Few actors have had as long and diverse career as has Robert Loggia. For almost 60 years, Loggia’s gruff persona and gravelly voice made him a natural for supporting roles in film and on television, playing everything from cops to criminals, doctors to businessmen.
Loggia died in his Los Angeles home from complication dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
Born Salvatore Loggia, the actor made his film debut in an uncredited role in 1956’s Somebody Up There Likes Me. Loggia would spend the next twenty-five years working in televison, working in guest appearances in shows like Mannix, The Wild, Wild West, and The Rockford Files and starring roles in show such as Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color and T.H.E. Cat , with occasional film roles, such as Joseph in The Greatest Story Ever Told and Al Marchione in Revenge of the Pink Panther.
In the 1980’s, Loggia’s acting work began to be featured more in supporting roles in the big screen, starting with Blake Edwards’ 1981 offering, S.O.B. (Loggia would also have roles in Edwards’ two 1980s Pink Panther offerings: Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther, and his 1986 offering, That’s Life!) and continuing on with notable roles in An Officer and a Gentleman, Scarface, Prizzi’s Honor, Jagged Edge (which earned him and Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor), Big, I Love Trouble and Independence Day.
Loggia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2010 but kept working, mainly in B-movies, until his death.
I was lucky enough to work with him once. We did a TV movie in Mexico in 1993. We shared many meals and had many conversations together. A wonderful actor and a fine man. Well done Robert Loggia. You will be missed.