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Did you know that Abe Vigoda didn’t intend to become an actor until later in life and that he received his role in The Godfather because he didn’t have an agent? To the majority of television fans, Abe Vigoda will always be known for his time portraying the character of Detective Phil Fish on Barney Miller. The performer stumbled his way into acting after being given a small role in The Godfather, though Barney Miller proved his big break. The character of Phil Fish would later be given his own spin-off series, dubbed Fish. That series lasted for two seasons, and little was heard from Abe Vigoda after that. Today, Abe is no longer with us, though the few performances that he graced the screen with are cherished.
▬Contents of this video▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Phil Fish Was Barney Miller’s Breakout Character 01:46 - Fish’s Backdoor Pilot Wasn’t Initially a Hit 04:35 - The Spin-Off Series Was Different from the Backdoor Pilot 05:40 - Abe Became a Character Actor After Barney Miller 07:05 - Abe Vigoda Was Perfect at Playing an Old Man 08:41 - Outro
Abe Vigoda was the son of a tailor. Upon his own coming of age, the future star decided that he wanted to become a printer. However, World War II ended up getting in the way. Upon his return from serving in the war, Abe decided that he no longer wanted to be a printer. Instead, he wanted to be a star! Several years later, Abe finally caught his big break when he was cast in The Godfather. Abe received his role in the film after seeing an advertisement seeking actors who were unrepresented. For once, not having an agent paid off!
Abe’s small role in The Godfather led to the actor receiving his breakout role on Barney Miller. The popularity of Phil Fish led to the character getting his own spin-off series in 1977, though the series was short-lived. Join Facts Verse as we take a look at the sad story of Fish from Barney Miller.
The Sad Story of Fish by Barney Miller (Abe Vigoda)
By: Facts Verse Title: The Sad Story of Fish from Barney Miller Abe Vigoda Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuWi1DDwk9w
