The French Connection actor Tony Lo Bianco dies aged 87-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Tony Lo Bianco died with his wife Alyse by his side (Picture:Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)

Tony Lo Bianco, star of The French Connection and Law and Order, has died aged 87.

Representatives confirmed the news to Metro.co.uk, saying: ‘Tony passed peacefully at 9 pm last night with his wife Alyse by his side.’

They added that he died at his horse farm in Maryland after a long battle with prostrate cancer. 

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1936 Lo Bianco was best known for his performance in The French Connection, which won an Academy Award on its 1971 release.

He also starred alongside Richard Gere in Bloodbrothers (1978) and shared the screen with Clint Eastwood in City Heat (1984).

His film career took off after he starred in cult classic The Honeymoon Killers, and big screen work followed.

Outside of film, Lo Bianco was a successful stage actor, director and producer, as he starred in many Broadway productions including Moliere’s Tartuffe. He also directed eight productions and produced 25 others.

In 1975, Lo Bianco won an Obie Award for his role in an Off-Broadway production of Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh.

For his performance as Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, Bianco was nominated for a Tony Award.

Lo Bianco also starred as heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano in Marciano (1979), and later appeared in many tough guy roles in films including City of Hope, (1991), Boiling Point (1993) and The Juror (1996).

Later in life, Lo Bianco appeared in Murder, She Wrote and Law and Order.

Lo Bianco was the son of a taxi driver father and his mother was a housewife. It was at school when a teacher encouraged him to try out for plays that he got into acting.

After graduating high school, he attended the Dramatic Workshop, studying acting and theatre production.

Aside from acting, Lo Bianco was also a Golden Gloves boxer. He also founded the Triangle Theatre in 1963, where he served as artistic director for six years.

He is survived by his wife Alyse, and three daughters from his first marriage to Dora Landey from 1964 to 1984.

Thrice married, Lo Bianco was also previously married to Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from 2002 until 2008.

He married Alyse Best Muldoon, in June 2015.

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