Tony Lo Bianco

Tony Lo Bianco (born Anthony LoBianco; October 19, 1936) is an Italian-American film, stage, and television actor, known for his portrayals of gruff law enforcement figures in crime films. His accolades include one Tony Award nomination, an Obie Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award.

Tony Lo Bianco
Lo Bianco in Police Story, 1975
Born (1936-10-19) October 19, 1936
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Years active1951–2016
Spouse(s)
  • Dora Landey
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1964; div. 1999)​
  • Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2002; div. 2008)​
  • Alyse Muldoon
    ​
    (m. 2015)​
Children3
Websitehttp://www.tonylobianco.com/

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 crime film The Honeymoon Killers (1970), William Friedkin's thriller The French Connection (1971), and the drama The Seven-Ups (1973). Lo Bianco 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 American politician Fiorello LaGuardia. 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

Anthony LoBianco was born October 19, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a housewife mother and a taxi driver father.[1][2] Both of his parents were first-generation Italian Americans of Sicilian descent.[1] 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).[4] 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 1974–1976, Lo Bianco 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.

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.[4] In 1984, he had a supporting role in the action comedy City Heat, opposite Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood.[4]

Lo Bianco first portrayed the larger-than-life 1934–1945 mayor of New York City Fiorello H. La Guardia 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, and in 1995 appeared as Jimmy Jacobs in the HBO biographical film Tyson, followed by 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 that had a limited run off Broadway in October 2012, titled The Little Flower.[9] Lo Bianco has rewritten the play several times, which he purchased from Shyre's estate, and he views it as "a vehicle to express my concerns for the public and the 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 shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, and in 2015 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, an Italian American, was 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]

In October 2014, he opposed the Metropolitan Opera's decision to stage the controversial play The Death of Klinghoffer, which he described as "outrageous" because it "tries to justify the killing of a helpless man in a wheelchair because he happens to be Jewish".[13]

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
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1965 The Sex Perils of Paulette Allen
1970 The Honeymoon Killers Ray Fernandez
1971 The French Connection Sal Boca
1973 Mean Frank and Crazy Tony Tony Breda
1973 Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside Detective Rick Massi Television film
1973 Serpico Cop Uncredited
1973 The Seven-Ups Vito Lucia
1974 The Story of Jacob and Joseph Joseph Television film
1975 A Shadow in the Streets Pete Mackey Television film
1976 Goldenrod Jesse Gifford
1976 God Told Me To Peter J. Nicholas
1976 Merciless Man The American
1978 The Last Tenant Joey Television film
1978 F.I.S.T Anthony 'Babe' Milano
1978 Bloodbrothers Tommy De Coco
1978 She'll Be Sweet Magee Television film
1979 Champions: A Love Story Alan Denschroeder Television film
1979 A Last Cry for Help Dr. Ben Abbot Television film
1979 Marciano Rocky Marciano Television film
1981 Pals Frank Green Short film
1981 Separate Ways Ken Colby
1983 Another Woman's Child Mike DeBray
1984 City Heat Leon Coll
1984 Hizzoner! Fiorello La Guardia Television film
1984 Jessie Lieutenant Alex Ascoli Television film
1986 Blood Ties Judge Guiliano Salina Television film
1987 Police Story: The Freeway Killings Detective DiAngelo Television film
1988 Body of Evidence Evan Campbell Television film
1988 The Ann Jillian Story Andy Murcia Television film
1990 Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen Michael Garcia Television film
1990 Death Has a Bad Reputation Carlos Television film
1991 City of Hope Joe Rinaldi
1991 The 10 Million Dollar Getaway Tony 'Ducks' Carallo Television film
1991 The Good Policeman Jerry Diangelis
1992 In the Shadow of a Killer Frederick Berger Television film
1992 Stormy Weathers Lieutenant Frank Orozco Television film
1992 Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story Allen Dorfman Television film
1993 Boiling Point Tony Dio
1994 La ragnatela del silenzio - A.I.D.S. Professor Donati
1994 The Ascent Aldo
1994 Power and Lovers Warren
1995 Tyson Jimmy Jacobs Television film
1995 Nixon Johnny Roselli
1996 The Juror Louie Boffano
1996 Sworn to Justice Briggs
1997 Cold Night Into Dawn Supervisor Klyn
1997 Let Me Call You Sweetheart Dr. Charles Smith Television film
1997 Bella Mafia Pietro Carolla Television film
1998 Mafia! Cesar Marzoni
1998 The Pawn Lou
1999 Rocky Marciano Frankie Carbo
2000 The Day the Ponies Come Back Paul DeCruccio
2001 Friends and Family Victor Patrizzi
2001 Down 'n Dirty Detective Dan Ward
2002 Endangered Species Captain Tanzini
2002 Lucky Day Detective Marinello Television film
2003 The Cruelest Day Il Generale Loi Italian: Ilaria Alpi - Il più crudele dei giorni
2005 The Engagement Ring Nick Di Cenzo Television film
2005 N.Y.-70 Congressman Fario Cardinale Television film
2006 The Last Request Monte
2009 Frame of Mind Mouthman
2011 Kill the Irishman Jack Licavoli
2013 Send No Flowers Anthony Albano
2016 '79 Parts Vincent
2016 Blondie Johnny Short film

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1966 Get Smart KAOS Agent Episode: "The Smart Assassin"
1966 Blue Light Carbonne Episode: "Jet Trial"
1966 Hawk Joey Fentanello Episode: ""H" is a Dirty Letter"
1968 N.Y.P.D. Muller / Joe Peconic 2 episodes
1968 Hidden Faces Nick Capello Turner Miniseries
1971 Great Performances Frank Episode: "A Memory of Two Mondays"
1972 Madigan Joe Lakka Episode: "The Manhattan Beat"
1974–1976 Police Story D.J. Perkins / Sergeant Tony Calabrese 6 episodes
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Al Wozynsky Episode: "Solitaire"
1976 Origins of the Mafia Nino Sciallacca Episode: "Omertà"
1977 Jesus of Nazareth Quintilius Miniseries
1981 Today's FBI Joey D'Amico Episode: "The Bureau"
1982 Marco Polo Brother Nicolas Miniseries
1984 The Paper Chase Professor Reese Episode: "The Advocate"
1984 Jessie Lieutenant Alex Ascoli 10 episodes
1985 Lady Blue Sergeant 'Bing' Bingham Episode: "Pilot"
1985 The Twilight Zone Paul Marano Episode: "If She Dies"
1987 Night Heat Tony Rimbaud Episode: "Flashback"
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Tom 'Coop' Cooper Episode: "Off Duty"
1988 La romana Astarita Miniseries
1989 True Blue 'Doc' Episode: "Pilot"
1990 ABC Afterschool Specials Officer Abbott Episode: "Over the Limit"
1990 CBS Schoolbreak Special Coach Douglas Episode: "Malcolm Takes the Shot"
1991 Palace Guard Arturo Taft 8 episodes
1991–1994 Murder, She Wrote Paul Avoncino / Phil Mannix 2 episodes
1992 Law & Order Mark Menaker Episode: "Cradle to Grave"
1994 The Maharaja's Daughter Vito Capece Miniseries
1995 Homicide: Life on the Street Mitch Drummond 3 episodes
1997 F/X: The Series Martin Thorne Episode: "Reunion"
1997 Law & Order Sal DiMarco Episode: "Menace"
2001 Walker, Texas Ranger Tony Ferrell Episode: "Saturday Night"
2002 Law & Order Detective Mike Foster Episode: "True Crime"
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Joseph Episode: "World's Fair"

Stage credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1964–1965 Incident at Vichy Prisoner Understudy
ANTA Washington Square Theatre		 [5]
1965 Tartuffe Sergeant ANTA Washington Square Theatre
1965–1966 The Royal Hunt of the Sun Fray Marcos de Nizza ANTA Playhouse
1966 The Office Gucci 10 previews; never officially opened
196 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
1975 Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh Duke Bronkowski The American Place Theatre
Obie Award for Best Actor		 [6]
1983 A View from the Bridge Eddie Ambassador Theatre
Nominated – Tony Award for Best Actor[4]		 [5]
1989 Hizzoner! Fiorello LaGuardia Longacre Theatre
2008 LaGuardia Fiorello LaGuardia DiCapo Opera Theater [9]
2012 The Little Flower Fiorello LaGuardia DiCapo Opera Theater [7]
2015 [8]

References
  1. 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. Lo Bianco, Tony (September 12, 2011). "BuildingNY: Tony Lo Bianco, actor-writer-director" (Interview). Interviewed by Michael Stoler. CUNY-TV – via YouTube.
  4. "Screen and Theatre Legend Tony LoBianco Inspires Confidence in Acting Students". New York Film Academy. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  5. "Tony Lo Bianco Credits". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.
  6. 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. 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. 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. "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
  13. Brown, Lauretta (29 October 2014). "Veteran Actor Tony Lo Bianco Condemns 'The Death of Klinghoffer'". CNS.com. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
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