Robert Loggia

Robert Loggia

Robert Loggia in 2013
Born Salvatore Loggia
(1930-01-03)January 3, 1930
Staten Island, New York City, New York, U.S.
Died December 4, 2015(2015-12-04) (aged 85)
Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death Alzheimer's disease
Resting place Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Education Wagner College
Alma mater University of Missouri
Occupation Actor, director
Years active 1951–2015 (his death)
Spouse(s) Marjorie Sloan
(m. 1954–1981; divorced)
Audrey O'Brien
(m. 1982–2015; his death)
Children 3 children, 1 stepdaughter[1]
Awards Saturn Award (1988)
Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2010)

Military career

Allegiance  United States
Service/branch U.S. Army
Rank Lieutenant
Signature

Salvatore "Robert" Loggia[2] (January 3, 1930 – December 4, 2015) was an American actor and director. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Jagged Edge (1985) and won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for Big (1988).

In a career spanning over sixty years, Loggia performed in such notable films as The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Scarface (1983), Prizzi's Honor (1985), Oliver & Company (1988), Innocent Blood (1992), Independence Day (1996), Lost Highway (1997), Return to Me (2000), Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012) and Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). He also made prominent appearances on television series such as Mancuso, FBI (1989–1990), Malcolm in the Middle (2001), The Sopranos (2004) , Men of a Certain Age (2011), and was the star of the groundbreaking 1966-67 NBC martial arts / action series, T.H.E. Cat. [3][4][5][6]

Early life and education

Salvatore Loggia (Italian pronunciation: [<salvaˈtoːre ˈlɔddʒa]), an Italian American, was born in Staten Island, New York on January 3, 1930, to Biagio Loggia, a shoemaker born in Palma di Montechiaro, Agrigento, Sicily, and Elena Blandino, a homemaker born in Vittoria, Ragusa, Sicily.[1][7][8] He grew up in the Little Italy neighborhood, where the family spoke Italian at home. He attended New Dorp High School before going to Wagner College. Later he started courses towards a degree in journalism at the University of Missouri, but later switched to drama courses with Alvina Krause at Northwestern University.

After serving in the United States Army, he married Marjorie Sloan in 1954, and began a long career at the Actors Studio, studying under Stella Adler.[9]

Career

At age 25, he made his debut on Broadway in The Man With the Golden Arm in 1955.[9]

Although Loggia made his first film in 1956, in an uncredited appearance, it was not until he was cast as a New Mexico lawman Elfego Baca, two years later, that he gained a breakthrough in Hollywood. Loggia was a radio and TV anchor on the Southern Command Network in the Panama Canal Zone, and he came to prominence playing a real-life sheriff in Nine Lives of Elfego Baca, a series of Walt Disney TV shows. He later starred as the proverbial cat-burglar-turned-good circus artist, Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat, in a short-lived detective series called T.H.E. Cat, first broadcast in 1966. At first, T.H.E. Cat appeared to be a success, Loggia said: "We're drawing about a 30 per cent share of the audience, which NBC considers fine for a new show with new star."[10] After NBC cancelled the series, when viewing figures failed to deliver, Loggia went into a mid-life crisis; a "Dante-esque descent into the inferno", as he called it later. For six years his career foundered, and his marriage fell apart. Restless and unnerved, constantly riddled with self-doubt, a chance meeting with Audrey O'Brien was a saving grace. She helped him out of the crisis, and they later married. Despite playing Frank Carver on the CBS soap opera The Secret Storm[11] in 1972, he took a new course, when he decided to begin a career in directing.

He also carried on acting, and amassed many television credits in a variety of roles, including appearances on Overland Trail, Target: The Corruptors!, The Untouchables, The Eleventh Hour, Breaking Point, Combat!, Custer, Columbo, Ellery Queen, The High Chaparral, Gunsmoke, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Big Valley, The Wild Wild West, Rawhide, Little House on the Prairie, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, Magnum, P.I., Quincy, M.E., Kojak, Hawaii Five-0, The Bionic Woman, Falcon Crest, Frasier, The Sopranos, Monk, and Oliver Stone's miniseries Wild Palms.[2]

Robert Loggia as T.H.E. Cat (1966)

The director Blake Edwards often cast Loggia in his films in one of the minor and supporting roles. These included Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978); S.O.B. (1981), which was a satire about Hollywood; and the Pink Panther sequels.

Loggia also acted in several widely acclaimed films such as An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Scarface (1983), Prizzi's Honor (1985), and Independence Day (1996). Other films starring Loggia include Over The Top (1987), Necessary Roughness (1991), and Return to Me (2000).[2]

Loggia was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of crusty private detective Sam Ransom in the crime-thriller Jagged Edge (1985). He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, his first such honor, for portraying FBI agent Nick Mancuso in the TV series Mancuso, FBI (1989–1990), a follow up to the previous year's miniseries Favorite Son (1988). Loggia appeared as a mobster in multiple films, including: Bill Sykes, the immoral loanshark and shipyard agent in Disney's animated film Oliver & Company (1988), Salvatore "The Shark" Macelli in John Landis' Innocent Blood (1992), Mr. Eddy in David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997), and Don Vito Leoni in David Jablin's The Don's Analyst (1997).[2] Additionally, he played violent mobster Feech La Manna in several episodes of The Sopranos.

In 1998, Loggia appeared in a television commercial lampooning obscure celebrity endorsements. In it, a young boy names Loggia as someone he would trust to recommend Minute Maid orange-tangerine blend. Loggia instantly appears and endorses the drink, to which the boy exclaims, "Whoa, Robert Loggia!"[12] The commercial was later referenced in a Malcolm in the Middle episode, in which Loggia made a guest appearance as "Grandpa Victor" (for which he received his second Emmy nomination); in it, Loggia drinks some orange juice, then spits it out and complains about the pulp.

In addition to voicing Sykes in Disney's Oliver & Company, Loggia had several other voice acting roles, in multiple media, including: Admiral Petrarch in the computer game FreeSpace 2 (1999), the narrator of the Scarface: The World is Yours (2006) game adaptation and the anime movie The Dog of Flanders (1997), crooked cop Ray Machowski in the video game Grand Theft Auto III (2001), and a recurring role on the Adult Swim animated TV comedy series Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004–2006).[13]

In August 2009, Loggia appeared in one of Apple's Get a Mac advertisements. The advertisement features Loggia as a personal trainer hired by PC to get him back on top of his game. On October 26, 2009, TVGuide.com announced Loggia had joined the cast of the TNT series Men of a Certain Age.[14]

In 2012, Loggia portrayed Saint Peter during his final imprisonment in The Apostle Peter and the Last Supper.[2] Loggia partnered with Canadian entrepreneur Frank D'Angelo from 2013, appearing in three films (Real Gangsters, The Big Fat Stone, and No Depo$it), with a fourth film in production (Sicilian Vampire) at the time of Loggia's death.

Loggia served as a director for episodes of Quincy M.E., Magnum P.I., and Hart to Hart.

Loggia reprised his role from Independence Day, General William Grey, in a cameo appearance in the 2016 sequel Independence Day: Resurgence, filmed shortly before his death. The film was released posthumously and dedicated to him.

Personal life

Loggia was married to Marjorie Sloan from 1954 to 1981, with whom he had three children: Tracey (an actress),[15] John (a production designer),[16] and Kristina (an actress).[1][17] Loggia and Sloan were divorced in 1981.[1]

In 1982, Loggia married Audrey O'Brien, a business executive and the mother of his stepdaughter Cynthia Marlette. Loggia and O'Brien remained married until his death in 2015.[1]

Illness and death

In 2010, Loggia was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[18] He died on December 4, 2015, of complications from the disease, at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, at the age of 85.[18][19]

Honors and recognitions

In 2010, Loggia was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.[20]

On December 17, 2011, Loggia was honored by his alma mater, the University of Missouri, with an honorary degree for his career and his humanitarian efforts.[21]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Somebody Up There Likes Me Frankie Peppo Uncredited.
1957 The Garment Jungle Tulio Renata American crime film noir, directed by Vincent Sherman and Robert Aldrich, and written by Lester Velie and Harry Kleiner.
1958 Cop Hater Detective Steve Carelli American police procedural film, based on the 1956 novel Cop Hater by Ed McBain
The Lost Missile Dr. David Loring Science fiction film, directed by William A. Berke's son, Lester Wm. Berke, who had come up with the original story.
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told Joseph American epic film, produced and directed by George Stevens.
1966 The Three Sisters Solyony Directed by Paul Bogart.
Elfego Baca: Six Gun Law Elfego Baca
1969 Che! Faustino Morales American biographical drama film, directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Omar Sharif as Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
1974 Two Missionaries Marches Gonzaga
1977 First Love John March American romance film.
Speedtrap Spillano A police chase action film.
1978 Revenge of the Pink Panther Al Marchione The sixth film in The Pink Panther comedy film series.
1980 The Ninth Configuration Lt. Bennish
Flatfoot in Egypt Edward Burns
1981 S.O.B. Herb Maskowitz American film comedy, written and directed by Blake Edwards.
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman Byron Mayo American drama/romance film.[22]
Trail of the Pink Panther Bruno Langois The seventh film in The Pink Panther series.
1983 Psycho II Dr. Bill Raymond
Curse of the Pink Panther Bruno Langois
  • Curse attempted to relaunch the series with a new lead, Ted Wass, as bumbling American detective Clifton Sleigh, assigned to find the missing Inspector Clouseau.
  • The film features a cameo by Roger Moore – as Clouseau himself – at the end of the film.
Scarface Frank Lopez American crime drama film, directed by Brian De Palma, and written by Oliver Stone, a remake of the 1932 film of the same name.
1985 Prizzi's Honor Eduardo Prizzi American film, directed by John Huston.
Jagged Edge Sam Ransom American courtroom thriller, written by Joe Eszterhas, and directed by Richard Marquand.
1986 Armed and Dangerous Michael Carlino American action-crime comedy film, directed by Mark L. Lester.
That's Life! Father Baragone
1987 Over the Top Jason Cutler
Hot Pursuit Mac MacClaren American-Mexican action comedy film, directed by Steven Lisberger, and written by Lisberger and Steven Carabatsos.
The Believers Lt. Sean McTaggert A horror/neo-noir film, directed by John Schlesinger.
Gaby: A True Story Michel Brimmer American-Mexican drama biographical film, directed by Luis Mandoki.
Amazon Women on the Moon Gen. McCormick
1988 Big Mr. MacMillan American fantasy comedy film, directed by Penny Marshall
Oliver and Company Sykes
1989 Relentless Bill Malloy American crime film, directed by William Lustig.
Triumph of the Spirit Father Arouch
1990 Opportunity Knocks Milt Malkin Comedy film, directed by Donald Petrie.
1991 The Marrying Man Lew Horner
Necessary Roughness Coach Wally Rig American sports comedy film, directed by Stan Dragoti in his final film.
1992 Gladiator Pappy Jack American sports drama film, directed by Rowdy Herrington.
Spies Inc. Mac
Innocent Blood Sallie "The Shark" Macelli
  • Also known in some regions as A French Vampire in America.
  • American crime comedy horror film, directed by John Landis, and written by Michael Wolk.
1993 Flight from Hell-The Rescue of Flight 771 Captain Gordon Vette
1994 Bad Girls Frank Jarrett Western film, directed by Jonathan Kaplan, from a screenplay by Ken Friedman and Yolande Turner.
The Last Tattoo Cmdr. Conrad Dart
I Love Trouble Matt Greenfield
1995 Coldblooded Gordon Black comedy/thriller film about hitmen, directed by Wallace Wolodarsky.
Man with a Gun Philip Marquand
1996 Independence Day General William Grey American epic science fiction disaster film, co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich.
1997 Lost Highway Mr. Eddy/Dick Laurent French-American neo noir psychological mystery thriller, written and directed by David Lynch.
Smilla's Sense of Snow Moritz Jasperson Released in the United Kingdom under the original 1992 novel title in Danish title: Frøken Smillas fornemmelse for sne.
The Don's Analyst Don Vito Leoni
The Dog of Flanders Grandpa Jehan
  • Japanese anime film.
  • Voice only.
  • English version.
1998 Holy Man John McBainbridge Comedy film, directed by Stephen Herek.
Hard Time Connie Martin American crime film, directed by, and starring Burt Reynolds.[24][25]
Wide Awake Grandpa Beal Comedy-drama film, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and produced by Cathy Konrad and Cary Woods.
1999 The Suburbans Jules Comedy-drama that satirizes the 1980s revival hype around the turn of the 21st century.
2000 Return to Me Angelo Pardipillo Romantic comedy-drama film, directed by Bonnie Hunt.
American Virgin Ronny Directed by Jean-Pierre Marois.
2001 Dodson's Journey Opti Dodson
2005 The Deal Jared Tolson Political thriller film, directed by Harvey Kahn.
2006 Forget About It Carl Campobasso Directed by BJ Davis.[26]
Funny Money Feldman Comedy film, directed by Leslie Greif.
Wild Seven Mackey Willis
Rain Jake
2008 The Least Of These Father William Jennings
2009 Shrink Dr. Robert Carter American independent comedy-drama film, directed by Jonas Pate.
2010 Harvest Siv Received the Charlotte Film Festival Award for Best Actor.
2011 Fake Seamus White
The Life Zone John Lation/Satan
The Grand Theft General McAvoy
The Great Fight Dr. Salvatore Reno
2012 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Tommy Schlaaang American comedy film, written and directed by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, creators of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!.
Apostle Peter and the Last Supper Apostle Peter
The Diary of Preston Plummer John Percy
2014 An Evergreen Christmas Pops
2015 Sicilian Vampire Santino Trafficante Sr. Canadian horror drama film, written, directed by, and starring Frank D'Angelo.
2016 Independence Day: Resurgence Retired General and former 43rd President[27] William Grey Posthumous release

Television

Year Title Roles Notes
1966 T.H.E. Cat Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat Main cast.
1976 Columbo: Now You See Him Harry (the chef in charge of the kitchen) Main cast.
The Moneychangers Tony Bear TV miniseries.
1977 Rockford Files Manny Arturis Main cast.
1977 Raid on Entebbe Yigal Allon
1978 Rockford Files Russell Nevitt Main cast.
1982 A Woman Called Golda Anwar Sadat TV miniseries.
1983 Emerald Point N.A.S. Yuri Bukharin Main cast.
1987 Echoes in the Darkness Jay Smith TV miniseries.
Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 Wiliam M. Kunstler
1988 Favorite Son Nick Mancuso Political intrigue miniseries, that aired on NBC (in three parts).
1989 Mancuso, F.B.I. Nick Mancuso Main cast.
1991 Sunday Dinner Ben Benedict Main cast.
1993 Wild Palms Senator Anton Kreutzer TV miniseries.
1994 Picture Windows Merce 1 episode.
1999 Joan Of Arc Father Monet
2000 Malcolm in the Middle Victor 1 episode.
2000 Frasier Stefano 1 episode.
2003 Queens Supreme Judge Thomas O'Neill Main cast.
2004 The Sopranos Feech La Manna Appears in: Two Tonys, Rat Pack, Where's Johnny?, and All Happy Families....
2008 Monk Louie Flynn 1 episode, Mr. Monk Takes a Punch.
2010–2011 Men of a Certain Age Artie Three episodes.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result ref
1985 Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Jagged Edge Nominated [18]
1988 Cable ACE Award Cable ACE Award for Best Actor in a Theatrical or Dramatic Special Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 Nominated
1988 Saturn Award Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Big Won [28]
1993 Fangoria Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actor Innocent Blood Nominated
1990 Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Mancuso, F.B.I. Nominated
2001 Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Malcolm in the Middle Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Robert Loggia Biography, Film Reference. Retrieved 2015-12-05
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Biography for Robert Loggia at the Internet Movie Database
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbH1_48IrjA
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyJlIiw0EY
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JowagzETnc
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFPU1GIGrZY
  7. ↑ "News". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, MO. October 24, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Profile". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  9. 1 2 The Daily Telegraph, December 7, 2015, (paper only), Obituary, p.31.
  10. ↑ Gowran, Clay (October 31, 1966). "Plan More Kisses for Bone Busting Cat". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. p. 562. ISBN 0-7607-5634-1.
  12. ↑ Whoa, Robert Loggia! on YouTube
  13. ↑ Justin Sevakis (March 6, 2008) The Dog of Flanders – Buried Treasure, animenewsnetwork.com; accessed April 12, 2015.
  14. ↑ Adam Bryant (October 26, 2009). "Exclusive: Ray Romano's Men of a Certain Age Casts Robert Loggia". TVGuide.com.
  15. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517716/
  16. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517714/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1
  17. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517715/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1
  18. 1 2 3 Associated Press (December 4, 2015). "'Scarface,' 'Sopranos' actor Robert Loggia dies at 85". LA Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 4, 2015). "Oscar-Nominated Actor Robert Loggia Dies at 85". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Ellis Island Medal of Honor", NYU News and Publications, May 10, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-05
  21. ↑ "Robert Loggia, William Least Heat-Moon to earn honorary MU degrees". Columbia Daily Tribune. December 1, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  22. ↑ "An Officer and a Gentleman". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. May 22, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  23. ↑ Canby, Vincent (April 5, 1991). "The Marrying Man (1991) Review/Film; Marriage as Eternal Punishment". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  24. ↑ Ray Richmond (December 10, 1998). "Review: 'Hard Time'". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  25. ↑ Steven Linan (December 12, 1998). "Reynolds' 'Hard Time' Gives Viewers a Rather Difficult Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Forget About It movie website". Internet Archive. February 7, 2006. Archived from the original on February 7, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Independence Day: Resurgence". War of 1996. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  28. ↑ Arar, Yardena (December 7, 1989). "`Beetlejuice` And `Roger Rabbit` Each Win 3 Awards". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved December 4, 2015.

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