Val Bisoglio, ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Saturday Night Fever’ Actor, Dies at 95

Val Bisoglio, best known for his roles on The Sopranos and in Saturday Night Fever, has died. The Italian American character actor passed away last Monday (Oct. 18), his wife Bonnie Bisoglio confirmed to NBC. He was 95.

“He was my darling man,” said his widow. “He was very special.”

Bisoglio got his start on the stage, starring in productions like “A View From the Bridge” and “Wait Until Dark.” He got his big break in the 1977 hit film Saturday Night Fever, where he played Tony Manero’s (John Travolta) abusive father Frank.

Over the course of his 50 years in acting, Bisoglio appeared in 60 TV shows and movies, including hits like M*A*S*H, Quincy, M.E., Miami Vice, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was also featured in the 1979 hit The Frisco Kid, starring as Chief Gray Cloud. Other film credits include Serpico, No Way to Treat a Lady, The Brotherhood, The Don Is Dead, Linda Lovelace for President, The Hindenburg, and St. Ives.

In his final role, Bisoglio starred as Junior Soprano’s caretaker Murf in the hit HBO series The Sopranos.

Along with acting, the star participated in the Mobilization for Youth pilot project of the Kennedy Administration, an anti-poverty program that trained teenage dropouts for employment.

Bisoglio is survived by his wife and three sons, Joesph Valentino Bisoglio, Sgt. Scott Chapman and Casey DeFranco.