Nicholas Colasanto
Biography
Nicholas Colasanto was an American actor and television director who was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Before acting, he worked as a bookkeeper, then, after watching Henry Fonda in the Broadway play Mister Roberts, he decided to pursue the stage. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts rejected him, so he joined a small theater company in Phoenix, Arizona. He appeared in A Hatful of Rain in 1956 and earned an Obie Award nomination in 1962. His film roles included Fat City (1972), Family Plot (1976), and Raging Bull (1980), where he played mob boss Tommy Como. He also directed for television. He became best known for playing Coach Ernie Pantusso on the sitcom Cheers from 1982 to 1985.
61years old at death
- Born Providence
- Died Studio City
- Star sign: CapricornLast day of the sign, on the Aquarius cusp
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 14 years1966 to 1980
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A change of course
By 1951 Colasanto worked as a bookkeeper, and around 1954 he planned to take an accounting job with a company in Saudi Arabia. After seeing Henry Fonda in the Broadway play Mister Roberts, he applied to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Big break
Colasanto was preparing to retire when he was offered the role of Coach Ernie Pantusso on Cheers, the part that became his best known.
Nicholas Colasanto movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Nicholas Colasanto shares two films with Vincent Gardenia, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Vincent Gardenia's page
Barbara Harris's page
Robert De Niro's page
Bruce Dern's page
Robert Duvall's page
Jeff Bridges's page
All films by Martin Scorsese
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
All films by John Huston
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.