Michael V. Gazzo Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Movies, Plays, Death

Michael Vincenzo Gazzo, Commonly known as Michael Gazzo, was an acclaimed American playwright and character actor.

He garnered critical acclaim for his Broadway drama A Hatful of Rain, which tackled addiction with raw honesty, and later achieved widespread recognition as Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II, earning an Academy Award nomination.

Gazzo is respected for his contributions both to mid‑20th-century American theatre and iconic film roles within Hollywood’s golden age.

Profile

• Full Name: Michael Vincenzo Gazzo
• Stage Name: Michael Gazzo
• Born: 5 April , 1923
• Died: 14 February 1995
• Age: 71 years old
• Birthplace: Hillside, New Jersey, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Playwright, Actor (Stage, Film & TV)
• Height: 1.73 m
• Parents: Mr. Gazzo, Mrs. Gazzo
• Siblings: Brother Frank Gazzo; sister Anne Gazzo
• Spouse: Grace Gazzo (m.1944)
• Children: Christopher Gazzo, Peppi Gazzo, Michael Gazzo
• Relationship: Married until his passing
• Net Worth: $1 million–$5 million

Early Life and Education

Michael Vincenzo Gazzo was born on April 5, 1923, in Hillside, New Jersey, to Italian-American parents. He grew up alongside his brother Frank and sister Anne, developing an early passion for theatre.

After serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, he trained at Erwin Piscator’s Dramatic Workshop at The New School and became a member of the Actors Studio in New York City. Gazzo’s formal education culminated in dramatic arts; details of any university degree are unrecorded. He was of Italian heritage, and his religious affiliations are not publicly known.

Career

Michael Gazzo began his career in the 1940s after studying acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York City. A member of the famed Actors Studio, he initially made his mark as a playwright. His breakthrough came in 1955 with A Hatful of Rain, a gritty, realistic drama about heroin addiction that opened on Broadway to critical acclaim.

The play was a commercial success, running for nearly 400 performances, and was adapted into a 1957 film with Gazzo co-writing the screenplay.

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Gazzo focused on writing, teaching, and taking occasional small acting roles. He wrote additional stage works like The Night Circus and contributed to screenplays, including Elvis Presley’s King Creole. His background as a method actor and teacher at the Actors Studio helped influence a generation of performers, even as he kept a low profile in Hollywood during that period.

He gradually returned to more consistent acting work as he aged into character roles that matched his gritty, urban image.

Gazzo’s most iconic performance came in 1974 when he played Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II. His portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and revitalized his acting career. Following that success, he appeared in several major films including Black Sunday, King of the Gypsies, and Last Action Hero.

Gazzo remained active in film and television until shortly before his death in 1995, securing his legacy as both a respected playwright and a memorable screen presence.

Personal Life

Michael V. Gazzo married Grace Gazzo on July 8, 1944, and remained with her until his death. They had three children: Peppi, Michael, and Christopher.

Gazzo passed away on February 14, 1995, at age 71 in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke, and was laid to rest at Westwood Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography

Plays & Screenplays:

• A Hatful of Rain (play, 1955; screen adaptation, 1957)
• The Night Circus (play, 1958)
• King Creole (screenplay, 1958)

Film & TV Roles:

• On the Waterfront (1954, uncredited)
• The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971)
• The Godfather Part II (1974) – Frank Pentangeli
• King of the Gypsies (1978)
• Fear City (1984)
• Last Action Hero (1993)

Net Worth

Michael Gazzo’s net worth at the time of death is estimated between $1 million and $5 million, derived from his career as a playwright, screenwriter, stage and screen actor, and acting instructor.