Joseph Anthony Giorgio (September 27, 1923 – February 1, 2012) was an Italian-American actor^[2] and magician^[3] and known for his portrayal of Bruno Tattaglia in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film The Godfather.^[4]

Career

Giorgio was a prolific stage magician and card manipulator. He ran away from home at the age of 12 to join a circus and eventually performed at venues including conventions, fraternal clubs, country clubs, casinos, and film studios. He was hired by Playboy Clubs in the 1960s to be their resident gambling expert, and he gave paid lectures on the nature of confidence games and gambling scams. He was one of the first performers at The Magic Castle nightclub, winning Close-up Magician of the Year in the 1990s.

Giorgio acted in films such as The Godfather (1972), Black Gunn (1972), Magnum Force (1973),^[2] Foxy Brown (1974), Capone (1975), Escape to Witch Mountain (1975), The Sting II (1983), The Lonely Guy (1984), Night Train to Terror (1985) and American Me (1992).^[2] He also acted in numerous television programs including Mannix, Mission Impossible, Kojak, and The A-Team. In theatre, Giorgio originated the role of 'Big Julie' in the stage musical Guys and Dolls.^[5]

Death

On February 1, 2012, aged 88, Giorgio died of heart failure.^[6]

Filmography

Film

• 1966 A Big Hand for the Little Lady as "Steamboat" (uncredited)
• 1968 Sol Madrid as Tall Man (uncredited)
• 1968 The Wrecking Crew as Agent (uncredited)
• 1969 Changes as Joe, Arcade Owner (uncredited)
• 1969 Paint Your Wagon as Card Player (uncredited)
• 1972 The Godfather as Bruno Tattaglia
• 1972 Black Gunn as Ben
• 1973 Harry in Your Pocket as 1st Detective
• 1973 Magnum Force as Frank Palancio
• 1974 Foxy Brown as Eddie
• 1974 Adam-12 11/12/1974 as Bandit
• 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain as Hunter #2
• 1975 Capone as Antonio "Tony The Scourge" Lombardo
• 1978 Record City as Mr. F
• 1983 The Sting II as Rossovich, Macalinski's Man
• 1984 The Lonely Guy as Writer At Party
• 1985 Night Train to Terror as Satan (segment "The Night Train")
• 1987 Cry Wilderness as The Sheriff
• 1992 American Me as Don Antonio Scagnelli
• 1997 My Brother Jack as Rocco

Television