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Victor Argo

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Victor Argo
Born
Victor Jiménez

(1934-11-05)November 5, 1934
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 2004(2004-04-07) (aged 69)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1964–2004

Victor Argo (born Victor Jiménez; November 5, 1934 – April 7, 2004) was an American actor and musician. Known for his "jowly, lived-in face and a deep voice that suggested danger ahead," he was a regular in the films of directors Martin Scorsese and Abel Ferrara, often playing tough or intimidating characters.[1]

Early life

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Argo was born Victor Jiménez in The Bronx, New York to Puerto Rican parents from Quebradillas.[2] Prior to his acting career, he worked variously as a jewelry seller, a printer and a taxi driver.[1]

Attempting to break into show business at a time when there was much prejudice against Latino performers, he professionally adopted the surname "Argo" to better his casting chances, stating in an interview that he "felt the prejudice was against the name, not even against me."[3]

Career

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Stage

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Argo began his acting career on-stage. While performing in an Off-Broadway play during the 1960s, Argo met Yoko Ono, with whom he participated in the Happening movement. He met Harvey Keitel during the early stages of his career; the two actors remained close friends for nearly forty years and worked together on several films, including Bad Lieutenant which Argo helped persuade Keitel to accept the lead role for.[4] In 1977, Argo became a founding member of the Riverside Shakespeare Company on New York City's Upper West Side. As a member, he toured the parks of Manhattan playing Lord Montague.[5]

Shortly before his death, Argo realized a lifelong dream of performing on Broadway when he was cast as Santiago, the owner of a cigar factory, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Anna in the Tropics.[6]

Screen

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Argo lent his talents to nearly 70 theatrical films and 40 television films and series.[7]

Argo made his film debut in February of 1972 in Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues.[8] Argo appeared later that same year in June in Boxcar Bertha, directed by Martin Scorsese, as a railroad detective.[9] Also that year, he had a small role in Unholy Rollers (November 1972). Often playing the part of the New York City 'heavy' or mobster on film, Argo was a favorite of such directors as Scorsese, Abel Ferrara and Woody Allen.

His film credits include Taxi Driver (1976), King of New York (1990), The Rose (1979), New York Stories (1989), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Bad Lieutenant (1992), True Romance (1993), and Coyote Ugly (2000). He played the father of Jennifer Lopez's character in the 2001 romantic drama Angel Eyes.

On television in February of 1973 Argo appeared on The Waltons,[10] followed by All in the Family[11] in September that same year, and Kojak afterwards.[12] In 1974, he appeared in the made-for-TV film Smile Jenny, You're Dead.[13] Also in the 1970s, Argo's television guest appearances include Starsky & Hutch (1975), The Rockford Files and Wonder Woman both in 1977, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)

In 1985, Argo appeared on The Equalizer episode "The Defector" as O'Hare, who poses as a police officer and puts Melissa Leo's character, Russian ballerina Irina Dzershinsky, into "protective" custody by order of the KGB. Other appearances in the 1980s include, Spenser: For Hire (1985), Miami Vice (1988), and episodes of Law & Order (1992, 1997) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003). In one of his final roles, Argo played Chuck Manetta, a tough-talking soccer grandpa, in the independent feature, Personal Sergeant, released in 2004.[14]

In his last screen role, in the independent film Lustre by director Art Jones, Argo portrayed a New York City loan shark who retreats from his everyday, hard-nosed rants to a deeply spiritual retreat from the world. The film was released in 2005. In a review, Jeannette Catsoulis at The New York Times writes that Argo's "fireplug body and throaty growl -- emanating from a face resembling a rather sad bulldog -- added texture and memorability to characters who might easily have disappeared in a fog of stereotype."[15]

Music

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Outside of acting on the screen and stage, another deep passion for Argo was country music, the actor at one time having traveled to Nashville to cut several song demos.[3]

Death

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Argo died in New York City at Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center on April 7, 2004, from complications of lung cancer at age 69. His body was donated to Manhattan College for medical science. In 2005, Electronic music group Bodega System released a 12" vinyl LP which includes the track "Victor Argo".[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Theatrical films in which Argo had a role follow.[16][2]

Television

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Victor Argo television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1973The WaltonsZveleiEpisode: "The Gypsies" (S1.E19)[10][12]
1973All in the FamilyMr. EstradaEpisode: "We're Having a Heat Wave" (S4.E1)[11][12]
1974Smile Jenny, You're DeadSgt. Richard MarumTV movie[13]
1974KojakJoseph CrespiEpisode: "The Chinatown Murders"[12]
1975Force FiveFrankie HatcherTV movie[13]
1975Starsky & HutchRudy SolenkoEpisode: "Lady Blue" (S1.E11)[12]
1977Wonder WomanJasonEpisode: "Last of the Two Dollar Bills" (S1.E9)[12]
1977The Rockford FilesJud Brown1 episode
1979Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyRaphael Argus2 episodes
1981Dream HouseRamirezTV movie[13]
1985Spenser: For HireHitman1 episode
1985 The Equalizer O'Hare Episode: "The Defector" (S1.E3)
1986Florida StraitsPablo CherukaTV movie[13]
1988Miami ViceCommandante Salazar2 episodes[12]
1990Johnny RyanFrank CostelloTV movie[13]
1990Vendetta: Secrets of the MafiaPersicoTV miniseries[13]
1992Law & OrderJose Tirado Episode: "Cradel to Grave" (S2.E18)[12]
1995Dark EyesRray Cedeno1 episode[13]
1996Sins of SilenceNick DiMatteoTV movie[13]
1997Law & OrderEnrique Flores Episode: "Barter" (S7.E12)[12]
2003Law & Order: Criminal IntentMr. Garcia Episode: "See Me" (S2.E13)[12]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 McKinley, Jesse (April 9, 2004). "Victor Argo, 69; Played Heavies In Scorsese Films". The New York Times.
  2. 1 2 Rotten Tomatoes
  3. 1 2 "Victor Argo, 69". Chicago Tribune. 12 April 2004.
  4. ↑ Bad Lieutenant − DVD commentary by Abel Ferrara
  5. ↑ "Shakespeare on the Drive," The New York Times, August 19, 1977.
  6. ↑ "Victor Argo, Character Actor of Broadway's Anna in the Tropics, Dead". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-12-11. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  7. 1 2 "San Diego Tribune".
  8. ↑ "Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Boxcar Bertha (1972)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  10. 1 2 "The Waltons – Victor Argo – Zvelei". TV Guide. 1973. Triangle Publications: 84. 1973. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  11. 1 2 Eisner, Joel; Krinsky, David (1984). Television Comedy Series: An Episode Guide to 153 TV Sitcoms in Syndication. McFarland. ISBN 9780899500881. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Victor Argo". Apple TV+. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Victor Argo: Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Orkin, Anthony V. (2004-11-16), Personal Sergeant, Victor Argo, Celine Ordioni, Jerry Della Salla, Patooter Pictures, retrieved 2026-02-06
  15. ↑ Catsoulis, Jeannette (2005-08-17). "A Tough Guy Grieves for a New York Long Gone". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  16. ↑ "Victor Argo: Filmography". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  17. ↑ Home DVD, Monarch (27 June 2006). "Personal Sergeant (2006)". Amazon. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
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