VIDEO SUNDAY - IN VITO, VARIETY

I’m a year and a day late in this tribute to one of my all-time favorite character actors on TV.  Mr. Scotti deserved better from an ardent fan like me.

But better late than never…..

From Wikipedia:
Vito Giusto Scotti (January 26, 1918–June 5, 1996) was an American character actor who played many roles on Broadway, in films, and later on television, primarily from the late 1930s to the mid-1990s. He was known as a man of a thousand faces for his ability to assume so many divergent roles in more than 200 screen appearances, in a career spanning 50 years. He was known for his resourceful portrayals of various ethnic types. Born of Italian heritage, he was seen playing everything from a Mexican bandit, to a Russian doctor, to a Japanese sailor, to an Indian travel agent.  

My favorites of his roles were the six characters he played on ‘Columbo’, but especially Thomas Dolan the aristocratic drunk.

• Any Old Port in a Storm (1973) – Maitre d’
• Candidate for Crime (1973) – Chadwick
• Swan Song (1974) – Mr. Grindell
• Negative Reaction (1974) – Thomas Dolan
• Identity Crisis (1975) – Salvatore Defonte
• Murder, a Self Portrait (1989) – Vito

So let’s take a look at some video of his TV work.

I have a friend who’s going to kill me for including this one.  But if we’re going to take a look at his career, then we have to take the good with the bad….

Here is the list of his television credits from Wikipedia:

• Andy's Gang (1955-1957)
• How to Marry a Millionaire (1958) as Jules
• The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1958) as Shop Owner
• Rescue 8 (1959) as Dal Singh
• Perry Mason (1959) as Joseph D'Amato
• Sugarfoot (1959) as Ramon Acquistapace
• State Trooper (1959) as Reggie Sorbin
• Playhouse 90 (1959) as Cabinet Minister
• Peter Gunn (1959) as Pete's Guest / Herman Klip / Joe
• Wagon Train (1959) as Tony
• Johnny Staccato (1960) as Carlos Lascaratti
• Zorro (1960) as Chato
• The Real McCoys (1960-1961) as Pablo / Carlos
• Bonanza (1961) as Pooch / Leon Flores
• Rawhide (1962) as Manuel
• Target: The Corruptors! (1962) as Garcia
• The Twilight Zone (1960-1962) as Rudolpho / Peddler
• Lassie (1962) as Magico the Great
• The Dick Powell Show (1961-1963) as Karam / Dolpho
• Stoney Burke (1963) as Polo
• The Dick Van Dyke Show (1963) as Vito Giotto
• Breaking Point (1963) as Tony
• Going My Way (1963) as Mr. Molletti
• The Wide Country (1963) as Carlos Grijalves
• The Rifleman (1962-1963) as Alphonso / Marcello Ciabini / Soto
• The Joey Bishop Show (1963) as Manager Supermarket / Frank the Barber
• My Favorite Martian (1963-1964) as Waiter / Junkyard Manager
• Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963-1964) as The Lieutenant / Harry
• The Danny Thomas Show (1964) as The Tailor
• The Donna Reed Show (1964) as Prince Georgivani
• Dr. Kildare (1962-1964) as Signore Fortuno / Jesus Munoz / Grocer
• The Jack Benny Program (1961-1965) as Mexican Captain / Mexican cafeteria employee
• Bewitched (1965) as Mario
• Laredo (1965) as Chicho
• The Virginian (1965) as Gilly
• The Addams Family (1964-1965) as Sam Picasso / Professor Altshuler / Miri Haan
• The Farmer's Daughter (1964-1965) as Llewellyn / Ambassador Cortez
• The Andy Griffith Show (1966) as Murrillos
• The Lucy Show (1962-1966) as Sam Boscovitch / Fencing Instructor
• The Munsters (1965-1966) as Roman Broadcaster / Man on Radio
• The John Forsythe Show (1966) as Gonzales
• Gilligan's Island (1965-1966) as Dr. Boris Balinkoff / Japanese Sailor
• Batman (1966) as Matey Dee
• The Wild Wild West (1966) as Cefalu
• The Monkees (1967) as Dr. Marcovich
• The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1967) as Dr. Igor Gork
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1965-1967) as Beirut / Charles Chikhli
• Daniel Boone (1967) as Priest
• The Flying Nun (1967-1969) as Capt. Gaspar Fomento / Captain Dominic Lopez
• Hogan's Heroes (1969) as Major Bonacelli
• Ironside (1969) as Manuel Rodriguez Sr.
• Get Smart (1965-1970) as Gino Columbus / Dante
• Gunsmoke (1965-1970) as The Indian / Indiana / Savrin / Torreon
• To Rome with Love (TV series) (1969-1971) as Nico
• The Odd Couple (1971) as Pepe
• The Brady Bunch (1971) as Cooking Show Host (voice, uncredited)
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973) as 2nd Taxi Driver
• McMillan & Wife (1971-1974) as Sykes / Alonzo / Guido Barteloni
• Get Christie Love! (1974) as Emilio
• Adam-12 (1974) as Charley Prender
• The Bionic Woman (1976) as Romero
• Police Woman (1977) as Luigi
• C.P.O. Sharkey (1977) as Vito
• Baretta (1977) as Franco
• Happy Days (1979) as Otto
• Charlie's Angels (1980) as Tyrone
• Hawaii Five-O (1980) as Bill Baskin
• Vega$ (1980-1981) as Casino Manager / Valeria Viceria
• Hart to Hart (1981) as Vito
• Fantasy Island (1979-1982) as Vito Orsotti / Antoine de Vouvray
• CHiPs (1977-1983) as Charles / Emilio
• Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1975-1983) as Games Spectator / Taxi Driver / Pepe Galindo
• Trapper John, M.D. (1984)
• Charles in Charge (1988) as Dino Firenzi
• The Golden Girls (1988-1989) as Dominic Bosco / Vincenzo
• Columbo (1973-1989) as Vito / Salvatore Defonte / Thomas Dolan / Mr. Grindell / Chadwick / Maitre d'
• The Fanelli Boys (1990) as Sicilian #1
• Northern Exposure (1992) as Godfather
• Empty Nest (1994) as Mr. Tartaglia
• Mad About You (1995) as Antonio

To see a great collection of images of Vito Scotti in many of his roles from movies as well as TV, click here.

Sorry for being late with the tribute,