Tony Lo Bianco(1936-2024)
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Tony Lo Bianco has appeared in numerous films, television programs, and stage performances, both on-screen and off as a writer, director, and producer. Onstage, he won an Obie Award for Best Actor in Jonathan Reynolds's "Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the 7th". Following his memorable performance as Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge on Broadway, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award. He also won a New York Area Television Academy Award and daytime Emmy for Hizzoner! (1984).
A Brooklyn-born New Yorker, Lo Bianco's best-known film performance was as Sal Boca in the iconic Academy Award-winning film, French Connection (1971). He also starred in the cult classic Les Tueurs de la lune de miel (1970); in Police puissance 7 (1973) (with Roy Scheider); in Les chaînes du sang (1978) (with Richard Gere and Paul Sorvino); in Haut les flingues! (1984) (with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds); in Nixon (1995) (starring Anthony Hopkins in the title role); in La jurée (1996) (starring Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore); in F.I.S.T (1978) (starring Sylvester Stallone and Rod Steiger); in L'extrême limite (1993) (starring Wesley Snipes and Dennis Hopper); in Meurtres sous contrôle (1976); in Kill the Irishman (2011) (starring Val Kilmer and Vincent D'Onofrio); in the Italian miniseries Très belle et trop naïve (1988) (with screen legend Gina Lollobrigida), and in both 79 Parts (2016)and 79 Parts: Director's Cut (2019) (playing the same character). Lo Bianco has appeared in more than 100 films to date.
On television, Lo Bianco starred as Rocky Marciano, the only undefeated heavyweight champ of the world, in Rocky Marciano (1979). He appeared in the mini-series/made-for-television movies Les origines de la mafia (1976), Marco Polo (1982), Jésus de Nazareth (1977), The Last Tenant (1978) (opposite Lee Strasberg) and Another Woman's Child (1983) (starring Linda Lavin). Later television roles have included several episodes of Police Story (1973), New York - Police judiciaire (1990), and Homicide (1993) (all NBC police procedurals), playing different roles and characters. He starred opposite Lindsay Wagner in the series Jessie (1984). Lo Bianco directing credits include Police Story (1973), The Secret Empire (1979), Kaz (1978), and the feature film, Folie meurtrière (1984).
In 1963, he co-founded the Triangle Theater and served as artistic director for six years, during which time lighting designer Jules Fisher, playwright Jason Miller and actor Roy Scheider passed through its doors. Lo Bianco himself directed eight productions and produced twenty-five others. He is a member of the Italian American National Hall of Fame and served as the National Spokesperson for the Order Sons of Italy.
He has received the following awards and honors: Eleanora Duse Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts; Man of the Year for Outstanding Contributions to the Italian-American Community from the Police Society of New Jersey; Man of the Year Award from the State of New Jersey Senate; Lifetime Entertainment Award from the Columbus Day Parade Committee; Golden Lion Award (1997); the Humanitarian Award of the Boys' Town of Italy and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
A Brooklyn-born New Yorker, Lo Bianco's best-known film performance was as Sal Boca in the iconic Academy Award-winning film, French Connection (1971). He also starred in the cult classic Les Tueurs de la lune de miel (1970); in Police puissance 7 (1973) (with Roy Scheider); in Les chaînes du sang (1978) (with Richard Gere and Paul Sorvino); in Haut les flingues! (1984) (with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds); in Nixon (1995) (starring Anthony Hopkins in the title role); in La jurée (1996) (starring Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore); in F.I.S.T (1978) (starring Sylvester Stallone and Rod Steiger); in L'extrême limite (1993) (starring Wesley Snipes and Dennis Hopper); in Meurtres sous contrôle (1976); in Kill the Irishman (2011) (starring Val Kilmer and Vincent D'Onofrio); in the Italian miniseries Très belle et trop naïve (1988) (with screen legend Gina Lollobrigida), and in both 79 Parts (2016)and 79 Parts: Director's Cut (2019) (playing the same character). Lo Bianco has appeared in more than 100 films to date.
On television, Lo Bianco starred as Rocky Marciano, the only undefeated heavyweight champ of the world, in Rocky Marciano (1979). He appeared in the mini-series/made-for-television movies Les origines de la mafia (1976), Marco Polo (1982), Jésus de Nazareth (1977), The Last Tenant (1978) (opposite Lee Strasberg) and Another Woman's Child (1983) (starring Linda Lavin). Later television roles have included several episodes of Police Story (1973), New York - Police judiciaire (1990), and Homicide (1993) (all NBC police procedurals), playing different roles and characters. He starred opposite Lindsay Wagner in the series Jessie (1984). Lo Bianco directing credits include Police Story (1973), The Secret Empire (1979), Kaz (1978), and the feature film, Folie meurtrière (1984).
In 1963, he co-founded the Triangle Theater and served as artistic director for six years, during which time lighting designer Jules Fisher, playwright Jason Miller and actor Roy Scheider passed through its doors. Lo Bianco himself directed eight productions and produced twenty-five others. He is a member of the Italian American National Hall of Fame and served as the National Spokesperson for the Order Sons of Italy.
He has received the following awards and honors: Eleanora Duse Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts; Man of the Year for Outstanding Contributions to the Italian-American Community from the Police Society of New Jersey; Man of the Year Award from the State of New Jersey Senate; Lifetime Entertainment Award from the Columbus Day Parade Committee; Golden Lion Award (1997); the Humanitarian Award of the Boys' Town of Italy and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
