Michael V. Gazzo

Michael Vincenzo Gazzo (April 5, 1923 – February 14, 1995) was an American playwright, actor, and book writer born in Hillside, New Jersey, of Italian ancestry. After serving with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, Gazzo became a member of the Actors Studio, where he later trained performers including Debra Winger, Henry Silva, and Tony Sirico.

Gazzo made his Broadway presence felt as both a writer and performer, with stage credits that included Night Music in 1951, A Hatful of Rain, and The Night Circus. A Hatful of Rain, his drama centered on drug addiction, ran for 389 performances during the 1955–1956 Broadway season and starred Ben Gazzara and Shelley Winters in its two principal roles. The Night Circus also featured Gazzara in a leading capacity. A Hatful of Rain was subsequently adapted for the screen in 1957 by Oscar-winning director Fred Zinnemann, with Anthony Franciosa receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the film. A television adaptation followed in 1968, starring Peter Falk, Sandy Dennis, and Michael Parks. Gazzo's screenwriting work extended beyond that adaptation to include the 1958 Elvis Presley musical drama King Creole.

Later in his career, Gazzo transitioned into acting in film and television. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II (1974), losing to Robert De Niro, who played Vito Corleone in the same film. Gazzo died on February 14, 1995, at the age of 71, following complications from a stroke, and was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.