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Vincent Gardenia 1921 - 1992

Vincent Gardenia of Brooklyn, Kings County, NY was born on January 7, 1921 at Italy. in Italy, and died at age 71 years old on December 9, 1992 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States. Vincent Gardenia was buried at St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries 2015 Wellwood Ave, in Farmingdale, Suffolk County, NY.

Vincent Gardenia

Vincenzo Scognamiglio.

Brooklyn, Kings County, NY 11214

January 7, 1921

Italy. in , Italy

December 9, 1992

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Vincent Gardenia Vincent Gardenia (1921 - 1992)

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Vincent Gardenia's History: 1921 - 1992

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Introduction

Vincent Gardenia (born Vincenzo Scognamiglio; January 7, 1920 – December 9, 1992) was an Italian-American stage, film, and television actor. He was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, first for Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) and again for Moonstruck (1987). He also portrayed Det. Frank Ochoa in Death Wish (1974) and its 1982 sequel, Death Wish II, and played "Mr. Mushnik" in the musical film adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors (1986). Gardenia's other notable feature films include Murder Inc. (1960), The Hustler (1961), The Front Page (1974), Greased Lightning (1977), Heaven Can Wait (1978), and The Super (1991). In 1990, Gardenia was awarded the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a television movie or television series for the HBO production Age Old Friends. Gardenia was twice honored for his performances on Broadway. In 1972, he won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, and was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical in 1979 for Ballroom. Off-Broadway, he was twice awarded with the Most Distinguished Performance Award by an actor, 1960 for Machinal, and again in 1969 for Passing Through From Exotic Places.
01/7

1921

Birthday

January 7, 1921

Birthdate

Italy. in Italy

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Gardenia was born Vincenzo Scognamiglio in Ercolano, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Campania, Italy, the elder son of Elisa (née Ausiello) and Gennaro Cardenia (or Cardenia Gennaro) Scognamiglio. When he was two years old, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York. His father established an acting troupe that presented Italian-language melodramas. As a child, he performed in the troupe in Italian-American neighborhoods in and around New York City, having later said, "the titles changed, but they were usually about a son or daughter who gets in trouble, runs away, then begs forgiveness". He debuted in the company at age five, portraying a shoeshine boy. He graduated to character roles while still a teenager. He remained a member of the company until 1960, five years after his first English-speaking role on Broadway.
Religious Beliefs

Roman Catholic and was buried beside his parents.
Military Service

Gardenia also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Professional Career

A section of 16th Avenue in Brooklyn is named after a favorite resident. "Vincent Gardenia Blvd" Vincent Gardenia Born January 7, 1920 in Naples, Campania, Italy Died December 9, 1992 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (heart attack) Birth Name Vincenzo Scognamiglio Height 5' 8½" (1.74 m) Mini Bio (1) He was honored twice off-Broadway with Distinguished Performance OBIE Award, first in 1960 for "Machinal" and again in 1969 for "Passing Through From Exotic Places." In 1972 he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a play for "Prisoner on 2nd Avenue." In 1979 he was nominated for Best Actor in a musical for "Ballroom." Gardenia was twice nominated with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, first in 1974 "Bang the Drum Slowly" and again in 1988 for "Moonstruck." He won an Emmy Award in 1990 for Best Supporting Actor in a movie made for television, "Age Old Friends." In 1988 he was honored to be named the Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade in New York City. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Vincent Gogliormella Family (2) Parents Gennaro Gardenia Scognamiglio Elisa Gardenia Scognamiglio Relatives Ralph Gardenia Scognamiglio (sibling) Trivia (11) Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival in 1989. In Brooklyn, New York, 16th Avenue (between Cropsey Avenue and Shore Parkway) has renamed Vincent Gardenia Boulevard to honor his memory. This is the block where he lived. Won the 1972 Tony Award (New York City) for Featured Actor in a Drama for "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" and was nominated for the 1979 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Musical for "Ballroom". Following his death, he was interred at Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York. Suffered a fatal heart attack at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Highly effective in choleric or exasperated roles, and noted on screen for his comic portrayals of New Yorkers, particularly in The Front Page (1974), or as Cher's father in Moonstruck (1987). He was born in Naples, Italy, the son of Elisa (Ausiello) and Gennaro Gardenia Scognamiglio, an actor/manager. His family moved to the United States in 1922, settling in Brooklyn, where his father founded an Italian-language based acting troupe. Vincent first appeared on stage with this company at age five, playing a shoeshine boy. His first English-speaking stage role was in the 1955 Broadway play "In April Once". Vincent Gardenia passed away on December 9, 1992, a month away from what would have been his 73rd birthday on January 7, 1993. Was an honorary Chief of the NYC Emergency medical Service. Appears in three Best Picture Oscar nominees: The Hustler (1961), Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Moonstruck (1987). Appeared as the same character ('Frank Ochoa') in Death Wish (1974) and Death Wish II (1982), making him the only actor besides Charles Bronson to play the same character in more than one 'Death Wish' film.
Personal Life & Family

Gardenia did not date or marry or have children. A life member of The Actors Studio, Gardenia won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1972 for his performance in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, opposite Peter Falk. In 1979, he was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Ballroom. In film, he was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Bang the Drum Slowly and Moonstruck. In television, Gardenia won the 1990 Emmy Award for his performance in Age-Old Friends, with Hume Cronyn. Among his best remembered TV roles is his portrayal of Archie Bunker's neighbor Frank Lorenzo on All in the Family (1973–74) (and as a part of a swinger couple in an earlier episode) and J. Edgar Hoover in the miniseries Kennedy (1983). He also played in an episode of Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea titled "Escape From Venice."
12/9

1992

Death

December 9, 1992

Death date

Heart Attack

Cause of death

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries 2015 Wellwood Ave, in Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York 11735, United States
Burial location
Obituary

Vincent Gardenia, Character Actor, Is Dead at 71 By William Grimes Dec. 10, 1992 Vincent Gardenia, a character actor known for his work in theater and television and his supporting roles in the films "Bang the Drum Slowly" and "Moonstruck," was found dead yesterday in his hotel room in Philadelphia. He was 71 years old and lived in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. He died of a heart attack after appearing in a preview performance of the play "Breaking Legs," which is on tour, said Jeffrey Richards, the publicity agent for the play. Beginning in the mid-1950's, Mr. Gardenia played a wide variety of roles on the New York stage, but he was best known for his comic turns in the Neil Simon plays "God's Favorite" (1974), "California Suite" (1976) and "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" (1971). He took a workmanlike approach to the craft of acting and a man-in-the-street attitude to the study of human behavior. 'Acting Is Like Storage' "You play for truth," he told an interviewer for The New York Times in 1974. In playing the part of a police detective in the film "Death Wish," he said, he drew on memories of a one-time chief of detectives in New York he had often seen on television. "Acting is like storage," he said. "If you're touched by something, it stays with you." Mr. Gardenia, whose original name was Vincent Scognamiglio, was born in Naples. He took his professional name from his father, an actor and manager named Gennaro Gardenia Scognamiglio. When Vincent was 2, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, and his father established an Italian-language acting troupe that specialized in melodramas. "The titles changed, but they were usually about a son or daughter who gets in trouble, runs away, then begs forgiveness," Mr. Gardenia said. On and Off Broadway At the age of 5, he made his stage debut in his father's company as a shoeshine boy, and while still a teenager he was playing character roles. He continued acting in the company until 1960, five years after he took his first English-language stage role. Mr. Gardenia first spoke English onstage in 1955, as a pirate in the Broadway play "In April Once." The next year, he appeared as Piggy in "The Man With the Golden Arm." He later appeared in roles in "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Stalag 17," "My Three Angels" and "Camino Real." His Off Broadway credits included "Volpone" and "End Game." In the 1950's, Mr. Gardenia also appeared in many television dramas, including "Body and Soul," and in the series "Naked City." In 1960, he won an Obie Award for his performance in "Machinal" as a fatuous husband who is murdered by his wife. A second Obie came with the play "Passing Through From Exotic Places" (1969). He won a Tony Award for his performance as Peter Falk's brother in "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" (1971). At the awards ceremony, he paid tribute to his father's acting company by giving his acceptance speech in Italian. He was nominated for a Tony for his work in the Michael Bennett musical "Ballroom" (1978). More recently, he appeared in the role of Shelley Levene in David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1984). Meriting Oscar Nominations Mr. Gardenia's film career began inauspiciously with a small part in "Cop Hater" (1958), but over the years he became a reliable and welcome presence on screen. His many films include "The Hustler" (1961), "Little Murders" (1971), based on the Jules Feiffer play in which he had appeared on Broadway in 1969, "The Front Page" (1974), "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986) and "The Super" (1991). In 1973, Mr. Gardenia was nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actor for his role as Dutch, the baseball manager in "Bang the Drum Slowly." He received a second Oscar nomination for his performance as Cher's philandering father in "Moonstruck" (1987). He continued to work in television, playing Archie Bunker's neighbor in "All in the Family" and J. Edgar Hoover in the mini-series "Kennedy" (1983). He also appeared in the series "Breaking Away" (1980-81), and more recently in "L.A. Law." In 1990, he won an Emmy Award as best supporting actor for the HBO special "Age-Old Friends." He is survived by a brother, Ralph.

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Vincent Gardenia lived 5 years longer than the average family member when died at the age of 71.

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8 Memories, Stories & Photos about Vincent

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia in Ballroom.

Award winning role.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Vincent Gardenia a tribute from Michael Cala.

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia a tribute from Michael Cala.

Michael Cala
I interviewed my dad's childhood friend Vincent Gardenia for a cover article in the NEW YORK SUNDAY NEWS ROTOGRAVURE (color) section. I spent days interviewing him, taking him to the Basilio Italian restaurant in Grasmere, Staten Island. He had just been Oscar-nominated for his role in MOONSTRUCK, with Cher and Nick Cage. We both spoke Sicilian, so we conversed in two languages. Vincent was funny and pleasant, totally unlike his many "curmudgeon" roles. We discussed his 40 years in Lower Manhattan's Italian Theater, run by his dad Gennaro. He invited me to his home, an apartment in his sister's two-family Bensonhurst house about 5 blocks from where my parents lived, and where I had grown up. He was a nice guy with lots of local friends.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia

Played tough cop roles.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Vincent Gardenia with the beautiful Anita Gillette.

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia with the beautiful Anita Gillette.

She played his mistress in Moonstruck.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia

Heaven Can Wait with Julie Christie

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia.

Recognized for his acting ability.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

Vincent Gardenia.

Tough NYC Detective in many movies.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

11/23/2022

I met him only once but was warned by character actor Kenneth McMillan not to say anything more than "Congratulations" because he was a woman hater. Kenneth said, "I'm gay, but I like women."
Nobody else gave Vincent a tribute, and I think he merits one as a very fine actor.

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Vincent Gardenia's Family Tree & Friends

Vincent Gardenia's Family Tree

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Vincent Gardenia Jan 7, 1921 - Dec 9, 1992

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Vincent's Friends

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Other Biographies

Other Gardenia Family Biographies

Gardenia, Amelia (Jan 1, 1907 - Oct 1979) Gardenia, Frank (Sep 14, 1928 - Feb 1976)

Gardenia, Frank (Mar 23, 1881 - Apr 1977) Gardenia, Beatrice (Aug 18, 1923 - Jul 1967)

About the AncientFaces Community

Vincent Gardenia 1921 - 1992

Vincent Gardenia's History: 1921 - 1992

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Religious Beliefs

Military Service

Professional Career

Personal Life & Family

Death

Gravesite & Burial

Obituary

8 Memories, Stories & Photos about Vincent

Vincent Gardenia's Family Tree & Friends

Vincent Gardenia's Family Tree

Vincent's Friends

Other Gardenia Family Biographies