Sam Coppola
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2025) |
Sam Coppola | |
|---|---|
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| Born | July 31, 1932 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 2012 (aged 79) Leonia, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2012 |
Sam Coppola (July 31, 1932 – February 5, 2012) was an American character actor of stage, film, and television,[1] appearing in more than 35 films and nearly 40 television shows, since 1968.
Education
[edit | edit source]Coppola was an alumnus of the Lee Strasberg acting studio.[1]
Career
[edit | edit source]Coppola's film roles include, a Cop (uncredited) in Serpico (1973),[citation needed] Dan Fusco, owner of the hardware and paint store who gave John Travolta's character Tony Manero advice in Saturday Night Fever (1977), and Fuselli in Fatal Attraction (1987).[1]
On television, Coppola's appearances include roles in the series Ryan's Hope (1975-76), The Equalizer (1986), The Practice (1997), The Wire (2006), The Good Wife (2011), and on shows in the Law & Order franchise.[1]
On The Sopranos (1999), Coppola made a brief appearance as the idiosyncratic family therapist of Jennifer Melfi.
In the 2001 A&E television movie The Big Heist, Coppola portrayed mob boss Paul Castellano.
Coppola played a nursing home resident in a Chevy commercial that aired during 2011's Super Bowl and a hot dog vendor in a Ball Park Franks spot starring Michael Jordan.[1]
On stage, Coppola portrayed Aaronow, an aging real estate salesman in a 2000 production of Glengarry Glen Ross at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ, and in a 2005 off-Broadway production of Waiting for Godot he portrayed the hobo Vladimir.[1]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Coppola resided in Leonia, New Jersey for 38-years. He was predeceased by his wife, and survived by two children, Jason and Samantha, and by three grandchildren.[1]
Sam Coppola is not related to Francis Ford Coppola, the film director.[1]
Death
[edit | edit source]Coppola died February 5, 2012, from an aneurysm.[1]
Filmography
[edit | edit source]Film
[edit | edit source]- No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) - Customer (uncredited)
- Interplay (1970) - Mel
- The Anderson Tapes (1971) - Private Detective
- The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) - Julie
- Serpico (1973) - Cop (uncredited)
- Crazy Joe (1974) - Chick
- Death Journey (1976) - Detective Johnson
- Saturday Night Fever (1977) - Dan Fusco
- Fingers (1978) - Sam
- King of the Gypsies (1978) - (uncredited)
- Without a Trace (1983) - Schoyer
- Fatal Attraction (1987) - Fuselli
- Zits (1988) - Principal
- Blue Steel (1989) - PBA Representative
- She's Back (1989) - Det. Brophy
- Street Hunter (1990) - Jannelli
- Jacob's Ladder (1990) - Taxi Driver
- A Kiss Before Dying (1991) - Detective Michaelson
- Joey Breaker (1993) - Sid Kramer
- Money for Nothing (1993) - Bartender Lindey
- Palookaville (1995) - Mr. Kott, Money Truck Driver
- The Deli (1997) - Mr. Bishop
- A Wake in Providence (1999) - Uncle Joe
- Blue Moon (2000) - Bill
- Sally (2000) - Dr. Felch
- Friends & Family (2001) - Carlo Ricci
- Empire (2002) - Bobby Gold
- Nola (2003) - Gus
- True Crime: New York City (2005) - Additional voices[2]
- Heavy Petting (2007) - Old Codger #1
- House of Satisfaction (2008) - Barry
- Reunion (2009) - Max
- Run It (2009) - Vinny
- Driving Me Crazy (2012) - Larry Petterson
Television
[edit | edit source]| File:Information icon4.svg |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1976 | Ryan's Hope | Angie | 4 episodes |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Frank Polinski | Episode: "Shades of Darkness" |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Bartender | Episode: "Reunciation" |
| 1997 | The Practice | Carl Mazone | Episode: "The Blessing" |
| 1998 | Witness to the Mob | Judge Leo Glasser | TV movie |
| 1999 | The Sopranos | Dr. Reise | 1 episode |
| 2001 | The Big Heist | Paul Castellano | TV movie. A&E |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Uncle Sammy | Episode: "Paranoia" |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Neal Dornan | Episode: "The Pilgrim" |
| 2004 | Law & Order | US Federal Judge Vance | Episode: "City Hall" |
| 2006 | The Wire | Former Mayor "Young Tony" | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | The Good Wife | Merrick | 1 episode |
References
[edit | edit source]External links
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