the low-budget gangster film The Death Collector (1976), where they were spotted by Robert De Niro. De Niro told Martin Scorsese about both Vincent and Pesci. Scorsese was impressed by their performances and hired Vincent to appear in a supporting role in Raging Bull (1980), in which he once again appeared with Pesci and co-starred with De Niro. Vincent appeared in small roles in two Spike Lee films: Do the Right Thing (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991). In the latter, he played the abusive patriarch of an Italian-American family.

One of his notable appearances in foreign films was as a supporting character in Juan José Jusid's Made in Argentina (1987), in which he played Vito, a wealthy Manhattan businessman who befriends the film's protagonist, a substance-abuse counselor who treated Vito's son, played by Luis Brandoni.

Vincent was often cast as a gangster. In the HBO TV series The Sopranos, he had his most prominent role as Phil Leotardo, a ruthless New York City gangster who, as boss of the show's fictional Lupertazzi crime family, becomes the show's chief antagonist in the final season.

In 1999, Vincent won the Italian American Entertainer of the Year Award. Later that year, Vincent testified in court on the behalf of Provenzano at repeal sentences; Provenzano was serving a 10-year sentence for racketeering and other charges.

One of Vincent's lighter-hearted roles was in a British television commercial for Peugeot cars.

In 2006 he released a book, A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man, to positive reviews. He has also released a line of hand-rolled cigars which have his picture prominently displayed on the band.

He played Lieutenant Marino in the independent film The Tested (2008), directed by Russell Costanzo. The following year, he made a cameo appearance alongside fellow Sopranos actor Steve Schirripa in the Stargate Atlantis episode "Vegas" (2009). The following year, he starred in Chicago Overcoat (2009) as the main protagonist.

In 2013, he starred in the hit IDW Publishing comic series Killogy created by Life of Agonys Alan Robert as the character Sally Sno Cones alongside Marky Ramone of The Ramones. The series was nominated at the Ghastly Awards for Best Mini-Series and won multiple Horror Comic Awards from the Horror News Network. In 2014, the comics were adapted into 3D-animation for the Killogy animated series, in which the cast of the original comic series contributed their voices.

A resident of Nutley, New Jersey, Vincent used his drumming skills in an impromptu performance at a township holiday concert.

Death In early September 2017, Vincent suffered a heart attack. He underwent open-heart surgery in New Jersey on September 13; however, he died shortly thereafter, at the age of 80. Director John Gallagher, who worked with Vincent on Street Hunter and The Deli, noted that the actor lied about his age to avoid age discrimination, and therefore many sources listed his birth year as 1939.

Vincent's remains were cremated at a funeral home in Montclair, New Jersey, and a funeral service was held on September 16.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 The Death Collector Bernie Feldshuh 1980 Raging Bull Salvy 1982 Dear Mr. Wonderful Louie 1983 Baby It's You Vinnie Easy Money Mobster Dressed In A Trenchcoat Uncredited 1984 The Pope of Greenwich Village 1st Crew Chief 1985 Stiffs Mafia Thug 1986 Wise Guys Louie Fontucci 1987 Made in Argentina Vito 1988 Lou, Pat, and Joe D Pop Corelli 1989 Do the Right Thing Charlie Last Exit to Brooklyn Priest The Afterlife of Grandpa Vinny Valenti Short film 1990 Goodfellas Billy Batts Street Hunter Don Mario Romano 1991 Mortal Thoughts Dominic, Joyce's Father Jungle Fever Mike Tucci Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace Joseph F. Zanni Jr. Television film 1994 Men Lie Uncle Frank Federal Hill Sal Hand Gun Earl 1995 Ten Benny Ray DiGlovanni Sr. Casino Frank Marino Animal Room Arcade Owner 1996 On Seventh Avenue Angelo Occipente Television film She's the One Ron Gotti Robert "D.B." DiBernardo Television film Night Falls on Manhattan Police Captain West New York Tom Colletti 1997 Grind Nick Cop Land PDA President Vince Lassaro The North End Dominic "Dom" Di Bella The Deli Tommy "Tomatoes" The Good Life Unknown Made Men Tommy "The Bull" Vitaglia 1998 Witness to the Mob Frankie DeCicco Television film Undercurrent Eddie Torelli Belly Roger Vig Pete Television film 1999NetForce Johnny Stompato Television film Entropy Sal Penance Suicide Man Short film 2000 Isn't She Great Aristotle Onassis Gun Shy Carmine Minetti If You Only Knew Gino Ropewalk Unknown The Crew Marty Under Hellgate Bridge Sal "Big Sal" 2001 Smokin' Stogies Johnny "Big" Snipes Johnnie Marandino 2002 Hamlet in the Hamptons Michael 2003 Rubout Frank Santello Television film A Tale of Two Pizzas Frank Bianco This Thing of Ours Danny Santini Remembering Mario Joey "Big Ears" 2004 Shark Tale Great White #3Voice Coalition Alvaro 2005 Remedy Uncle Charles Van Vorst Park Carlo 2006 Last Request Father Brice 2007 City Teacher Unknown 2009 Chicago Overcoat Lou Marazano 2010 Stiffs Jimmy "The Limo King" The Tested Lieutenant Marino 2011 Spy Gaetano 2018 The Killer's Kiss Michael Gazzo Posthumous release

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Leg Work Detective Episode: "Peaches" 1989 The Paradise Club Walter MacHeath Episode: "Unfrocked in Babylon" 1991–1999 Law & Order John Franchetta / J.Z. 2 episodes 1992 Civil Wars Matty DiNofrio Episode: "Mob Psychology" 1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Johnny Torrio Episode: "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues" 1994 Walker, Texas Ranger Paul Mancini Episode: "The Prodigal Son" 1996 Swift Justice Tony Accardo Episode: "Stones" 1996–1997 New York Undercover Bates / Ray Tarrafino 2 episodes 1997 Cosby Dorothy's Husband Episode: "Florida" 2000 NYPD Blue Dino "The Rat" Ferrera 2 episodes 2004–2007 The Sopranos Phil Leotardo 31 episodes 2008 Stargate Atlantis Poker Player #1 Episode: "Vegas" 2014–2016 Mr. Pickles Jon Gabagooli 2 episodesVoice 2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Bishop Cattalano Episode: "Unholiest Alliance" 2017 Neo Yokio Uncle Albert Episode: "Hamptons Water Magic"Voice

Video games

Year Title Role Notes 2001 Grand Theft Auto IIISalvatore Leone 2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2005 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories 2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Archival recordingsRemasters of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only