Born: June 2, 1924 – Died: November 12, 2013
Al Ruscio, an actor whose career spanned several decades, was born on June 2, 1924, in Salem, Massachusetts. Ruscio made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, particularly known for roles in "Showgirls" (1995), "The Phantom" (1996), and The Godfather Part III (1990).
Early Life and Career
Ruscio's journey in the entertainment industry began with modest roots, as is often the case with many actors. His first professional role came in the late 1950s, though the specifics of this role remain unclear. However, it was his portrayal of Leo Cuneo in The Godfather Part III in 1990 that marked a significant milestone in his career. This role not only gained him recognition but also cemented his position as a respected actor in Hollywood.
Throughout his career, Ruscio appeared in over 200 film and television productions, showcasing his versatility and dedication to his craft. While he may not have been a recipient of major awards, his consistent presence and the variety of roles he played speak volumes about his skills and adaptability as an actor.
Ruscio's personal life was marked by his marriage to Kate Williamson, with whom he had a longstanding relationship until his death in 2013. They had four children, including Nina Ruscio.
Al Ruscio's impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry was subtle yet significant. He was a reliable character actor who brought authenticity and depth to every role he played. His career serves as a testament to the importance of supporting actors in shaping the narrative of film and television. Ruscio may not have been the most celebrated star of his time, but his contributions to the industry made him a respected and memorable figure.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Goy | Donal Ritter |
| 2010 | Medium Rare (TV Series) | Detective Hill |
| 2008 | Winged Creatures | Angelo |
| 2007 | The Gift: At Risk | Hank |
| 2007 | 'Til Death (TV Series) | Len |
| 2005 | Complete Guide to Guys | Senior Husband |
| 2003–2004 | 7th Heaven (TV Series) | Fred Fleming |
| 2002 | The Guardian (TV Series) | Albert 'Sparky' Walters |
| 2002 | First Monday (TV Series) | Uncle Willie |
| 2001 | Sammy (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 2001 | Boss of Bosses (TV Movie) | Carlo Gambino |
| 2001 | Kate Brasher (TV Series) | Edgar Rosen |
| 2000 | Manhattan, AZ (TV Series) | Mo |
| 2000 | Veronica's Closet (TV Series) | Phil |
| 1999 | Norm (TV Series) | Father O'Flaherty |
| 1999 | The X-Files (TV Series) | Elder #4 |
| 1998–1999 | Port Charles (TV Series) | Kosta Kanelos |
| 1998 | NYPD Blue (TV Series) | Artie Rosen |
| 1997–1998 | Fired Up (TV Series) | Manny |
| 1998 | The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series) | Barney's father |
| 1998 | Tracey Takes On... (TV Series) | Otto Cornowitz |
| 1997 | Sparks (TV Series) | Judge |
| 1997 | Malcolm & Eddie (TV Series) | Johnny Beaumont |
| 1997 | Brotherly Love (TV Series) | Harry Gibba |
| 1996 | The Phantom | Police Commissioner Farley |
| 1996 | ER (TV Series) | Mr. Dellanova |
| 1995 | Xtro 3: Watch the Skies | The General (1955) |
| 1995 | Simon (TV Series) | Mr. Lorenzo |
| 1995 | Showgirls | Mr. Karlman |
| 1995 | Pig Sty (TV Series) | Father Poma |
| 1994 | Hot Line (TV Series) | Bartender |
| 1994 | The Untouchables (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1994 | Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) | John Strega |
| 1994 | Dickwad (Short) | Mr. Leon |
| 1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Phillip Morris |
| 1993 | Joe's Life (TV Series) | Frank Rossi | Frank Ruscio |
| 1993 | Home Free (TV Series) | Desk Clerk |
| 1993 | Seinfeld (TV Series) | Manager |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) | Santo Angelini |
| 1993 | The Hat Squad (TV Series) | Tommy |
| 1992 | Tequila and Bonetti (TV Series) | Stefano |
| 1990–1992 | Life Goes On (TV Series) | Sal Giordano |
| 1992 | Mad About You (TV Series) | Uncle Jules |
| 1992 | Nurses (TV Series) | Mr. Hamel |
| 1992 | I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore | Uncle Dominic |
| 1991 | Future Kick | Kraner |
| 1991 | The Wonder Years (TV Series) | Mr. Harris |
| 1991 | The Heroes of Desert Storm (TV Movie) | Unknown |
| 1991 | Brooklyn Bridge (TV Series) | Johnny |
| 1991 | Dead Silence (TV Movie) | Reducci |
| 1991 | Ferris Bueller (TV Series) | Tony |
| 1991 | The Man in the Family (TV Series) | Carmine |
| 1991 | Guilty by Suspicion | Ben Saltman |
| 1991 | Stop at Nothing (TV Movie) | Judge Quentin |
| 1991 | Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV Series) | Henry Silver |
| 1990 | *The Godfather Part III* | Leo Cuneo |
| 1984–1990 | Hunter (TV Series) | Sam Miller | Carmine Santorro |
| 1990 | Lifestories (TV Series) | Mr. Haden |
| 1990 | The Fanelli Boys (TV Series) | Archbishop Mosconi |
| 1989 | Trying Times (TV Series) | Father |
| 1989 | Growing Pains (TV Series) | Stranger |
| 1989 | Cage | Costello |
| 1989 | Romero | Bishop Estrada |
| 1989 | Blood Red | Antonio Segestra |
| 1989 | Santa Barbara (TV Series) | R.J. Bentson |
| 1989 | Jesse Hawkes (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1989 | War and Remembrance (TV Mini Series) | Marshal Josef Stalin |
| 1989 | Hard Time on Planet Earth (TV Series) | Carlo Caretti |
| 1989 | Amen (TV Series) | Willie Garlotti |
| 1988 | Annie McGuire (TV Series) | DeCarlo |
| 1988 | Lady Mobster (TV Movie) | Tony D'Angelo |
| 1988 | Home Free (TV Movie) | Mr. Avidisian |
| 1988 | Days of Our Lives (TV Series) | Miguel Torres |
| 1983–1988 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) | Frank Deckman | Boston |
| 1987 | Medium Rare | Detective Hill |
| 1987 | Brothers (TV Series) | Uncle Charlie |
| 1987 | MacGyver (TV Series) | Paul Webber |
| 1985–1987 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series) | Rostov | Frankie Columbus |
| 1984–1987 | Night Court (TV Series) | Mr. Fetty | Ralph Foley |
| 1987 | Starman (TV Series) | Matteo Gionetti |
| 1987 | Easy Street (TV Series) | Ernie |
| 1987 | One Big Family (TV Series) | Rosey |
| 1987 | Outlaws (TV Series) | Martin Carue |
| 1982–1986 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) | John Petruzzi | Bernard Heiser | Sosa |
| 1986 | The Wizard (TV Series) | Pranski |
| 1986 | Simon & Simon (TV Series) | Nicky Walters |
| 1986 | Sledge Hammer! (TV Series) | Don Phillip Souza |
| 1986 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) | Charlie Masaryk |
| 1986 | Matlock (TV Series) | Ernie 'The Tailor' Marzell |
| 1986 | Fame (TV Series) | Sergeant Levin |
| 1986 | Riptide (TV Series) | Monty Paradise |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories (TV Series) | Tony Maroni |
| 1985 | Hell Town (TV Series) | Phil |
| 1985 | Crazy Like a Fox (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1985 | Who's the Boss? (TV Series) | Joseph |
| 1985 | Stir Crazy (TV Series) | Mike Forbes |
| 1985 | Jagged Edge | Carl Siegal |
| 1985 | Rocco's Star (TV Movie) | Sal Campanella |
| 1984–1985 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) | Raleigh | Mr. Morlin |
| 1985 | The A-Team (TV Series) | Gino Gianni |
| 1984 | Highway to Heaven (TV Series) | Petros |
| 1984 | Steambath (TV Series) | Davinci |
| 1984 | The New Mike Hammer (TV Series) | Vince Rosario |
| 1984 | Falcon Crest (TV Series) | Simon Whittaker |
| 1983 | General Hospital (TV Series) | Yanni |
| 1983 | Remington Steele (TV Series) | Joseph Berkholtzer |
| 1983 | Insight (TV Series) | Reilly |
| 1983 | Deadly Force | Sam Goodwin |
| 1983 | Bring 'Em Back Alive (TV Series) | Miklos |
| 1982 | Farrell for the People (TV Movie) | Judge Portugal |
| 1982 | T.J. Hooker (TV Series) | Gino Minelli |
| 1982 | Police Squad! (TV Series) | Dutch |
| 1977–1982 | Barney Miller (TV Series) | Jack Norrell | Leonard Roth | Mr. Becker ... |
| 1981–1982 | Shannon (TV Series) | Paul Lokatelli |
| 1982 | The Fall Guy (TV Series) | Harvey |
| 1981 | The People vs. Jean Harris (TV Movie) | Siciliano |
| 1981 | Taxi (TV Series) | Dr. Webster |
| 1981 | Hart to Hart (TV Series) | Mr. Six |
| 1980 | Any Which Way You Can | Tony Paoli Sr. |
| 1980 | A Rumor of War (TV Mini Series) | Uncle Al |
| 1980 | The Hunter | Mr. Bernardo (uncredited) |
| 1978–1980 | Lou Grant (TV Series) | Carmine Rossi | Detective Rather |
| 1979 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) | Anton |
| 1979 | In Search of Historic Jesus | Priest #1 |
| 1979 | Police Story (TV Series) | Captain Bloom |
| 1979 | Salvage 1 (TV Series) | Agamemnon |
| 1979 | Mrs. Columbo (TV Series) | Victor March |
| 1979 | Eight Is Enough (TV Series) | Editor |
| 1978 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible (TV Series) | Aaron |
| 1978 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) | Mr. Sariego |
| 1978 | Ruby and Oswald (TV Movie) | Nat Ryan |
| 1977 | Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) | Roper |
| 1976–1977 | Kojak (TV Series) | Jonas Vukich | Joe Travino |
| 1976–1977 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) | Vic Cassell | Tom Corell |
| 1977 | Martinelli, Outside Man (TV Movie) | Sal |
| 1977 | Delvecchio (TV Series) | Father Vincent |
| 1975–1977 | Police Woman (TV Series) | Plummer | Scotto |
| 1977 | Phyllis (TV Series) | Ed |
| 1976 | One Day at a Time (TV Series) | Mr. Romano |
| 1976 | Joe Forrester (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight (TV Series) | Arenda |
| 1975 | The Invisible Man (TV Series) | Mannie Hallman |
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. (TV Series) | Frank Deal |
| 1975 | Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) | Judge Angelotti |
| 1975 | McCloud (TV Series) | Doctor |
| 1975 | The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series) | Chester Goddard |
| 1975 | Baretta (TV Series) | Leader |
| 1968 | Fever Heat | Al Demarco |
| 1965 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) | Lorenzo |
| 1964 | 12 O'Clock High (TV Series) | Malot |
| 1964 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV Series) | Dimitri Gounaris |
| 1963–1964 | The Great Adventure (TV Series) | Nez Coupe | Fenucci |
| 1964 | The Greatest Show on Earth (TV Series) | Julio |
| 1964 | The Littlest Hobo (TV Series) | Dino |
| 1964 | Deadline for Murder | Walter Sorkin |
| 1963 | Ripcord (TV Series) | Carlo Minelli |
| 1959–1963 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) | Pete Malatesta | Sebastian Sestini |
| 1963 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) | Ed Rutherford |
| 1959–1963 | The Untouchables (TV Series) | Denny Cole | Gus Kroelig | Frankie Yale |
| 1963 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) | Dr. Taylor |
| 1963 | Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series) | Machado |
| 1962 | Sam Benedict (TV Series) | Nico Garza |
| 1962 | Going My Way (TV Series) | Jimmy Cipollaro |
| 1960–1962 | The Detectives (TV Series) | Capt. Navas | Frankie | Landek |
| 1962 | 87th Precinct (TV Series) | Joe Brooks |
| 1962 | Target: The Corruptors! (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1962 | The Beachcomber (TV Series) | Sim |
| 1962 | The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) | Nelson Chico |
| 1961 | Follow the Sun (TV Series) | Gus |
| 1961 | Cain's Hundred (TV Series) | Vic |
| 1960–1961 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Delgado | Vaca |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith (TV Series) | Phillipe Carmotta |
| 1959–1961 | The Lawless Years (TV Series) | Benjamin Koster | Leonardo Nuccio | Meyer ... |
| 1959–1961 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) | Inspector Georges | Manager |
| 1960–1961 | The Case of the Dangerous Robin (TV Series) | Luis Aguilar |
| 1960–1961 | The Aquanauts (TV Series) | Ralph D'Amico | Emilio Romero |
| 1961 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV Series) | Guiseppe |
| 1961 | The Islanders (TV Series) | Rami |
| 1961 | Thriller (TV Series) | Allah El Kazim |
| 1960 | U.S. Marshal (TV Series) | Mario |
| 1960 | Michael Shayne (TV Series) | Rice |
| 1960 | Adventures in Paradise (TV Series) | Sayid |
| 1960 | Wrangler (TV Series) | Wes Martin |
| 1960 | Sea Hunt (TV Series) | General Cissario Sirrano | Captain Ebera |
| 1960 | The Music Box Kid | Thomas Morrell - aka 'Five Points' (uncredited) |
| 1960 | M Squad (TV Series) | Freddie Cannell |
| 1960 | Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) | Pietro Poli |
| 1960 | Lock Up (TV Series) | Willy Clark |
| 1959 | Manhunt (TV Series) | Frank Nicholls |
| 1959 | Grand Jury (TV Series) | Minetti |
| 1959 | Philip Marlowe (TV Series) | Nick Dempsey |
| 1959 | Mr. Lucky (TV Series) | Lieutenant |
| 1958–1959 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Vittorio | Albert Weinshank |
| 1959 | Al Capone | Tony Genaro |
| 1958 | Zorro (TV Series) | Luis (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) | Haley |