Who was Frank Vincent? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr.

Died At Age: 80

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kathleen Vincent, Kathleen Vincent (m. 1970–2017)

father: Frank Vincent Gattuso Sr

siblings: Fran, Fran Vincent, Jimmy Vincent, Nick and Jimmy, Nick Vincent

children: Anthony Vincent, Debra Vincent, Maria Vincent

Born Country: United States

Actors American Men

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

Died on: September 13, 2017

place of death: Nutley, New Jersey, United States

Ancestry: Italian American

Cause of Death: Heart Surgery

U.S. State: Massachusetts

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Childhood & Early Life

Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr. was born on April 15, 1937 in North Adams, Massachusetts, United States into an Italian origin family. He was raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, alongside two brothers, Nick and Jimmy, and a half-sister, Fran.

His father, Frank Vincent Gattuso Sr., an iron worker and businessman, was also an amateur actor who had introduced Frank to show business at an early age. While he occasionally acted in school plays, he studied music at St. Paul's grammar school, where he became skilled at playing the piano, the trumpet and especially the drums.

Throughout his adolescence, Frank Vincent played for and travelled with various national championship drum and bugle corps and later played in small combos at various nightclubs. In the following years, he was mentored by record producer, Bill Ramal, and recorded for prominent artists like Don Costa, Paul Anka, Del Shannon, Trini Lopez and the Belmonts.

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Career

Despite having a good prospect as a musician, Frank Vincent gradually became interested in acting and made his feature film debut in Ralph DeVito's 'The Death Collector' alongside Joe Pesci, in 1976.

Frank Vincent and Joe Pesci were spotted by actor Robert De Niro, who then introduced them to director Martin Scorsese, following which the three shared screen space in his 1980 film 'Raging Bull'.

Frank Vincent continued to appear in small roles throughout the decade and made a notable appearance in Juan José Jusid's film 'Made in Argentina'. He also acted in two Spike Lee films: 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) and 'Jungle Fever' (1991), playing the abusive patriarch of an Italian-American family in the latter film.

He got his big break in the role of Billy Batts, a mad man in the Gambino crime family, in Scorsese's 1990 gangster film 'Goodfellas', which also starred De Niro and Pesci. The trio again re-united in Scorsese's 1995 epic crime film 'Casino', in which he played Frank Marino, based on real-life gangster Frank Cullotta.

In 1996, he appeared in the music video for rap artist Nas' song 'Street Dreams' and portrayed Robert 'D.B.' DiBernardo, an associate of Mafia boss John Gotti, in the made-for-television crime drama movie 'Gotti'.

He voiced the character of Mafia boss Salvatore Leone in the video game 'Grand Theft Auto III' in 2001, and later reprised the role in two more installments of the series.

In 2003, he worked in the heist movie 'This Thing of Ours', directed by alleged Genovese crime family capo Danny Provenzano, on whose behalf he testified in court twice at repeal sentences.

Starting in 2004, he began appearing as Phil Leotardo, a ruthless New York City gangster and the boss of the show's fictional Lupertazzi crime family, in the two seasons of the HBO series 'The Sopranos'.

He had a notable performance in 'Remedy' (2005), played Lieutenant Marino in the independent film 'The Tested' (2008), and starred as the main protagonist in 'Chicago Overcoat' (2009).

In 2013, he starred as the character Sally Sno Cones in the hit IDW Publishing comic series 'Killogy', and the next year, voiced the character in the 'Killogy' animated series.

Family & Personal Life

While pursuing music, Frank Vincent got married and had two daughters, Debra and Maria, but the relationship did not last long.

In 1970, he Kathleen, with whom he had one son, Anthony Vincent, who works as a stuntman in both film and television.

Frank Vincent suffered a heart attack in early September 2017 and underwent open heart surgery in New Jersey on September 13, but died later that day. His remains were cremated at a funeral home in Montclair, New Jersey, and his funeral service was held on September 16.

Trivia

Following Frank Vincent's death, director John Gallagher, with whom he had worked in 'Street Hunter' and 'The Deli', revealed that the actor had lied about his age to avoid discrimination. According to some sources, he was born in 1939.

Frank Vincent Biography