Nicholas Colasanto
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Colasanto was an American
actor
and television director, known primarily for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso
on the sitcom Cheers
. He also appeared in feature films which include Fat City, Family Plot
, and Raging Bull.
As a director, Colasanto worked on over two dozen American TV series between 1966 and 1981, including such hits as Hawaii Five-O
, Columbo, Starsky and Hutch
, Run for Your Life
, and CHiPs
.
, now located in Smithfield, Rhode Island
, and was a decorated veteran of World War II
.
Colasanto directed two episodes of Columbo: "Étude in Black," starring John Cassavetes
as conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and "Swan Song", starring Johnny Cash
as a murdering country and western singer. At one point, during the episode, Cash's character refers to his (unseen) colleague "Nick Solacanto." As an actor, he appeared in a number of popular television series, including Mannix
, Kojak
, Ironside
and Lou Grant
.
Colasanto died of a heart ailment on February 12, 1985 at the age of 61, shortly after the filming of episode 22 ("Cheerio, Cheers") of season 3, just as Cheers was achieving its greatest success. His character was not re-cast - instead producers hired Woody Harrelson
; he would play the character of Woody Boyd
. Colasanto's name appeared in the title credits up to the final episode of season 3 and he was also in the final episode of the season, "Rescue Me" (which was achieved by using an edited scene from a previously filmed episode). After his death, Colasanto's presence on the show was represented by the placing of a picture of Geronimo
on the wall of the show's primary set. The photo had previously hung in Colasanto's dressing room and was said to hold a special meaning to the actor. The picture remained on the set for the rest of the series' run.
Eight years after Colasanto's death, the show offered a subtle but important nod to him in its final scene: star Ted Danson
walks up to and straightens the Geronimo picture before walking off the set for the final time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and television director, known primarily for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso
Coach Ernie Pantusso
Ernie "Coach" Pantusso is a fictional character on the American television show Cheers, portrayed by Nicholas Colasanto for the first three seasons.Coach appeared in 70 episodes of Cheers between 1982-1985.-Character overview:...
on the sitcom Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
. He also appeared in feature films which include Fat City, Family Plot
Family Plot
Family Plot is a 1976 American dark comedy/thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, his fifty-third and final film. It stars Barbara Harris, Bruce Dern, William Devane, and Karen Black....
, and Raging Bull.
As a director, Colasanto worked on over two dozen American TV series between 1966 and 1981, including such hits as Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, Columbo, Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life (TV series)
Run for Your Life is an American television drama series starring Ben Gazzara as a man with only a short time to live. It ran on NBC from 1965 to 1968. The series was created by Roy Huggins, who had previously explored the "man on the move" concept with The Fugitive.-Synopsis:Gazzara plays lawyer...
, and CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
.
Biography
He attended Bryant UniversityBryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
, now located in Smithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville...
, and was a decorated veteran of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Colasanto directed two episodes of Columbo: "Étude in Black," starring John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
as conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and "Swan Song", starring Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
as a murdering country and western singer. At one point, during the episode, Cash's character refers to his (unseen) colleague "Nick Solacanto." As an actor, he appeared in a number of popular television series, including Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, Ironside
Ironside
-Entertainment and literature:*Ironside , an American television series starring Raymond Burr*Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale, an urban fantasy novel by Holly Black-People:...
and Lou Grant
Lou Grant (TV series)
Lou Grant is an American television drama series starring Ed Asner in the titular role as a newspaper editor. Unusual in American television, this drama series was a spinoff from a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Aired from 1977 to 1982, Lou Grant won 13 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Drama...
.
Colasanto died of a heart ailment on February 12, 1985 at the age of 61, shortly after the filming of episode 22 ("Cheerio, Cheers") of season 3, just as Cheers was achieving its greatest success. His character was not re-cast - instead producers hired Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson
Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
; he would play the character of Woody Boyd
Woody Boyd
Huckleberry Tiberius "Woody" Boyd is a lovable, albeit extremely naive and unsophisticated, character on the American television show Cheers, portrayed by Woody Harrelson. Woody came to Cheers at the beginning of the fourth season of Cheers in 1985....
. Colasanto's name appeared in the title credits up to the final episode of season 3 and he was also in the final episode of the season, "Rescue Me" (which was achieved by using an edited scene from a previously filmed episode). After his death, Colasanto's presence on the show was represented by the placing of a picture of Geronimo
Geronimo
Geronimo was a prominent Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache who fought against Mexico and the United States for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars. Allegedly, "Geronimo" was the name given to him during a Mexican incident...
on the wall of the show's primary set. The photo had previously hung in Colasanto's dressing room and was said to hold a special meaning to the actor. The picture remained on the set for the rest of the series' run.
Eight years after Colasanto's death, the show offered a subtle but important nod to him in its final scene: star Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
walks up to and straightens the Geronimo picture before walking off the set for the final time.