Yes, Now This Famous Star Really IS Dead . . .

He was reported dead 34 years ago.

And lots of people bought the story of his death at that time.

But the rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated and the stories became a sort of running joke.

Then, partly on the basis of all this, he became a cult figure and the momentum from it seemed to give him added years to the point where he outlived most of his contemporaries.

But, sadly we must now report to you that Abe Vigoda has now officially passed away at the age of 94.

He died on Tuesday morning in Woodland Park, N.J.

His daughter Carol Vigoda Fuchs, told The Associated Press that Vigoda had died in his sleep at her home.

A classically-trained stage actor, Abe Vigoda got his big break playing Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Academy Award winning film, The Godfather. He returned to the role in a flashback scene in “The Godfather: Part II” in 1974.

But Vigoda is best remembered as Detective Fish on the cop sitcom “Barney Miller.” Vigoda played opposite Hal Linden who assumed the title role. Vigoda stayed with the series for two seasons, 1975-76 and 1976-77, and the opening episodes of a third. He earned three Emmy nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series.

Then, he appeared in his own spinoff of Barney Miller, entitled Fish and that ran for one year.