SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Character actor Abe Vigoda, who was best known for his role as Detective Phil Fish in Barney Miller and its spinoff Fish, has died. He died on January 26 in his sleep at his daughter's home in Woodland Park, New Jersey. Mr. Vigoda was 94.

Vigoda landed the role of Detective Phil Fish in Barney Miller in 1975. Fish was the senior detective on the squad of the 12th Precinct station. He was crotchety, near retirement and always suffering through some physical ailment, such as bladder problems and hemorrhoids. Fish was frequently on the phone dealing with a minor marital crisis with his wife, Bernice (Florence Stanley).

Vigoda was a regular on the show for the first three seasons. He retired from the police force in the second episode of the fourth season, though he returned for two guest appearances later in season four and season seven. Vigoda received Emmy nominations for "Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" in 1976-1977 and "Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series" in 1978.

Fish was such a popular character that he got his own spinoff series in 1977. Fish aired on ABC for two seasons from 1977-1978. It presented the domestic side of Fish's life, as he and his wife served as foster parents for a number of troubled children who were PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision). The series starred Florence Stanley, Lenny Bari, Todd Bridges, John Cassisi, Denise Miller, Sarah Nataolio and Barry Gordon.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Dark Shadows, Mannix, The Rookies, Toma, Hawaii Five-0, Kojak, Cannon, The Bionic Woman, Vega$, The Rockford Files, Fantasy Island, B.J. and the Bear, Superboy, Santa Barbara, MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder and Law & Order. His sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, The Love Boat, Harper Valley, P.T.A., Weird Science, Wings, Mad About You and Norm.

His best-known film role was that of elder mobster Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather in 1972. He also appeared briefly in The Godfather Part II in a flashback sequence at the end of the film. Some of his other film credits included Newman's Law, The Cheap Detective, Cannonball Run II, Keaton's Cop, Look Who's Talking, Prancer, Joe Versus the Volcano, Sugar Hill, Jury Duty, Good Burger and Witness to the Mob.

Survivors include his daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Mr. Vigoda was a fine character actor. Fish was such a funny and memorable character. He lived a long, good life. He will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Barney Miller and Fish message boards. View photos in our galleres.

Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's digital multicast channel will commemorate the life of actor Abe Vigoda with "Remembering Abe Vigoda: Barney Miller Marathon" a 12-episode/6 hour Barney Miller marathon airing on Saturday, January 30 from 4-10pm ET. Antenna TV, which this year expanded to clearances on 125 stations across the country (including 49 of the top 50 markets) reaching 88% of TV households, will air the following episodes of Barney Miller:

4p The Experience
4:30p Hair
5p Discovery
5:30p Fish
6p The Kid
6:30p The Mole
7p Evacuation
7:30p Smog Alert
8p Group Home
8:30p Burial
9p Goodbye, Mr. Fish (1)
9:30p Goodbye, Mr. Fish (2)

Barney Miller regularly airs on Antenna TV weekdays from 12-1am and on Saturdays from 9-10p ET.

This week Cozi TV honors Abe Vigoda, a beloved actor and gentle man who captured the hearts of audiences on and off the stage. Starting Wednesday night and continuing into the weekend they will air special episodes Abe appeared in on The Bionic Woman, Murder, She Wrote and Fantasy Island. Join them in bidding a true gentleman farewell.