Mark Twain famously said, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

Actor Abe Vigoda could have said the same thing. One reason why Abe Vigoda was such a popular figure was because he had a sense of humor about being so frequently mistaken for dead.  Twice, in 1982 and 1987, his death was incorrectly announced.  For many people, Abe Vigoda will always be best known for appearing on David Letterman and Conan O’Brien to let people know that he was not dead.  There was even a website and a twitter account devoted to keeping people updated on whether Abe Vigoda was alive or dead.  When it was announced, earlier today, that Vigoda had died at the age of 94, many media outlets pointed out that the story was for real this time.

Before he become an internet meme, Abe Vigoda was a great actor who stole scenes in both the best film and one of the best sitcoms of the 1970s.  Before Abe Vigoda was a late night television guest, he was Detective Phil Fish on Barney Miller.  Before he was Fish, he was Tessio in The Godfather.  And before he was Tessio, he was Ezra Braithwraite on the original Dark Shadows.

Abe Vigoda as Ezra Braithwraite

For me, Vigoda will always be the quietly intimidating Sal Tessio.  Who can forget his final scene in The Godfather, in which he asks Robert Duvall’s Tom Hagan if he can get him off the hook “for old times sake.”  Watch the scene below.  This is great acting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d30Y0n1nDH4

Rest in peace, Abe Vigoda.  Thank you for the memories.