Tony Giorgio | |
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| Born | Joseph Anthony Giorgio (1923-09-27)September 27, 1923 Herkimer, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 2012(2012-02-01) (aged 88) Van Nuys,California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, magician |
| Years active | 1966–2004 |
| Spouse | Kaye S. Jacobs-Giorgio (1971–2012) (his death)[1] |
Joseph Anthony Giorgio (September 27, 1923 – February 1, 2012) was an Italian-American actor[2] andmagician[3] and known for his portrayal of Bruno Tattaglia inFrancis Ford Coppola's 1972 filmThe Godfather.[4]
Giorgio was a prolific stage magician andcard manipulator. He ran away from home at the age of 12 to join a circus and eventually performed at venues including conventions, fraternal clubs, country clubs, casinos, and film studios. He was hired byPlayboy Clubs in the 1960s to be their resident gambling expert, and he gave paid lectures on the nature ofconfidence games and gambling scams. He was one of the first performers atThe Magic Castle nightclub, winning Close-up Magician of the Year in the 1990s.
Giorgio acted in films such asThe Godfather (1972),Black Gunn (1972),Magnum Force (1973),[2]Foxy Brown (1974),Capone (1975),Escape to Witch Mountain (1975),The Sting II (1983),The Lonely Guy (1984),Night Train to Terror (1985) andAmerican Me (1992).[2] He also acted in numerous television programs includingMannix,Mission Impossible,Kojak, andThe A-Team. In theatre, Giorgio originated the role of 'Big Julie' in the stage musicalGuys and Dolls.[5]
On February 1, 2012, aged 88, Giorgio died ofheart failure.[6]
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