Anecdotes

Almost always played menacing Italian New Yorkers (though he was himself of Spanish heritage). However, one of his most memorable roles was as a good guy: the weary but righteous Detective Bishop in The King of New York (1990).

He was frequently cast as Italian and Irish Americans even though his real-life heritage was entirely Puerto Rican.

He died from lung cancer at Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan. His body was donated to Manhattan College for medical science.

He appeared in six films directed by Martin Scorsese: Bertha Boxcar (1972), Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), After Hours: Quelle nuit de galère (1985), La Dernière Tentation du Christ (1988) and New York Stories (1989).

Appeared in two films where Jodie Foster portrayed a prostitute: Taxi Driver and Woody Allen's Shadows and Fog.

Appeared in 12 films with Harvey Keitel: Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Falling in Love (1984), Le flic était presque parfait (1986), Le dragueur (1987), La Dernière Tentation du Christ (1988), Bad Lieutenant (1992), Mon ami Dodger (1994), Somebody to Love (1994), Smoke (1995), Brooklyn Boogie (1995), and Lulu on the Bridge (1998).