Vincent Gardenia

Biography

Vincent Gardenia was an Italian American actor of stage, film and television who began as a child in his father's Italian-language acting troupe and made his debut there at five. He took his first English-speaking role on Broadway in 1955 and won Obie Awards in 1960 and 1969. A 1972 Tony came for The Prisoner of Second Avenue, and in 1979 he was nominated for a Tony for Ballroom. On screen he received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) and Moonstruck (1987), and he played Detective Frank Ochoa in Death Wish (1974) and Death Wish II (1982) and Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors (1986). His other films included Murder, Inc. (1960), The Hustler (1961), The Front Page (1974) and The Super (1991). He won a 1990 Emmy for Age-Old Friends and played Frank Lorenzo on All in the Family.

72years old at death

Born January 7, 1920Naples
Died December 9, 1992Philadelphia
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Also credited as Vincenzo Gardenia Scognamiglio

Movie Career

Films: 22
Career span: 31 years1960 to 1991

Genres

Comedy59%, 13 films
Drama50%, 11 films
Crime27%, 6 films
Action18%, 4 films
Romance18%, 4 films

First and latest

Vincent Gardenia movies on Netflix

The Super1991IMDb rating 5.7as Big Lou Kritski
The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story1990IMDb rating 6.6as Harry Pizer
Skin Deep1989IMDb rating 6.1as Barney
Moonstruck1987IMDb rating 7.2as Cosmo Castorini
Little Shop of Horrors1986IMDb rating 7.1as Mushnik
Movers & Shakers1985IMDb rating 4.2as Saul Gritz
Death Wish II1982IMDb rating 6.0as Det. Frank Ochoa
The Last Flight of Noah's Ark1980IMDb rating 5.7as Stoney
Home Movies1979IMDb rating 5.0as Doctor Byrd
Heaven Can Wait1978IMDb rating 6.9as Krim
Greased Lightning1977IMDb rating 6.4as Sheriff Cotton
The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery1975IMDb rating 5.8as Big Daddy Jessup
Death Wish1974IMDb rating 6.9as Frank Ochoa
The Front Page1974IMDb rating 7.3as Sheriff
Bang the Drum Slowly1973IMDb rating 6.7as Dutch Schnell
Lucky Luciano1973IMDb rating 6.4as Colonel Charles Poletti
Cold Turkey1971IMDb rating 6.6as Mayor Wappler
Little Murders1971IMDb rating 6.8as Carol Newquist
Where’s Poppa?1970IMDb rating 6.4as Coach Williams
Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob1969IMDb rating 6.8as Vito Lugana
The Hustler1961IMDb rating 7.9as Bartender
Murder, Inc.1960IMDb rating 6.6as Lazlo

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Moonstruck1987 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Cosmo Castorini
IMDb rating 7.279K votes
Little Shop of Horrors1986 Comedy, Musical, Sci-Fias Mushnik
IMDb rating 7.196K votes
Death Wish1974as Frank Ochoa
IMDb rating 6.949K votes
Death Wish II1982as Det. Frank Ochoa
IMDb rating 6.021K votes
The Front Page1974as Sheriff
IMDb rating 7.317K votes
The Super1991as Big Lou Kritski
IMDb rating 5.77.1K votes
Bang the Drum Slowly1973as Dutch Schnell
IMDb rating 6.76.9K votes
Skin Deep1989as Barney
IMDb rating 6.15.7K votes

Most often with

Michael Winner directed two of these films. Eleven actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Charles Bronson

Elliott Gould

Walter Matthau

Danny Aiello

Charles Grodin

Christopher Guest

Michael WinnerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Charles Bronson2 films together, 1974 to 1982
Charles Bronson's page
- Death Wish II1982IMDb rating 6.0Gardenia as Det. Frank OchoaBronson as Paul Kersey
- Death Wish1974IMDb rating 6.9Gardenia as Frank OchoaBronson as Paul Kersey
Elliott Gould2 films together, 1971 to 1980
Elliott Gould's page
- The Last Flight of Noah's Ark1980IMDb rating 5.7Gardenia as StoneyGould as Noah Dugan
- Little Murders1971IMDb rating 6.8Gardenia as Carol NewquistGould as Alfred Chamberlain
Walter Matthau2 films together, 1974 to 1985
Walter Matthau's page
- Movers & Shakers1985IMDb rating 4.2Gardenia as Saul GritzMatthau as Joe Mulholland
- The Front Page1974IMDb rating 7.3Gardenia as SheriffMatthau as Walter Burns
Danny Aiello2 films together, 1973 to 1987
Danny Aiello's page
- Moonstruck1987IMDb rating 7.2Gardenia as Cosmo CastoriniAiello as Mr. Johnny Cammareri
- Bang the Drum Slowly1973IMDb rating 6.7Gardenia as Dutch SchnellAiello as Horse
Charles Grodin2 films together, 1978 to 1985
Charles Grodin's page
- Movers & Shakers1985IMDb rating 4.2Gardenia as Saul GritzGrodin as Herb Derman
- Heaven Can Wait1978IMDb rating 6.9Gardenia as KrimGrodin as Tony Abbott
Christopher Guest2 films together, 1974 to 1986
Christopher Guest's page
- Little Shop of Horrors1986IMDb rating 7.1Gardenia as MushnikGuest as The First Customer
- Death Wish1974IMDb rating 6.9Gardenia as Frank OchoaGuest as Patrolman Reilly
Michael WinnerDirector, 2 films, 1974 to 1982
All films by Michael Winner
- Death Wish II1982IMDb rating 6.0Gardenia as Det. Frank Ochoa
- Death Wish1974IMDb rating 6.9Gardenia as Frank Ochoa
Also two films together5 more actors
- Barnard HughesCold Turkey (1971) and Where’s Poppa? (1970)
- Paul BenedictThe Front Page (1974) and Cold Turkey (1971)
- Nita TalbotMovers & Shakers (1985) and The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery (1975)
- Paul LambertDeath Wish II (1982) and Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob (1969)
- Nicholas ColasantoThe Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery (1975) and Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob (1969)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.