Tony Lo Bianco

Last updated
Tony Lo Bianco
Tony Lo Bianco in Police Story.jpg
Lo Bianco in Police Story , 1975
Born
Anthony LoBianco

(1936-10-19) October 19, 1936 (age 87)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1951–present
Spouses
  • Dora Landey
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1964;div. 1999)​
  • Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2002;div. 2008)​
  • Alyse Muldoon
    ​
    (m. 2015)​
Children3
Website http://www.tonylobianco.com/

Anthony LoBianco (born October 19, 1936) is an American film, stage, and television actor.

Contents

Born to first-generation Italian American parents in New York City, Lo Bianco began his career in theater, and appeared in several Broadway productions throughout the 1960s. He transitioned to film in the 1970s, starring in the New Hollywood crime films The Honeymoon Killers (1970), The French Connection (1971), and The Seven-Ups (1973). He won an Obie Award for his 1975 role in an Off-Broadway production of Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh, and subsequently earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor for his role as Eddie in the 1983 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge .

In addition to film and theater, Lo Bianco appeared as a guest-star on numerous television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including appearances on Police Story (1974–1976), Franco Zeffirelli's miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977), and Marco Polo (1982).

In 1984, he appeared in a stage production of Hizzoner!, playing New York politician Fiorello LaGuardia, for which he won a New York Emmy Award. The one-man play was subsequently staged on Broadway in 1989, and Lo Bianco has gone on to perform several other Off-Broadway iterations of it, including LaGuardia (2008) and The Little Flower (2012–2015).

Early life

The son of Sicilian immigrants, Anthony LoBianco was born October 19, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a housewife mother and a taxi driver father. [1] [2] He attended the William E. Grady CTE High School, a vocational school in Brooklyn. [3] There, he had a teacher who encouraged him to try out for plays, which is when he began to develop an interest in acting. [3] After graduating high school, he attended the Dramatic Workshop, studying acting and theater production. [1]

Career

Lo Bianco was a Golden Gloves boxer and also founded the Triangle Theatre in 1963, serving as its artistic director for six years and collaborating with lighting designer Jules Fisher, playwright Jason Miller and actor Roy Scheider. [4] He performed as an understudy in a 1964 Broadway production of Incident at Vichy , and the following year had a supporting role in a Broadway production of Tartuffe . [5] From late 1965 through the spring of 1966, he starred on Broadway as Fray Marcos de Nizza in The Royal Hunt of the Sun . [5]

He made his film debut in The Sex Perils of Paulette (1965) before appearing as a murderer in the semi-biographical crime film The Honeymoon Killers (1970). He subsequently appeared as Salvatore Boca in William Friedkin's critically acclaimed action film The French Connection (1971), [4] and later starred as a police officer investigating a series of murders in Larry Cohen's horror film God Told Me To (1976). From 1974–76, he played a lead role in six episodes of Joseph Wambaugh's anthology television series Police Story in the mid-1970s, four times alongside Don Meredith. He also appeared in several Italian films, including the Lee Van Cleef-starring crime comedy Mean Frank and Crazy Tony (1973).

In 1975, Lo Bianco won an Obie award for his off-Broadway performance as Duke Bronkowski in the baseball-themed play Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh. [4] [6] In 1983, Lo Bianco was nominated for a Tony for his portrayal of Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge . [4] He also won the 1983 Outer Critics Circle Award for this performance. In 1984, he had a supporting role in the action comedy City Heat . [4]

Lo Bianco first portrayed the larger-than-life mayor of New York City Fiorello H. La Guardia (mayor from 1933 to 1945) in the one-man show Hizzoner!, written in 1984 by Paul Shyre. Lo Bianco won a local Daytime Emmy Award for the WNET Public Television version of the play, which was filmed at the Empire State Institute for the Performing Arts in Albany. [7] The play was subsequently staged on Broadway in 1989, where it ran for 12 performances. [5] [8] Lo Bianco appeared in several independent films in the 1990s: in 1995 as Jimmy Jacobs in the HBO biographical film Tyson , in 1996 as Briggs in Sworn to Justice with Cynthia Rothrock. He had a minor role in Nixon , directed by Oliver Stone. [4]

Lo Bianco continued his work on the life of LaGuardia in a revised [8] revival of the play in 2008, titled LaGuardia. [9] His third incantation of the mayor's life had a limited run off-Broadway in October 2012, titled The Little Flower. [9] Lo Bianco purchased the rights to the play from Shyre's estate and has rewritten it a few times. He views the play as "a vehicle to express my concerns for the public and political mess that we're in, which we continue to be in, I think, and try to relate answers to failure." He performed it in Moscow in 1991 shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, and in 2015 he was scheduled to perform it in Italy. [8] The show was staged at LaGuardia Community College in May 2015. [10]

A New York Times profile in 2015 reported that Lo Bianco was at work on a one-man show playing himself and a film script about his early life. [8]

Personal life

Lo Bianco was previously the national spokesperson for the Order Sons of Italy in America. [11] His humanitarian efforts have earned multiple awards, including Man of the Year for Outstanding Contributions to the Italian-American Community from the Police Society of New Jersey; a Man of the Year Award from the State of New Jersey Senate; a Lifetime Entertainment Award from the Columbus Day Parade Committee; the 1997 Golden Lion Award; Humanitarian Award of the Boys' Town of Italy. [12]

Lo Bianco was married from 1964 until 1984 to Dora Landey. They had three daughters. He was married to Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from 2002 until 2008. He married his current wife, Alyse Best Muldoon, in June 2015.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1965The Sex Perils of PauletteAllen
1970 The Honeymoon Killers Ray Fernandez
1971 The French Connection Salvatore Boca
1973 Mean Frank and Crazy Tony Tony Breda
Serpico RizzoUncredited
The Seven-Ups Vito Lucia
1976 Goldenrod Jesse Gifford
God Told Me To Peter J. Nicholas
Merciless Man The American
1978 F.I.S.T. Anthony 'Babe' Milano
Bloodbrothers Tommy De Coco
1981PalsFrank GreenShort film
Separate WaysKen Colby
1983Another Woman's Child Mike DeBray
1984 City Heat Leon Coll
1991 City of Hope Joe Rinaldi
The Good Policeman Jerry Diangelis
1993 Boiling Point Tony Dio
1994La ragnatela del silenzio - A.I.D.S.Professor Donati
The Ascent Aldo
Power and LoversWarren
1995 Nixon Johnny Roselli
1996 The Juror Louie Boffano
Sworn to JusticeBriggs
1997Cold Night Into DawnSupervisor Klyn
1998 Mafia! Cesar Marzoni
The PawnLou
2000 The Day the Ponies Come Back Paul DeCruccio
2001 Friends & Family Victor Patrizzi
Down 'n Dirty Detective Dan Ward
2002 Endangered Species Captain Tanzini
2003 The Cruelest Day Il Generale Loi
2006The Last RequestMonte
2009 Frame of Mind 'Mouthman'
2011 Kill the Irishman Jack White
2013Send No FlowersAnthony Albano
2016'79 PartsVincent
BlondieJohnnyShort film
2022 Somewhere in Queens Dominic "Pops" Russo

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1966 Get Smart KAOS AgentEpisode: "The Smart Assassin"
Blue Light CarbonneEpisode: "Jet Trial"
Hawk Joey FentanelloEpisode: ""H" is a Dirty Letter"
1968 N.Y.P.D. Muller / Joe Peconic2 episodes
Hidden Faces Nick Capello TurnerMiniseries
1971 Great Performances FrankEpisode: "A Memory of Two Mondays"
1972 Madigan Joe LakkaEpisode: "The Manhattan Beat"
1973Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside Detective Rick MassiTelevision film
1974 The Story of Jacob and Joseph Joseph
1974–76 Police Story D.J. Perkins / Sgt. Tony Calabrese6 episodes
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Al WozynskyEpisode: "Solitaire"
A Shadow in the Streets Pete MackeyTelevision film
1976Origins of the MafiaNino SciallaccaEpisode: "Omertà"
1977 Jesus of Nazareth QuintiliusMiniseries
1978The Last TenantJoeyTelevision film
She'll Be Sweet Magee
1979 Champions: A Love Story Alan Denschroeder
A Last Cry for HelpDr. Ben Abbot
Marciano Rocky Marciano
1981 Today's FBI Joey D'AmicoEpisode: "The Bureau"
1982 Marco Polo Brother NicolasMiniseries
1984Hizzoner! Fiorello La Guardia Television film
JessieLieutenant Alex AscoliTelevision film
The Paper Chase Professor ReeseEpisode: "The Advocate"
Jessie Lieutenant Alex Ascoli10 episodes
1985 Lady Blue Sergeant 'Bing' BinghamEpisode: "Pilot"
The Twilight Zone Paul MaranoEpisode: "If She Dies"
1986 Blood Ties Judge Guiliano SalinaTelevision film
1987 Night Heat Tony RimbaudEpisode: "Flashback"
Police Story: The Freeway KillingsDetective DiAngeloTelevision film
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Tom 'Coop' CooperEpisode: "Off Duty"
La romanaAstaritaMiniseries
Body of Evidence Evan CampbellTelevision film
The Ann Jillian Story Andy Murcia
1989 True Blue 'Doc'Episode: "Pilot"
1990 Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen Michael GarciaTelevision film
Death Has a Bad Reputation Carlos
ABC Afterschool Specials Officer AbbottEpisode: "Over the Limit"
CBS Schoolbreak Special Coach DouglasEpisode: "Malcolm Takes the Shot"
1991 Palace Guard Arturo Taft8 episodes
The 10 Million Dollar Getaway Tony 'Ducks' Corallo Television film
1991–94 Murder, She Wrote Paul Avoncino / Phil Mannix2 episodes
1992In the Shadow of a KillerFrederick BergerTelevision film
Stormy Weathers Lieutenant Frank Orozco
Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story Allen Dorfman
1992–2002 Law & Order Mark Menaker / Sal DiMarco / Det. Mike Foster3 episodes
1994The Maharaja's DaughterVito CapeceMiniseries
1995 Homicide: Life on the Street Mitch Drummond3 episodes
Tyson Jimmy Jacobs Television film
1997 F/X: The Series Martin ThorneEpisode: "Reunion"
Let Me Call You SweetheartDr. Charles SmithTelevision film
Bella Mafia Pietro Carolla
1999 Rocky Marciano Frankie Carbo
2001 Walker, Texas Ranger Tony FerrelliEpisode: "Saturday Night"
2002Lucky Day Detective MarinelloTelevision film
2005The Engagement RingNick Di Cenzo
N.Y.-70Congressman Fario Cardinale
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent JosephEpisode: "World's Fair"

Partial stage credits

YearTitleRoleOriginal venueNotesRef.
1964–65 Incident at Vichy Prisoner ANTA Washington Square Theatre Understudy
 [5]
1965 Tartuffe SergeantANTA Washington Square Theatre
1965–66 The Royal Hunt of the Sun Fray Marcos de Niza ANTA Playhouse
1966The OfficeGucci10 previews; never officially opened
1967 The Ninety Day Mistress Rudy Avarian Biltmore Theatre
1968 The Exercise The Actor John Golden Theatre
1968 The Goodbye People Michael Silverman Ethel Barrymore Theatre
1975Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the SeventhDuke Bronkowski The American Place Theatre [6]
1983 A View from the Bridge Eddie Ambassador Theatre [5]
1989Hizzoner! Fiorello LaGuardia Longacre Theatre
2008LaGuardiaDiCapo Opera Theater [9]
2012The Little Flower [7]
2015 [8]

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
New York Emmy Award 1985Outstanding Individual CraftsHizzoner!Won
Obie Award 1975Distinguished Performance by an ActorYanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the SeventhWon
Outer Critics Circle Award 1983Outstanding Actor in a Play A View from the Bridge Won
Tony Award 1983 Best Actor in a Play Nominated [4]
Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival2011Audience Award - Short FilmLily of the FeastWon

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References

  1. 1 2 Panarello, Joseph F. (March 13, 2013). "BWW Interview: Tony Lo Bianco - Creating Magic with THE LITTLE FLOWER". BroadwayWorld . Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  2. ↑ Search Results
  3. 1 2 Lo Bianco, Tony (September 12, 2011). "BuildingNY: Tony Lo Bianco, actor-writer-director" (Interview). Interviewed by Michael Stoler. CUNY-TV. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13 – via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Screen and Theatre Legend Tony LoBianco Inspires Confidence in Acting Students". New York Film Academy . Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tony Lo Bianco Credits". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  6. 1 2 Hischak, Thomas H. (2001). American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1969-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 90. ISBN   978-0-195-35255-9.
  7. 1 2 Jones, Kenneth (October 15, 2015). "Tony Lo Bianco Is His Honor, Mayor LaGuardia, in The Little Flower in NYC". Playbill . Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Harney, John (May 5, 2015). "An Actor Takes His Portrayal of La Guardia Far Beyond Broadway". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 "Tony LoBianco in One-Man Show About LaGuardia". Cooley's Anemia Foundation. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Actor Tony Lo Bianco Plays "The Little Flower" At LaGuardia Community College". City University of New York . May 1, 2015. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Prisoners Among Us: Italian-American Identity & World War II". Archived from the original on June 30, 2012.
  12. ↑ Program, White Barn Theatre production of THE CONFESSION OF MANY STRANGERS, 1997
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