Sam Coppola (July 31, 1932 – February 5, 2012) was an American character actor of stage, film, and television, appearing in more than 35 films and nearly 40 television shows, since 1968.

Education

Coppola was an alumnus of the Lee Strasberg acting studio.

Career

Coppola's film roles include, a Cop (uncredited) in Serpico (1973), Dan Fusco, owner of the hardware and paint store who gave John Travolta's character Tony Manero advice in Saturday Night Fever (1977), and Fuselli in Fatal Attraction (1987).

On television, Coppola's appearances include roles in the series Ryan's Hope (1975-76), The Equalizer (1986), The Practice (1997), The Wire (2006), The Good Wife (2011), and on shows in the Law & Order franchise.

On The Sopranos (1999), Coppola made a brief appearance as the idiosyncratic family therapist of Jennifer Melfi.

In the 2001 A&E television movie The Big Heist, Coppola portrayed mob boss Paul Castellano.

Coppola played a nursing home resident in a Chevy commercial that aired during 2011's Super Bowl and a hot dog vendor in a Ball Park Franks spot starring Michael Jordan.

On stage, Coppola portrayed Aaronow, an aging real estate salesman in a 2000 production of Glengarry Glen Ross at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ, and in a 2005 off-Broadway production of Waiting for Godot he portrayed the hobo Vladimir.

Personal life

Coppola resided in Leonia, New Jersey for 38-years. He was predeceased by his wife, and survived by two children, Jason and Samantha, and by three grandchildren.

Sam Coppola is not related to Francis Ford Coppola, the film director.

Death

Coppola died February 5, 2012, from an aneurysm.

Filmography

Film

• No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) – Customer (uncredited)

• Interplay (1970) – Mel

• The Anderson Tapes (1971) – Private Detective

• The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) – Julie

• Serpico (1973) – Cop (uncredited)

• Crazy Joe (1974) – Chick

• Death Journey (1976) – Detective Johnson

• Saturday Night Fever (1977) – Dan Fusco

• Fingers (1978) – Sam

• King of the Gypsies (1978) – (uncredited)

• Without a Trace (1983) – Schoyer

• Fatal Attraction (1987) – Fuselli

• Zits (1988) – Principal

• Blue Steel (1989) – PBA Representative

• She's Back (1989) – Det. Brophy

• Street Hunter (1990) – Jannelli

• Jacob's Ladder (1990) – Taxi Driver

• A Kiss Before Dying (1991) – Detective Michaelson

• Joey Breaker (1993) – Sid Kramer

• Money for Nothing (1993) – Bartender Lindey

• Palookaville (1995) – Mr. Kott, Money Truck Driver

• The Deli (1997) – Mr. Bishop

• A Wake in Providence (1999) – Uncle Joe

• Blue Moon (2000) – Bill

• Sally (2000) – Dr. Felch

• Friends & Family (2001) – Carlo Ricci

• Empire (2002) – Bobby Gold

• Nola (2003) – Gus

• True Crime: New York City (2005) – Additional voices

• Heavy Petting (2007) – Old Codger #1

• House of Satisfaction (2008) – Barry

• Reunion (2009) – Max

• Run It (2009) – Vinny

• Driving Me Crazy (2012) – Larry Petterson

Television

References

External links

• Obituary