Tony Lo Bianco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Lo Bianco
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Lo Bianco in Police Story, 1975
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Anthony LoBianco
October 19, 1936 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | June 11, 2024 (aged 87) Poolesville, Maryland, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1951–2022 |
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| Children | 3 |
Anthony LoBianco (October 19, 1936 – June 11, 2024) was a talented American actor. He was known for his roles in many films, TV shows, and plays. Tony Lo Bianco was born in New York City to Italian American parents.
He started his acting journey in theater during the 1960s. Later, he moved into films in the 1970s. He appeared in popular movies like The French Connection (1971). Tony Lo Bianco also earned important awards for his stage work. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in A View from the Bridge.
Besides acting, Lo Bianco was also known for his kind heart. He worked to help others and received many awards for his humanitarian efforts. He was a national spokesperson for the Order Sons of Italy in America.
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Early Life and First Steps
Anthony LoBianco was born on October 19, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York. His grandparents were immigrants from Sicily. His mother was a housewife, and his father was a taxi driver.
He went to William E. Grady CTE High School, which is a special school for learning trades. There, a teacher encouraged him to try out for plays. This is where he first became interested in acting. After high school, he studied acting and theater at the Dramatic Workshop.
Becoming a Star
Before acting, Tony Lo Bianco was a Golden Gloves boxer. In 1963, he started his own theater group called the Triangle Theatre. He was its artistic director for six years. He worked with other famous people like lighting designer Jules Fisher.
He began acting on Broadway in 1964. He was an understudy in Incident at Vichy. The next year, he had a role in Tartuffe. From 1965 to 1966, he starred in The Royal Hunt of the Sun.
Tony Lo Bianco made his first film appearance in 1965. He then starred in the crime film The Honeymoon Killers (1970). He also played Salvatore Boca in the famous action movie The French Connection (1971). He appeared in many TV shows, including Police Story from 1974 to 1976. He also acted in some Italian films.
In 1975, Lo Bianco won an Obie Award for his role in the play Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh. In 1983, he was nominated for a Tony Award for playing Eddie Carbone in A View from the Bridge. He also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for this role.
A Special Role: Fiorello La Guardia
Tony Lo Bianco was famous for playing Fiorello La Guardia. La Guardia was a very important mayor of New York City from 1933 to 1945. Lo Bianco first played him in a one-man show called Hizzoner! in 1984.
He won a New York Emmy Award for the TV version of Hizzoner!. The play was also performed on Broadway in 1989. Lo Bianco continued to perform the play in different versions, like LaGuardia (2008) and The Little Flower (2012–2015). He even performed it in Moscow in 1991.
Lo Bianco bought the rights to the play and rewrote it several times. He saw the play as a way to share his thoughts on public and political issues.
Giving Back to the Community
Tony Lo Bianco was a very generous person. He was the national spokesperson for the Order Sons of Italy in America. This group helps Italian Americans.
He received many awards for his humanitarian work. These awards included:
- Man of the Year from the Police Society of New Jersey.
- A Man of the Year Award from the State of New Jersey Senate.
- A Lifetime Entertainment Award from the Columbus Day Parade Committee.
- The 1997 Golden Lion Award.
- A Humanitarian Award from the Boys' Town of Italy.
Personal Life
Tony Lo Bianco was married three times. He was married to Dora Landey from 1964 to 1984. They had three daughters together. He was then married to Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from 2002 to 2008. His last marriage was to Alyse Best Muldoon, starting in June 2015.
Tony Lo Bianco passed away on June 11, 2024, at his farm in Poolesville, Maryland. He was 87 years old and died from prostate cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Lo Bianco para niños
