NEW YORK — Actor Abe Vigoda — whose long career included roles in "The Godfather" and "Barney Miller," as well as a running joke about whether he was still alive — has died at the age of 94, according to reports.
The Brooklyn-born actor, who had an apartment on the Upper East Side, died of old age at his daughter's home in New Jersey Tuesday, according to his daughter Carol Vigoda Fuchs.
Vigoda appeared in dozens of movies through a decades-long career, including playing the traitor Tessio in Martin Scorsese's "The Godfather" and NYPD Det. Phil Fish in the 1974 police drama series "Barney Miller."
His career was so enduring, in fact, that his death was prematurely reported, sparking a long-running gag that earned him skits on David Letterman and dedicated websites including "IsAbeVigodaDead.com"
"I'm not dead yet, you pinhead," Vigoda told Letterman as he tried to summon his ghost, according to the Daily News.
Posted by Abe Vigoda on Wednesday, January 20, 2016
