The last couple of years have been rough when it comes to movie and television stars passing away. We've lost some of the greatest and some of the most underrated actors in showbiz, and we sadly have to add another to the list of those who passed away. Actor Frank Vincent of Sopranos fame has died. He was 78 years old at the time of his passing.
Frank Vincent evidently suffered a heart attack last week, and TMZ reports that he died during subsequent open-heart surgery at a hospital in New Jersey. He is survived by his wife and three children. We can be sure that Vincent will be missed by all who knew and loved him during his lifetime.
As an actor, Frank Vincent is probably best known for his role as Phil Leotardo on The Sopranos. He made his debut in the second episode of Season 5 and went on to appear in 30 episodes total, with his final appearance taking place in the Sopranos series finale. Phil frequently butted heads with Tony Soprano, and was known to plot to take the whole Soprano family out of the mafia game.
Phil was killed by the end of the series while Tony still lived, but depending on your interpretation of the ambiguous finale ending, Tony may have died not too long after Phil. Frank Vincent became a memorable part of the series already filled with unforgettable characters. For a look back at one of his greatest moments on The Sopranos, check out this clip:
He didn't spend his whole career on the small screen, however. Frank Vincent also landed roles in a number of major Martin Scorsese films. He played Salvy Batts in 1980's Raging Bull, Billy Batts in 1990's Goodfellas, and Frankie Marino in 1995's Casino. In 2016, he had a role on an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a bishop.
Interestingly, Frank Vincent also did some voice work for video games. He voiced Salvatore Leone in Grand Theft Auto III in 2001, then reprised the role for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in 2004 and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City in 2005. Additionally, he voiced a character by the name of Jon Gabagooli in a couple episodes of Mr. Pickles on Adult Swim. Vincent had a long career of unforgettable roles, and our sympathies here at CinemaBlend go out to his family and friends at this difficult time. For what you can watch on the small screen now and in the not-too-distant future, take a look at our fall TV premiere schedule.
