Michael V. Gazzo

Michael V. Gazzo
Michael Vincenzo Gazzo (April 5, 1923 – February 14, 1995) was an American playwright who later in life became a film and television actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Godfather Part II (1974).
Biography
Gazzo was born on April 5, 1923. He was of Italian-American descent. Gazzo served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was a member of the Actors Studio and later trained actors such as Debra Winger, Henry Silva and Tony Sirico. He wrote A Hatful of Rain, a Broadway play about drug addiction, which ran for 389 performances in 1955 and 1956. It starred Ben Gazzara and Shelley Winters in the two lead roles, and was adapted into a film by Oscar-winning director Fred Zinnemann in 1957. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Anthony Franciosa). A 1968 made-for-television version (as a filmed play) starred Peter Falk, Sandy Dennis and Michael Parks. Gazzo's other screen writing credits include the Elvis Presley American musical drama King Creole in 1958. Gazzo authored the Broadway play The Night Circus, also starring Ben Gazzara.
Gazzo was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II.
Death
Gazzo died on February 14, 1995, at age 71 due to complications from a stroke. He was buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Filmography
On the Waterfront (1954) - Bit (uncredited)
A Man Called Adam (1966) - (uncredited)
Out of It (1969) - Vinnie's friend
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) - A Black Suit
Crazy Joe (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974) - Frank Pentangeli
Kojak (1975) - Joel Adrian
Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976) - Mario Russo
Ellery Queen (Season 1, Episode 20 "The Adventure of Caesar's Last Sleep") (1976) - Benny Franks
Welcome Back, Kotter (Season 2, Episode 12 "Hark, the Sweatkings") (1976) - Angelo DeMora
Alice (1977) - Gino Tarantella
Starsky and Hutch (1977) - Joe Durniak
Barnaby Jones (1977) - Mr. Farinelli
Baretta (1977) - Rico Giove
Black Sunday (1977) - Muzi
The Feather and Father Gang (Season 1, Episode 12 "The Mayan Connection") (1977) - Gutman
Columbo (Season 7, Episode 2 "Murder Under Glass") (1978) - Vittorio Rossi
Fingers (1978) - Ben
King of the Gypsies (1978) - Spiro Giorgio
Vega$ (Season 2, Episode 7 "Dan Tanna Is Dead") (1979) - Cruger Hallow
Love and Bullets (1979) - Lobo
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) - Harry the Trainer
Beggarman, Thief (1979) - Sartene
Fantasy Island (Season 3, Episode 14 "The Lookalikes/Winemaker") (1979) - Frank Lassiter
Taxi (1979) - Vince
Cuba Crossing (1980) - Rossellini
Alligator (1980) - Chief Clark
Border Cop (1980) - Chico Suarez
Hoodlums (1980) - Gus Azziello
Sizzle (1980)
Magnum, P.I. (Season 1, Episode 8 "The Ugliest Dog in Hawaii") (1981) - Victor DiGorgio
Back Roads (1981) - Tazio
Body and Soul (1981) - Frankie
The Winter of Our Discontent (1983) - Marullo
Sudden Impact (1983) - Threlkis (uncredited)
Cannonball Run II (1984) - Sonny
Fear City (1984) - Mike
Cookie (1989) - Carmine
Beyond the Ocean (1990)
Forever (1991)
(1992)
Last Action Hero (1993) - Torelli
L.A. Law (1994) (episode "McKenzie, Brackman, Barnum & Bailey") (1994) - Roscoe Zambini
Nothing to Lose (1994) - Joe (final film role)
References
Sources
Bacarella, Michael, ItalActors: 101 Years of Italian Actors in U.S. Entertainment, The National Italian American Foundation
External links
Michael Gazzo at the University of Wisconsin's Actors Studio audio collection
1923 births
1995 deaths
People from Hillside, New Jersey
American male screenwriters
American male film actors
American male television actors
American writers of Italian descent
Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American dramatists and playwrights
20th-century American male writers
Screenwriters from New Jersey
20th-century American screenwriters