R.I.P. Tony Lo Bianco: ‘The French Connection’ And ‘Law & Order’ Actor Dead At 87

Actor Tony Lo Bianco died on Tuesday night (June 11) . He was 87.

The late actor’s representative confirmed his passing in a statement to Fox News Digital, sharing that Lo Bianco died at his horse farm in Maryland after a battle with prostate cancer.

“His wife, Alyse, was by his side,” the statement noted.

While Lo Bianco is best known for his role in The French Connection as Sal Boca, the actor’s on-screen career spans decades and over 100 credits, per IMDb. His other films include The Honeymoon Killers, Bloodbrothers, City Heat, Nixon, The Juror, Kill The Irishman, and Somewhere in Queens, Ray Romano‘s directorial debut that also marked Lo Biano’s final film credit.

He racked up numerous TV credits as well, including N.Y.P.D., The Twilight Zone, Walker, Texas Ranger, Deadline, Law & Order, Murder, She Wrote and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Born in 1936 in Brooklyn, Lo Bianco was a Golden Gloves boxer prior to beginning his stage and eventual on-screen career, per Fox News Digital and The Daily Mail.

Speaking with Italian Sons and Daughters of America’s La Nostra Voce in 2023, Lo Bianco explained, “I’ve worn a lot of faces, and to me, acting was always about human connection — it’s the only thing that matters.”

According to the New York Post, Alyse was Lo Bianco’s third wife, whom he married in 2015.

Joe Piscopo — an actor, Saturday Night Live alum, and conservative radio show host — honored his “dear, long time friend” Lo Bianco on X. Deana Martin, daughter of singer Dean Martin, also mourned Lo Bianco’s passing on X, writing that he “was a brilliant actor, director, and producer, leaving a lasting imprint on the world of entertainment.”