Warner Bros
Character actor Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr, known for his roles in the HBO series The Sopranos and in several roles in Martin Scorsese films, has passed away at the age of 78.
Vincent was perhaps best known for his role in Goodfellas as Billy Batts, where he famously told Joe Pesci’s character to “go home and get his shine box” and as Phil Leotardo, Tony’s rival in The Soprano’s.
According to TMZ, Vincent died of complications from heart surgery, passing away in a New Jersey hospital after suffering a heart attack last week.
Frank Vincent Cause Of Death
Frank Vincent passed away in a New Jersey hospital on Wednesday, September 13, due to complications from heart surgery.
Vincent was born in North Adams, Massachusettes, but he was raised in Jersey City, New Jersey.
He began acting back in 1976, co-starring in the low-budget crime film The Death Collector alongside Joe Pesci, who he would later become friends with. Vincent would then go on to appear in many of legendary director Martin Scorsese’s films, such as Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino.
via Variety:
In 1996, he appeared in the music video for Nas’ song “Street Dreams” as his character from “Casino.”
Vincent also acted in two of Spike Lee’s films, “Do the Right Thing” and “Jungle Fever,” along with the movies “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Wise Guys,” “Night Falls on Manhattan,” and “Shark Tale.”
In addition to his film and television career, he voiced the character of Mafia boss Salvatore Leone in “Grand Theft Auto III,” and reprised the role in two additional “Grand Theft Auto” titles. In 2006, he co-wrote the book “A Guy’s Guide to Being a Man’s Man.” More recently, he starred in the movie “Chicago Overcoat,” and made a cameo in an episode of “Stargate Atlantis.”
Vincent’s credits also included The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), Brian De Palma’s Wise Guys (1986), Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991), Sidney Lumet’s Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), James Mangold’s Cop Land (1997), Shark Tale (2004) and Chicago Overcoat (2009).
