Anthony LoBianco (October 19, 1936 – June 11, 2024) was an American actor.
Tony Lo Bianco | |
|---|---|
 Lo Bianco in Police Story, 1975 | |
| Born | Anthony LoBianco October 19, 1936 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 2024 (aged 87) Poolesville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1951–2022 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Website | tonylobianco |
Born to first-generation Italian American parents in New York City, Lo Bianco began his career in theater, appearing in several Broadway productions throughout the 1960s. He transitioned to film in the 1970s, starring in the New Hollywood crime films The Honeymoon Killers (1970), The French Connection (1971), and The Seven-Ups (1973).
He won an Obie Award for his 1975 role in an Off-Broadway production of Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh, and subsequently earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor for his role as Eddie in the 1983 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge.
In addition to film and theater, Lo Bianco appeared as a guest-star on numerous television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including appearances on Police Story (1974–1976), Franco Zeffirelli's miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977), and Marco Polo (1982).
In 1984, he appeared in a stage production of Hizzoner!, playing New York politician Fiorello H. La Guardia, for which he won a New York Emmy Award. The one-man play was subsequently staged on Broadway in 1989, and Lo Bianco went on to perform several other Off-Broadway iterations of it, including LaGuardia (2008) and The Little Flower (2012–2015).
Early life
editThe grandson of Sicilian immigrants, Anthony LoBianco was born October 19, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a housewife mother and a taxi driver father.[1][2] He attended the William E. Grady CTE High School, a vocational school in Brooklyn.[3] There, he had a teacher who encouraged him to try out for plays, which is when he began to develop an interest in acting.[3] After graduating high school, he attended the Dramatic Workshop, studying acting and theater production.[1]
Career
editLo Bianco was a contending Golden Gloves boxer and also founded the Triangle Theatre in 1963, serving as its artistic director for six years and collaborating with lighting designer Jules Fisher, playwright Jason Miller and actor Roy Scheider.[4] He performed as an understudy in a 1964 Broadway production of Incident at Vichy, and the following year had a supporting role in a Broadway production of Tartuffe.[5] From late 1965 through the spring of 1966, he starred on Broadway as Fray Marcos de Nizza in The Royal Hunt of the Sun.[5]
He made his film debut in The Sex Perils of Paulette (1965) before appearing as a murderer in the semi-biographical crime film The Honeymoon Killers (1970). He subsequently appeared as Salvatore Boca in William Friedkin's critically acclaimed action film The French Connection (1971),[4] and later starred as a police officer investigating a series of murders in Larry Cohen's horror film God Told Me To (1976). From 1974–76, he played a lead role in six episodes of Joseph Wambaugh's anthology television series Police Story in the mid-1970s, four times alongside former NFL star qarterback Don Meredith. He also appeared in several Italian films, including the Lee Van Cleef-starring crime comedy Mean Frank and Crazy Tony (1973).
In 1975, Lo Bianco won an Obie Award for his off-Broadway performance as Duke Bronkowski in the baseball-themed play Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh.[4][6] In 1983, Lo Bianco was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge.[4] He also won the 1983 Outer Critics Circle Award for this performance. In 1984, he had a supporting role in the action comedy City Heat.[4]
Lo Bianco first portrayed the larger-than-life mayor of New York City from 1933 to 1945, Fiorello H. La Guardia, in the one-man show Hizzoner!, written in 1984 by Paul Shyre. Lo Bianco won a local Daytime Emmy Award for the WNET Public Television version of the play, which was filmed at the Empire State Institute for the Performing Arts in Albany.[7] The play was subsequently staged on Broadway in 1989, where it ran for just 12 performances.[5][8] Lo Bianco appeared in several independent films in the 1990s: in 1995 as Jimmy Jacobs in the HBO biographical film Tyson, in 1996 as Briggs in Sworn to Justice with Cynthia Rothrock. He had a minor role in Nixon, directed by Oliver Stone. [4]
Lo Bianco continued his work on the life of LaGuardia in a revised[8] revival of the play in 2008, titled LaGuardia.[9] His third incarnation of the mayor's life had a limited run off-Broadway in October 2012, titled The Little Flower.[9] Lo Bianco purchased the rights to the play from the estate of Paul Shyre and rewrote it a few times. He viewed the play as "a vehicle to express my concerns for the public and political mess that we're in, which we continue to be in, I think, and try to relate answers to failure." He performed it in Moscow in 1991 shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, and in 2015 he was scheduled to perform it in Italy.[8] The show was staged at LaGuardia Community College in May 2015.[10]
A New York Times profile in 2015 reported that Lo Bianco was at work on a one-man show playing himself and a film script about his early life.[8]
Personal life
editLo Bianco was previously the national spokesperson for the Order Sons of Italy in America.[11] His humanitarian efforts earned multiple awards, including Man of the Year for Outstanding Contributions to the Italian-American Community from the Police Society of New Jersey; a Man of the Year Award from the State of New Jersey Senate; a Lifetime Entertainment Award from the Columbus Day Parade Committee; the 1997 Golden Lion Award; and a Humanitarian Award of the Boys' Town of Italy.[12]
Lo Bianco was married from 1964 until 1984 to Dora Landey. They had three daughters. He was married to Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from 2002 until 2008. He was then married to Alyse Best Muldoon since June 2015 until his death.
Lo Bianco was an avid cat lover and owned a Siamese cat named Simone, as well as various horses and dogs. Later in this life, when his psychiachrist asked him to imagine the most relaxing thing he could think of, Lo Bianco imagined a cat sitting on his wife Alyse's lap.[13]
Death
editLo Bianco died as a result of prostate cancer at his farm in Poolesville, Maryland, on June 11, 2024, at the age of 87.[14][15]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | The Sex Perils of Paulette | Allen | ||
| 1970 | The Honeymoon Killers | Ray Fernandez | ||
| 1971 | The French Connection | Salvatore Boca | ||
| 1973 | Mean Frank and Crazy Tony | Tony Breda | ||
| Serpico | Rizzo | Uncredited | ||
| The Seven-Ups | Vito Lucia | |||
| 1976 | Goldenrod | Jesse Gifford | ||
| God Told Me To | Peter J. Nicholas | |||
| Merciless Man | The American | |||
| 1978 | F.I.S.T. | Anthony 'Babe' Milano | ||
| Bloodbrothers | Tommy De Coco | |||
| 1981 | Pals | Frank Green | Short film | |
| Separate Ways | Ken Colby | |||
| 1983 | Another Woman's Child | Mike DeBray | ||
| 1984 | City Heat | Leon Coll | ||
| 1991 | City of Hope | Joe Rinaldi | ||
| The Good Policeman | Jerry Diangelis | |||
| 1993 | Boiling Point | Tony Dio | ||
| 1994 | La ragnatela del silenzio - A.I.D.S. | Professor Donati | ||
| The Ascent | Aldo | |||
| Power and Lovers | Warren | |||
| 1995 | Nixon | Johnny Roselli | ||
| 1996 | The Juror | Louie Boffano | ||
| Sworn to Justice | Briggs | |||
| 1997 | Cold Night Into Dawn | Supervisor Klyn | ||
| 1998 | Mafia! | Cesar Marzoni | ||
| The Pawn | Lou | |||
| 2000 | The Day the Ponies Come Back | Paul DeCruccio | ||
| 2001 | Friends & Family | Victor Patrizzi | ||
| Down 'n Dirty | Detective Dan Ward | |||
| 2002 | Endangered Species | Captain Tanzini | ||
| 2003 | The Cruelest Day | General Loi | ||
| 2006 | The Last Request | Monte | ||
| 2009 | Frame of Mind | 'Mouthman' | ||
| 2011 | Kill the Irishman | Jack White | ||
| 2013 | Send No Flowers | Anthony Albano | ||
| 2016 | '79 Parts | Vincent | ||
| Blondie | Johnny | Short film | ||
| 2022 | Somewhere in Queens | Dominic "Pops" Russo | Final film role |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Get Smart | KAOS Agent | Episode: "Smart, the Assassin" | |
| Blue Light | Carbonne | Episode: "Jet Trial" | ||
| Hawk | Joey Fentanello | Episode: ""H" is a Dirty Letter" | ||
| 1968 | N.Y.P.D. | Muller / Joe Peconic | 2 episodes | |
| Hidden Faces | Nick Capello Turner | Miniseries | ||
| 1971 | Great Performances | Frank | Episode: "A Memory of Two Mondays" | |
| 1972 | Madigan | Joe Lakka | Episode: "The Manhattan Beat" | |
| 1973 | Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside | Detective Rick Massi | Television film | |
| 1974 | The Story of Jacob and Joseph | Joseph | ||
| 1974–76 | Police Story | D.J. Perkins / Sgt. Tony Calabrese | 6 episodes | |
| 1975 | The Streets of San Francisco | Al Wozynsky | Episode: "Solitaire" | |
| A Shadow in the Streets | Pete Mackey | Television film | ||
| 1976 | Origins of the Mafia | Nino Sciallacca | Episode: "Omertà" | |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Quintilius | Miniseries | |
| 1978 | The Last Tenant | Joey | Television film | |
| She'll Be Sweet | Magee | |||
| 1979 | Champions: A Love Story | Alan Denschroeder | ||
| A Last Cry for Help | Dr. Ben Abbot | |||
| Marciano | Rocky Marciano | |||
| 1981 | Today's FBI | Joey D'Amico | Episode: "The Bureau" | |
| 1982 | Marco Polo | Brother Nicolas | Miniseries | |
| 1984 | Hizzoner! | Fiorello La Guardia | Television film | |
| Jessie | Lieutenant Alex Ascoli | Television film | ||
| The Paper Chase | Professor Reese | Episode: "The Advocate" | ||
| Jessie | Lieutenant Alex Ascoli | 10 episodes | ||
| 1985 | Lady Blue | Sergeant 'Bing' Bingham | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| The Twilight Zone | Paul Marano | Episode: "If She Dies" | ||
| 1986 | Blood Ties | Judge Guiliano Salina | Television film | |
| 1987 | Night Heat | Tony Rimbaud | Episode: "Flashback" | |
| Police Story: The Freeway Killings | Detective DiAngelo | Television film | ||
| 1988 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Tom 'Coop' Cooper | Episode: "Off Duty" | |
| La romana | Astarita | Miniseries | ||
| Body of Evidence | Evan Campbell | Television film | ||
| The Ann Jillian Story | Andy Murcia | |||
| 1989 | True Blue | 'Doc' | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 1990 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen | Michael Garcia | Television film | |
| Death Has a Bad Reputation | Carlos | |||
| ABC Afterschool Special | Officer Abbott | Episode: "Over the Limit" | ||
| CBS Schoolbreak Special | Coach Douglas | Episode: "Malcolm Takes the Shot" | ||
| 1991 | Palace Guard | Arturo Taft | 8 episodes | |
| The 10 Million Dollar Getaway | Tony 'Ducks' Corallo | Television film | ||
| 1991–94 | Murder, She Wrote | Paul Avoncino / Phil Mannix | 2 episodes | |
| 1992 | In the Shadow of a Killer | Frederick Berger | Television film | |
| Stormy Weathers | Lieutenant Frank Orozco | |||
| Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story | Allen Dorfman | |||
| 1992–2002 | Law & Order | Mark Menaker / Sal DiMarco / Det. Mike Foster | 3 episodes | |
| 1994 | The Maharaja's Daughter | Vito Capece | Miniseries | |
| 1995 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Mitch Drummond | 3 episodes | |
| Tyson | Jimmy Jacobs | Television film | ||
| 1997 | F/X: The Series | Martin Thorne | Episode: "Reunion" | |
| Let Me Call You Sweetheart | Dr. Charles Smith | Television film | ||
| Bella Mafia | Pietro Carolla | |||
| 1999 | Rocky Marciano | Frankie Carbo | ||
| 2001 | Deadline | Rosario Masucci | Episode: "Don't I Know You?" | |
| 2002 | Lucky Day | Detective Marinello | Television film | |
| 2005 | The Engagement Ring | Nick Di Cenzo | ||
| N.Y.-70 | Congressman Fario Cardinale | |||
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Joseph | Episode: "World's Fair" |
Partial stage credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Original venue | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–65 | Incident at Vichy | Prisoner | ANTA Washington Square Theatre | Understudy |
[5] |
| 1965 | Tartuffe | Sergeant | ANTA Washington Square Theatre | ||
| 1965–66 | The Royal Hunt of the Sun | Fray Marcos de Niza | ANTA Playhouse | ||
| 1966 | The Office | Gucci | 10 previews; never officially opened | ||
| 1967 | The Ninety Day Mistress | Rudy Avarian | Biltmore Theatre | ||
| 1968 | The Exercise | The Actor | John Golden Theatre | ||
| 1968 | The Goodbye People | Michael Silverman | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | ||
| 1975 | Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh | Duke Bronkowski | The American Place Theatre | [6] | |
| 1983 | A View from the Bridge | Eddie | Ambassador Theatre | [5] | |
| 1989 | Hizzoner! | Fiorello La Guardia | Longacre Theatre | ||
| 2008 | LaGuardia | DiCapo Opera Theater | [9] | ||
| 2012 | The Little Flower | [7] | |||
| 2015 | [8] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Award | Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Emmy Award | 1985 | Outstanding Individual Crafts | Hizzoner! | Won | |
| Obie Award | 1975 | Distinguished Performance by an Actor | Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | 1983 | Outstanding Actor in a Play | A View from the Bridge | Won | |
| Tony Award | 1983 | Best Actor in a Play | Nominated | [4] | |
| Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival | 2011 | Audience Award - Short Film | Lily of the Feast | Won |
References
edit- ^ a b Panarello, Joseph F. (March 13, 2013). "BWW Interview: Tony Lo Bianco - Creating Magic with THE LITTLE FLOWER". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ "Search Results". Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
- ^ a b Lo Bianco, Tony (September 12, 2011). "BuildingNY: Tony Lo Bianco, actor-writer-director" (Interview). Interviewed by Michael Stoler. CUNY-TV. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Screen and Theatre Legend Tony LoBianco Inspires Confidence in Acting Students". New York Film Academy. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Tony Lo Bianco Credits". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Hischak, Thomas H. (2001). American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1969-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-195-35255-9.
- ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (October 15, 2015). "Tony Lo Bianco Is His Honor, Mayor LaGuardia, in The Little Flower in NYC". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Harney, John (May 5, 2015). "An Actor Takes His Portrayal of La Guardia Far Beyond Broadway". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Tony LoBianco in One-Man Show About LaGuardia". Cooley's Anemia Foundation. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ "Actor Tony Lo Bianco Plays "The Little Flower" At LaGuardia Community College". City University of New York. May 1, 2015. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
- ^ "Prisoners Among Us: Italian-American Identity & World War II". Archived from the original on June 30, 2012.
- ^ Program, White Barn Theatre production of THE CONFESSION OF MANY STRANGERS, 1997
- ^ Wang, Amy X.; Asgharnia, Shayan (December 20, 2024). "Friends to the End". New York Times Magazine.
- ^ Tony Lo Bianco, 'The French Connection' actor, dead at 87 Archived June 12, 2024, at the Wayback Machine Fox News
- ^ Gates, Anita. "Tony Lo Bianco, 'French Connection' Actor, Is Dead at 87". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Tony Lo Bianco at IMDb
- Tony Lo Bianco discography at Discogs