Sam Coppola

Sam Coppola 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 in Serpico, Dan Fusco, owner of the hardware and paint store who gave John Travolta's character Tony Manero advice in Saturday Night Fever, and Fuselli in Fatal Attraction.
On television, Coppola's appearances include roles in the series Ryan's Hope, The Equalizer, The Practice, The Wire, The Good Wife, and on shows in the Law & Order franchise.
On The Sopranos, 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 - Customer Interplay - MelThe Anderson Tapes - Private DetectiveThe Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight - JulieSerpico - Cop Crazy Joe - ChickDeath Journey - Detective JohnsonSaturday Night Fever - Dan FuscoFingers - SamKing of the Gypsies - Without a Trace - SchoyerFatal Attraction - FuselliZits - PrincipalBlue Steel - PBA RepresentativeShe's Back - Det. BrophyStreet Hunter - JannelliJacob's Ladder - Taxi DriverA Kiss Before Dying - Detective MichaelsonJoey Breaker - Sid KramerMoney for Nothing - Bartender LindeyPalookaville - Mr. Kott, Money Truck DriverThe Deli - Mr. BishopA Wake in Providence - Uncle JoeBlue Moon - BillSally - Dr. FelchFriends & Family - Carlo RicciEmpire - Bobby GoldNola - GusTrue Crime: New York City - Additional voicesHeavy Petting - Old Codger #1House of Satisfaction - BarryReunion - MaxRun It - VinnyDriving Me Crazy - Larry Petterson

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1975–1976	Ryan's Hope	Angie	4 episodes
1986	The Equalizer	Frank Polinski	Episode: "Shades of Darkness"
1991	Law & Order	Bartender	Episode: "Reunciation"
1997	The Practice	Carl Mazone	Episode: "The Blessing"
1998	Witness to the Mob	Judge Leo Glasser	TV movie
1999	The Sopranos	Dr. Reise	1 episode
2001	The Big Heist	Paul Castellano	TV movie. A&E
2001	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Uncle Sammy	Episode: "Paranoia"
2002	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Neal Dornan	Episode: "The Pilgrim"
2004	Law & Order	US Federal Judge Vance	Episode: "City Hall"
2006	The Wire	Former Mayor "Young Tony"	2 episodes
2011	The Good Wife	Merrick	1 episode