Jon Polito, character actor in movies and on TV, dies at 65
LOS ANGELES — Character actor Jon Polito, best known for his roles in Coen Brothers films, including “The Big Lebowski” and “Miller’s Crossing,” died of cancer on Thursday at City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 65.
His managers announced the news on Friday morning after John McNaughton, his friend and a film director, first shared the news on Facebook.
“Very sad to learn that my dear friend and collaborator, Jon Polito has passed away,” McNaughton wrote.
“He appeared in over 100 films, countless TV episodes and on Broadway. Jon was a born actor and will be deeply missed by his legion of friends, fans, family and of course his long time partner, Darryl Armbruster to whom I send my condolences. R.I.P. old pal.”
According to TMZ, the actor died after being taken off life support. He reportedly fell into to a coma on Sunday. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010. TMZ also reported that he suffered from arthritis and an infection from a recent surgery.
The actor, who had nearly 220 credits on IMDb, played the private eye Da Fino in “The Big Lebowski” (1998), Italian gangster Johnny Caspar in “Miller’s Crossing,” (1990), the studio owner’s right-hand man Lou Breeze in “Barton Fink” (1991). He most recently appeared in “Gangster Squad” and “Locker 13.” He had just nabbed a a role in “The Maestro.”
He was an original cast member in the acclaimed NBC crime drama “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and appeared in “Seinfeld” (as the super who wanted to evict Newman), “Modern Family,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and “Major Crimes.”
Born Dec. 29, 1950, Polito studied acting at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He made his TV debut in the NBC miniseries “The Gangster Chronicles,” playing Thomas “Three Finger Brown” Lucchese.
He is survived by his husband, Darryl Armbruster.
