Frank Vincent, veteran actor of the ‘Sopranos’ and ‘Goodfellas’ fame, died during open heart surgery Wednesday in New Jersey.
Vincent, who has been acting for four decades, suffered a heart attack last week and underwent surgery at a Jersey hospital Wednesday. He died during the surgery, he was 78-years-old.
Vincent’s filmography is extensive. He most notably appeared as Tony Soprano’s arch nemesis, Phil Leotardo in the ‘Sopranos’ starting in season five and until the series conclusion in 2007.
Frank Vincent, ubiquitious actor, died Wednesday in New Jersey, he was 78-years-old
Frank Vincent’s most notable role was on the series ‘Sopranos’ (pictured here)
Vincent with Joe Pesci in the 2005 classic ‘Casino’
He also plated Billy Batts in ‘Goodfellas’ and has the iconic scene where he’s newly released from prison and starts in on Tommy DeSimone played by Joe Pesci. He insults Tommy telling him to go home and get his shine-box, as the character used to shine shoes.
Vincent, originally from Massachusetts but raised in the Garden State, acknowledged being an Italian American working in Hollywood often saw him being type caste as the tough mobster type.
He frequently worked alongside Pesci or was up against him for roles. He also played Frank Marino in ‘Casino’ with Pesci.
In a 1996 interview about Vincent’s life, Pesci said of brutally murdering him in Goodfellas ‘I hate Frank so much that it was easy for me to stab him and kill him,’ before adding ‘No, I’m just joking.’
Vincent was married to his first wife in the 1960’s, that marriage bore him two children, He would eventually divorce and re-married.
He leaves behind his wife Katherine, their son Anthony Vincent, and his two children from his previous marriage.