Tony Musante

Anthony Peter Musante Jr. (June 30, 1936 – November 26, 2013) was an American actor, best known for the TV series Toma as Detective David Toma, Nino Schibetta in Oz, and Joe D'Angelo in As the World Turns (2000–2003). In movies, he achieved fame relatively early in his career, starring or having significant roles in such films as Once a Thief (1965), The Incident (1967), The Detective (1968) and The Last Run (1971), and also in a number of Italian productions, including The Mercenary (1968), Metti, una sera a cena (1969) and The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970).

Life and career Musante was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, into an Italian-American family, the son of Natalie Anne (née Salerno), a school teacher, and Anthony Peter Musante, an accountant. He attended Oberlin College and Northwestern University.

Musante acted in numerous feature films, in the United States and elsewhere, including Italy. His television work included the 1973 television series Toma (predecessor to Baretta) and the soap opera As the World Turns. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his performance in the 1975 Broadway play P. S. Your Cat Is Dead!. He was also seen on Broadway in a double-bill of Tennessee Williams's 27 Wagons Full of Cotton and Arthur Miller's A Memory of Two Mondays and in Edward Albee's The Lady from Dubuque , and off-Broadway in Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune .

Toma did well in the ratings despite tough opposition, but Musante insisted upon leaving the series after one year, as was permitted by his contract. The series was revised as Baretta, with Robert Blake in the lead role, and it was a success. At the time of his death, The New York Times referred to Toma as "the show that got away." But Musante never regretted leaving the series, despite sacrificing money and fame.

He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work in a 1975 episode of Medical Center, A Quality of Mercy. Musante also played Nino Schibetta, a feared Mafia boss and the Italian gang leader inside of Emerald City during the first season of the HBO television series Oz.

Death Musante died of a hemorrhage following oral surgery on November 26, 2013, aged 77, in Manhattan.

Filmography

Film

Once a Thief (1965) – Cleveland 'Cleve' Shoenstein The Incident (1967) – Joe Ferrone The Detective (1968) – Felix The Mercenary (Italy, 1968) – Paco Román Metti, una sera a cena (Italy, 1969) – Max The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (Italy, 1970) – Sam Dalmas The Anonymous Venetian (Italy, 1970) – Enrico Grissom Gang (1971) – Eddie Hagan The Last Run (1971) – Paul Rickard Il caso Pisciotta (The Pisciotta Case) (Italy, 1972) – Francesco Scauri Goodbye & Amen (Italy, 1978) – John Dhannay Break Up (Italy, 1978) – Paolo Naviase (Italy, 1983) – Jurek Rudinski The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) – Pete The Trap (Italy, 1985) – Michael Parker The Repenter (Italy, 1985) – Vanni Ragusa The Deep End of the Ocean (1999) – Angelo Cappadora The Yards (2000) – Seymour Korman Life as It Comes (Italy, 2003) – Karl, the Professor (Italy, 2004) – Amilcare We Own the Night (2007) – Jack Shapiro

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1963 The DuPont Show of the Week Joe Ferrone Episode: "Ride with Terror" 1964 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Major DeGuisado Episode: "A Wind of Hurricane Force" 1964 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Candle Episode: "Memo from Purgatory" 1965 The Trials of O'Brien Coley Thomas Episode: "Bargain Day on the Street of Regret" 1966 The Trials of O'Brien Callison Episode: "The Blue Steel Suite" 1966 The Fugitive Billy Karnes Episode: "The Blessings of Liberty" 1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. David Episode: "The Tall Tree" 1973–1974 Toma Det. David Toma 23 episodes 1974 Police Story Joe Bosic Episode: "Fathers and Sons" 1975 Lt. William Calley TV movie 1975 The Rockford Files Charlie Harris Episode: "Charlie Harris at Large" 1975 The Desperate Miles Joe Larkin TV movie 1975 Medical Story Dr. Paul Brandon Episode: "The God Syndrome" 1975 Police Story Sgt. Vince Della Maggiori Episode: "Breaking Point" 1976 Medical Story Dr. Hoffman Episode: "The Quality of Mercy" 1976 Origins of the Mafia Michele Borello TV miniseries. Italy 1976 Police Story Jack Mitchell Episode: "The Other Side of the Badge" 1977 Joey Faber TV movie 1978 My Husband Is Missing Derek Mackenzie TV movie 1979 Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Sal Falcone TV movie 1979 The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther King Ahasuerus TV movie 1980 High Ice Lt. Col. Harris Thatcher TV movie 1982 American Playhouse George Episode: "Weekend" 1984 Rearview Mirror Vince Martino TV movie 1985 MacGruder and Loud Caferelli Episode: Pilot 1986 The Equalizer John Parker Episode: "Pretenders" 1987 Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder Vittorio TV miniseries 1987 Night Heat Roy Barnett Episode: "Grace" 1988 La collina del diavolo Daniele TV movie. Italy 1989 Jesse Hawkes Episode: "Little Girl Lost" 1989 Kirk Mesana TV miniseries. Italy 1995 Il barone Baron Sajeva TV miniseries. Italy 1997 Deep Family Secrets Lennox TV movie 1997 Oz Nino Schibetta 7 episodes 1997 Nothing Sacred Gary Episode: "Song of Songs" 1998 Exiled: A Law & Order Movie Don Giancarlo Uzielli TV movie 1998 Acapulco H.E.A.T. Rocco Santora Episode: "Code Name Million Dollar Man" 1999 Duraid Al Simma TV miniseries 2000 Un bacio nel buio TV miniseries. Italy 2000–2003 As the World Turns Joe D'Angelo 4 episodes 2001 100 Centre Street Albert Esposito 2 episodes 2004 Traffic Alex Edmonds TV miniseries 2007 Alpius TV miniseries. Italy 2013 Don Luigi Vitiello TV miniseries. Italy