Tony Lo Bianco Dies: Prolific Actor Who Played Sal Boca In ‘The French Connection’ Was 87
deadline.comTony Lo Bianco, who played the key role of Sal Boca in Best Picture Oscar winner The French Connection and appeared in more than 100 films and TV shows during a 60-year screen career, died Tuesday of prostate cancer at his home in Maryland.
He was 87. A rep confirmed his death to Fox News today. Lo Bianco got his start guesting on 1960s TV series including The Doctors, Get Smart!
and N.Y.P.D. before landing a big-screen star turn in 1970’s The Honeymoon Killers. That led to his signature role as Salvatore “Sal” Buco in William Friedkin’s seminal New York crime drama The French Connection the following year.
His character is at the center of a drug deal followed by NYPD Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman). The film won five Oscars including Best Picture and Lead Actor for Hackman.
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