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Michael V. Gazzo

 
Actor: Michael Vincente Gazzo
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Apr 05, 1923 in Hillside, New Jersey
  • Died: Feb 14, 1995 in Los Angeles, California
  • Occupation: Actor, Writer
  • Active: '70s-'80s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Crime
  • Career Highlights: Alligator, King Creole, A Hatful of Rain
  • First Major Screen Credit: A Hatful of Rain (1957)

Biography

Michael V. Gazzo's first significant theatrical success was as a playwright; he was responsible for the penetrating drug-abuse drama A Hatful of Rain, which was committed to film in 1957. One year later, Gazzo wrote the screenplay for the Elvis Presley vehicle, King Creole (1958). He then disappeared from Hollywood in favor of stage work in New York. In 1974, Gazzo re-emerged as a character actor, winning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Frankie Pentageli in The Godfather II. Michael V. Gazzo remained in front of the cameras until his death in 1995, with prominent appearances in such TV movies and miniseries as Beggarman Thief (1979), The Winter of Our Discontent (1981) and Blood Feud (1983). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Michael V. Gazzo
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Michael V. Gazzo
Born April 5, 1923(1923-04-05)
Hillside, New Jersey
Died February 14, 1995 (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California
Occupation actor

Michael Vincente Gazzo (April 5, 1923 – February 14, 1995) was a Broadway playwright who later in life became an American film and television actor.

He was a member of the Actors Studio, (and would later go on to train such actors as Debra Winger, Henry Silva and Tony Sirico) and was author of the notable Broadway play on drug addiction A Hatful of Rain, which ran for 389 performances in 1955 and 1956 - starring Ben Gazzara and Shelley Winters in the two lead roles. He subsequently adapted it as a film in 1957. The film was then nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Anthony Franciosa). Later a 1968 made-for-television version (as a filmed play) starred Sandy Dennis, Michael Parks, and Peter Falk in the main roles.

He was also co-screenwriter of the Elvis Presley film King Creole (1958).

As an actor, Gazzo was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II, which he lost to Robert De Niro for the same film.

Michael Gazzo died from a stroke in 1995. He was buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Further reading

  • Bacarella, Michael, ItalActors: 101 Years of Italian Actors in U.S. Entertainment, The National Italian American Foundation, ISBN: N/A

External links

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