Tony Musante facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Musante
Tony Musante in 1973
Born	Anthony Peter Musante Jr. (1936-06-30)June 30, 1936 Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	November 26, 2013(2013-11-26) (aged 77) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1956–2013
Spouse(s)	Jane Sparkes ​ ​ (m. 1962)​

Anthony "Tony" Peter Musante Jr. (born June 30, 1936 – died November 26, 2013) was an American actor. He was well-known for his roles in TV shows and movies.

Tony Musante played Detective David Toma in the TV series Toma. He was also Nino Schibetta in Oz and Joe D'Angelo in As the World Turns. In movies, he became famous early on. He starred in films like Once a Thief (1965) and The Detective (1968). He also acted in many Italian movies. These included The Mercenary (1968) and The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970).

Tony Musante's Life and Career

Tony Musante was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His family was Italian-American. His mother, Natalie Anne, was a school teacher. His father, Anthony Peter Musante, was an accountant. Tony went to Oberlin College and Northwestern University.

Early Acting Roles

Tony Musante acted in many movies. He worked in the United States and in other countries, like Italy. He was in the 1973 TV series Toma. This show came before the popular series Baretta. He also appeared in the soap opera As the World Turns.

In 1975, Tony was in a Broadway play called P. S. Your Cat Is Dead!. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his acting in this play.

Leaving the Show Toma

The TV show Toma was popular and had good ratings. But Tony Musante decided to leave the series after only one year. His contract allowed him to do this. The show was then changed into Baretta. Robert Blake took on the main role, and it became a big success.

Even though he gave up money and fame, Tony never regretted leaving Toma. The New York Times later called Toma "the show that got away."

Other Notable Roles

Tony Musante was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was for his work in a 1975 episode of Medical Center. The episode was called A Quality of Mercy.

He also played Nino Schibetta in the HBO TV series Oz. Nino was a powerful Mafia boss. He was the leader of the Italian gang in the prison's Emerald City during the first season.

Tony Musante's Passing

Tony Musante passed away on November 26, 2013. He was 77 years old. He died in Manhattan from a hemorrhage. This happened after he had oral surgery.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Tony Musante para niños