Joseph Anthony Giorgio (September 27, 1923 – February 1, 2012) was an Italian-American actor[2] and magician[3] and known for his portrayal of Bruno Tattaglia in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film The Godfather.[4]
Tony Giorgio
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| Born | Joseph Anthony Giorgio (1923-09-27)September 27, 1923
Herkimer, New York, U.S.
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| Died | February 1, 2012(2012-02-01) (aged 88)
Van Nuys, California, U.S.
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| Burial place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, magician |
| Years active | 1966–2004 |
| Spouse | Kaye S. Jacobs-Giorgio (1971–2012) (his death)[1] |
Giorgio was a prolific stage magician and card manipulator. He ran away from home at the age of 12 to join a circus and eventually performed at venues including conventions, fraternal clubs, country clubs, casinos, and film studios. He was hired by Playboy Clubs in the 1960s to be their resident gambling expert, and he gave paid lectures on the nature of confidence games and gambling scams. He was one of the first performers at The Magic Castle nightclub, winning Close-up Magician of the Year in the 1990s.
Giorgio acted in films such as The Godfather (1972), Black Gunn (1972), Magnum Force (1973),[2] Foxy Brown (1974), Capone (1975), Escape to Witch Mountain (1975), The Sting II (1983), The Lonely Guy (1984), Night Train to Terror (1985) and American Me (1992).[2] He also acted in numerous television programs including Mannix, Mission Impossible, Kojak, and The A-Team. In theatre, Giorgio originated the role of 'Big Julie' in the stage musical Guys and Dolls.[5]
On February 1, 2012, aged 88, Giorgio died of heart failure.[6]