Michael Tucci

Michael Tucci (born April 15, 1946) is an American actor and retired high school teacher. He played Pete Schumaker in It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–1990), and Sonny LaTierri in the 1978 film Grease.

Personal life He graduated from H. Frank Carey Junior-Senior High School in Franklin Square, New York, and C.W. Post College of Long Island University, where he was President of local Sigma Beta Epsilon fraternity that had Marjorie Merriweather Post as its honorary house mother and later became a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon national fraternity. Tucci also served as a dormitory Residence Manager. He also earned a J.D. degree from St. John's Law School. He is married to a former television network executive, Kathleen, with whom he has two daughters, Kate (b. 1989) and Kelly (b. 1994).

Career Tucci is best known for playing the T-Birds member Sonny LaTierri in the 1978 film version of the musical Grease. He portrayed law student Gerald Golden in the TV series The Paper Chase from 1983 to 1986. He then played best friend Pete Schumaker on It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–1990). He also spent more than three years touring with companies of the musical Chicago, performing as Amos, Roxy Hart's husband. Additionally, he performed as the Green Apple in the play "Destination" by Uta Hagen. He was in numerous productions on Broadway.

On television, he played Mark Sloan's friend and hospital administrator Norman Briggs for the first four seasons of Diagnosis: Murder. He played the father of Melissa McCarthy's character in The Heat (2013).

Tucci was also a teacher and theatre coach at St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California. In 2014 he directed the school's rendition of We're the Millers starring American Croatian comedians George Dulcich and Stanko Zovak.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Night They Robbed Big Bertha's Lou 1975 Forced Entry Richie Alternative title: The Last Victim 1978 Grease Sonny LaTierri 1979 Sunnyside Harry Cimoli 1981 Lunch Wagon Arnie Alternative title: Lunch Wagon Girls 1982 Pandemonium Man Leaving Restaurant 1982 Groucho Chico Marx 1998 Evasive Action Judge 1999 Elevator Seeking Carl Direct-to-video 2001 Blow Dr. Bay 2001 Mimic 2 Dr. Shapiro Direct-to-video 2013 The Heat Mr. Mullins

Television credits Year Title Role Notes 1976 Delvecchio George Sanfillipo Episode – "Red Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" 1976 Barney Miller Fred Episode – "Hash" 1978 Barney Miller Rubin Episode – "The Accusation" 1979 The Love Boat Sam Episode – "Ages of Man/Bo 'n Sam/Families" 1980 Barney Miller Danny Rizzo Episode – "People's Court" 1980 Angie Dennis Episode – "Angie and Brad's Close Encounter" 1980 Alice Dino Episodes – "Hello Vegas, Goodbye Diner", "Too Many Robert Goulets" 1980 Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Captain Claude Eatherly TV movie 1981 Lou Grant Marvin Episode – "Reckless" 1982 Barney Miller Gilbert Doyle Episode – "The Clown" 1982–1983 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. Charlie Nichols Recurring role (3 episodes) 1982 The Powers of Matthew Star Pileggi Episode – "The Italian Caper" 1983–1986 The Paper Chase Gerald Golden 36 episodes 1984 Night Court Mr. Pina Episode – "The Nun" 1985 Diff'rent Strokes Officer Jim Coletta Episode – "Street Smarts" 1986 Cagney & Lacey Polonais Episode – "The Man Who Shot Trotsky" 1986 Faerie Tale Theatre Lionel Episode – "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed" 1986–1990 It's Garry Shandling's Show Pete Schumaker Main cast (71 episodes) 1991 MacGyver Philip Episode – "Honest Abe" 1991 Chance of a Lifetime Randall TV movie 1992–1993 Flying Blind Jeremy Barash Main cast (22 episodes) 1993–1997 Diagnosis: Murder Norman Briggs Main cast (85 episodes) 1994 Monty Dr. Rubin Episode – "Baby Talk" 1994 MacShayne: The Final Roll of the Dice Harvey Bell TV movie 1995 Just Like Dad Frank Turner TV movie 1996 The Man Who Captured Eichmann Danny TV movie 1997 Life's Work Principal Blair Episode – "Harassment" 1999 JAG Father Genaro Episode – "Second Sight" 2001 Once and Again Arnold Recurring role (2 episodes) 2015 The Comedians Billy's Agent Episode – "Pilot"