Abe Vigoda (1921-2016), Respected Actor Known For Roles in The Godfather and Barney Miller

Abe Vigoda, the well-respected actor known for his role as ill-fated Sal Tessio in The Godfather and the deadpan Detective Phil Fish on Barney Miller and in his own spinoff series, died in his sleep this morning in at hospice in Woodland Park, N.J. He was 94 years old.

While reports of Vigoda's death were greatly exaggerated for many years and had become a running joke, he took it all with great humor, even once telling David Letterman, "I'm not dead yet, you pinhead!"

I was alive and now I'm not :(

- Abe Vigoda (@abevigoda) January 26, 2016

Rest in Peace Mr. Vigoda. We're so glad you stuck around for as long as you did.

image via Wikimedia Commons

via The New York Times