Frank Vincent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Vincent
Vincent in 2012
Born	Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr. (1937-04-15)April 15, 1937 North Adams, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	September 13, 2017(2017-09-13) (aged 80) Nutley, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1976–2017
Spouse(s)	Kathleen Vincent ​ (m. 1970)​
Children	3

Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr. (born April 15, 1937 – died September 13, 2017) was an American actor. He had a long career that lasted five decades. During this time, Frank Vincent often played characters who were mobsters or tough guys.

He worked many times with the famous filmmaker Martin Scorsese. You might know him from movies like Raging Bull (1980), where he played Salvy, or Goodfellas (1990), where he was Billy Batts. He also appeared as Frank Marino in Casino (1995). On TV, he played Phil Leotardo in the popular show The Sopranos from 2004 to 2007. Frank Vincent also lent his voice to the character Salvatore Leone in the Grand Theft Auto video game series.

Early life and music

Frank Vincent was born in North Adams, Massachusetts. He grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. His family had roots in Italy, specifically Sicily and Naples. His father, Frank Vincent Gattuso Sr., worked as an iron worker and ran a business. Frank had two brothers, Nick and Jimmy, and a half-sister named Fran.

Frank Vincent was very talented at playing musical instruments. He could play the drums, piano, and trumpet. At first, he wanted to have a career in music. During the day, he worked as a studio musician, playing with many famous artists like Paul Anka. In the evenings, he led his own jazz band called "Frank Vincent and the Aristocats."

From music to acting

In 1969, Frank Vincent hired Joe Pesci to play guitar in his band. As the popularity of live music in lounges changed, Vincent and Pesci decided to try something new. They started a stand-up comedy act together called "Vincent and Pesci." They performed from 1970 to 1976. Their comedy act was a mix of funny routines and playful "insult comedy." They became very good friends and professional partners.

Later, Frank Vincent and Joe Pesci got roles in a small movie called The Death Collector (1976). Robert De Niro, another famous actor, saw their performances and was impressed. He told director Martin Scorsese about them. Scorsese liked what he saw and cast Frank Vincent in his movie Raging Bull (1980). In this film, Frank Vincent acted alongside Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro again.

Frank Vincent often played tough characters, especially mobsters, in movies. In Martin Scorsese's film Goodfellas (1990), he played Billy Batts. He also had a role in Scorsese's movie Casino (1995) as Frank Marino.

He also appeared in two films by director Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991). In Jungle Fever, he played the father of an Italian-American family.

One of his most well-known roles was on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He played Phil Leotardo, a powerful New York City gangster. This character became a main opponent in the show's final season.

Frank Vincent also had some lighter roles. He appeared in a British TV commercial for Peugeot cars. In 2005, he was in a series of commercials for an Irish bank called Permanent TSB.

Voice acting and other projects

In video games, Frank Vincent was the voice of the Mafia boss Salvatore Leone. He played this character in Grand Theft Auto III (2001), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004), and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005).

In 2006, he wrote a book called A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man. He also created his own brand of hand-rolled cigars.

He continued acting in independent films, like The Tested (2008). He also made a guest appearance in the TV show Stargate Atlantis in 2009. In 2009, he starred in Chicago Overcoat.

In 2013, he was part of a comic book series called Killogy. He voiced his character, Sally Sno Cones, in the animated series based on the comics in 2014.

Frank Vincent lived in Nutley, New Jersey. He sometimes showed off his drumming skills at local holiday concerts.

Death

In September 2017, Frank Vincent had a heart attack. He had open heart surgery on September 13, but sadly, he passed away shortly after. Frank Vincent was 80 years old.

His funeral service was held on September 16, and his remains were cremated.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Sources:

See also

In Spanish: Frank Vincent para niños