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Victor Argo

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Victor Argo
Born
Victor Jimenez

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

Victor Argo (November 5, 1934 – April 7, 2004) was an American actor of Puerto Rican descent who usually played the part of a tough bad guy in his movies.[1] He is best known for Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Hot Tomorrows (1977), Raw Deal (1986), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), King of New York (1990), and McBain (1991).

Early years

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Argo was born Victor Jimenez in The Bronx, New York. Both of his parents were born in the town of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico.[2]

Career

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Stage

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Argo began his career as a stage actor. Attempting to break into show business at a time when there was much prejudice against Latino performers, Victor 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] While performing in an Off-Broadway play during the 1960s, Argo met Yoko Ono, with whom he participated in the so-called "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]

Screen

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Argo lent his talents to nearly seventy theatrical films and forty television films and series.[6][dead link]

Argo made his film debut in February of 1972 in Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues as the 2nd Cuban.[7] Argo appeared later that same year in June in Boxcar Bertha credited as one of "The McIvers" in the opening credits. Argo as "McIver #1" along with David Osterhout as McIver #2, are railroad detectives charged with keeping hobo stowaways from riding in the boxcars.[8] 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 Martin 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,[9] followed by All in the Family[10] in September that same year, and Kojak afterwards.[11] In 1974, he appeared in the made-for-TV film Smile Jenny, You're Dead.[12] 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).

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]

Later years

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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. 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. 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".[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Theatrical films in which Argo had a role follow.[13][2]

Television

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Victor Argo television credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1973 The Waltons Zvelei Episode: "The Gypsies" (S1.E19) [9][11]
1973 All in the Family Mr. Estrada Episode: "We're Having a Heat Wave" (S4.E1) [10][11]
1974 Smile Jenny, You're Dead Sgt. Richard Marum TV movie [12]
1974 Kojak Joseph Crespi Episode: "The Chinatown Murders" [11]
1975 Force Five Frankie Hatcher TV movie [12]
1975 Starsky & Hutch Rudy Solenko Episode: "Lady Blue" (S1.E11) [11]
1977 Wonder Woman Jason Episode: "Last of the Two Dollar Bills" (S1.E9) [11]
1977 The Rockford Files Jud Brown 1 episode
1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Raphael Argus 2 episodes
1981 Dream House Ramirez TV movie [12]
1985 Spenser: For Hire Hitman 1 episode
1985 The Equalizer O'Hare Episode: "The Defector" (S1.E3)
1986 Florida Straits Pablo Cheruka TV movie [12]
1988 Miami Vice Commandante Salazar 2 episodes [11]
1990 Johnny Ryan Frank Costello TV movie [12]
1990 Vendetta: Secrets of the Mafia Persico TV miniseries [12]
1992 Law & Order Jose Tirado Episode: "Cradel to Grave" (S2.E18) [11]
1995 Dark Eyes Rray Cedeno 1 episode [12]
1996 Sins of Silence Nick DiMatteo TV movie [12]
1997 Law & Order Enrique Flores Episode: "Barter" (S7.E12) [11]
2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mr. Garcia Episode: "See Me" (S2.E13) [11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ McKinley, Jesse (April 9, 2004). "Victor Argo, 69; Played Heavies In Scorsese Films". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b Rotten Tomatoes
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "San Diego Tribune".
  7. ^ "Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Boxcar Bertha (1972)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  9. ^ a b "The Waltons – Victor Argo – Zvelei". TV Guide. 1973. Triangle Publications: 84. 1973. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b Eisner, Joel; Krinsky, David (1984). Television Comedy Series: An Episode Guide to 153 TV Sitcoms in Syndication. McFarland. ISBN 9780899500881. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Victor Argo". Apple TV+. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Victor Argo: Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Victor Argo: Filmography". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  14. ^ Home DVD, Monarch (27 June 2006). "Personal Sergeant (2006)". Amazon. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
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