Tony Lo Bianco
TV has frequently tagged him as a cop (e.g., Sergeant DiAngelo on NBC's "Police Story," 1973-77; Detective Rick Massi in the NBC telefilm "Mr. Inside, Mr. Outside," 1973; Lieutenant Alex Ascoli in the short-lived ABC series "Jessie," 1984-85), but he put his boxing experience to good use to play Rocky Marciano in the 1979 ABC movie "Marciano." Additionally, he appeared in two biblical productions, first as Joseph in the ABC movie "Jacob and Joseph" (1974) and later as Quintilius in the NBC miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977). In films, he has often crossed to the other side of the street to play criminals like the over-ambitious Mafioso Sal Boca in the Academy Award-winning "The French Connection" (1971) and the mob boss in "The Juror" (1996). One of his finest performances came in the starring role of Joe, a successful contractor trapped in a web of municipal patronage and corruption, in John Sayles' "City of Hope" (1991). Lo Bianco has helmed episodes of "Police Story," "Kaz" (CBS, 1978-79) and "The Duke" (NBC, 1978-79) and also directed the feature film, "Too Scared to Scream" (1985), starring Anne Archer, Ian McShane and John Heard. Founder and artistic director of NYC's Triangle Theatre, he directed eight productions over a span of six years, while producing 25 shows. Fans of the defunct CBS daytime serial "Love of Life" may also recall him as Joseph Corelli. Tony Lo Bianco died on June 11, 2024 in Poolesville, MD at the age of 87.