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Rotund, comic supporting actor who after establishing himself as an Off-Broadway and Broadway star began to be cast in TV and film, yet never found "the perfect role" to catapult him into true star status. Coco often came off as fey and gluttonous in his TV and film portrayals, yet he was one of famed acting teacher Uta Hagen's star pupils and worshipped her in kind. He made an impact almost immediately after establishing himself -- after years of menial jobs -- on stage in "The Moon in the Yellow River" and did play after play until Neil Simon created the role of Barney Cashman specifically for Coco on "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" on Broadway, for which Coco received a Tony nomination....
Full Bio , Awards & Milestones

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Filmography

That's Adequate - ( Max Roebling / 1989 / Released / Manley Productions Inc )
The Chair - ( Dr Harold Woodhouse Langer / 1988 / Released / Sonet Media )
Hunk - ( Dr D / 1987 / Released / Crown International Pictures )
The Bradbury Trilogy - ( John Braling / 1985 / Released / Atlantic Films Ltd )
The Muppets Take Manhattan - ( / 1984 / Released / )
Only When I Laugh - ( Jimmy Perino / 1981 / Released / )
Wholly Moses! - ( Hyssop / 1980 / Released / )
Scavenger Hunt - ( Henri / 1979 / Released / )
Bye Bye Monkey - ( Flaxman / 1978 / Released / )
Charleston - ( Texan / 1978 / Released / Analysis Films Releasing Corporation )
The Cheap Detective - ( Marcel / 1978 / Released / )
Murder By Death - ( Milo Perrier / 1976 / Released / )
The Wild Party - ( Jolly Grimm / 1975 / Released / AIP )
Man of La Mancha - ( Sancho Panza / 1972 / Released / )
A New Leaf - ( Uncle Harry / 1971 / Released / )
Such Good Friends - ( Dr Spector / 1971 / Released / )
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon - ( Mario / 1970 / Released / )
The End of the Road - ( School Man / 1970 / Released / )
The Strawberry Statement - ( Grocer / 1970 / Released / )
Generation - ( Mr Blatto / 1969 / Released / )
Ensign Pulver - ( Skouras / 1964 / Released / Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution )

TV Credits
The Stepford Children ( 1987 / Released ): Actor
There Must Be a Pony ( 1986 / Released ): Actor
Day-to-Day Affairs ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
The Booth ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
Mr. Success ( 1984 / Released ): Actor
Lily For President ( 1982 / Released ): Actor
Raquel ( 1980 / Released ): Actor
The Diary of Anne Frank ( 1980 / Released ): Actor
The French Atlantic Affair ( 1979 / Released ): Actor
Alice ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
That Was the Year That Was ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
The Dumplings ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
Calucci's Department ( 1973 / Released ): Actor
The Trouble With People ( 1972 / Released ): Actor
The Littlest Angel ( 1969 / Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor

Full Biography (Back to top)


Rotund, comic supporting actor who after establishing himself as an Off-Broadway and Broadway star began to be cast in TV and film, yet never found "the perfect role" to catapult him into true star status. Coco often came off as fey and gluttonous in his TV and film portrayals, yet he was one of famed acting teacher Uta Hagen's star pupils and worshipped her in kind. He made an impact almost immediately after establishing himself -- after years of menial jobs -- on stage in "The Moon in the Yellow River" and did play after play until Neil Simon created the role of Barney Cashman specifically for Coco on "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" on Broadway, for which Coco received a Tony nomination. Coco began to get film roles after that and subsequently appeared less frequently on stage. He was in support of Liza Minnelli in "Tell Me What You Want, Junie Moon" in 1970, and Sancho Panza in the unsuccessful film adaptation of "Man of La Mancha" in 1972. His two best film roles came thanks to Neil Simon (again). In "Murder By Death" (1978) he was a Hercule Poirot take-off, and in "Only When I Laugh" he gave a sensitive and endearing performance as Jimmy Perino, friend to Marsha Mason but enabling her dependencies. He was Oscar-nominated for the latter. He was also known to the public for two TV series that won the critics but failed in the ratings: "Calucci's Department," in which he was the wisecracking head of an unemployment office, and "The Dumplings," in which he was the male half of a married couple who loved each other, didn't mind being chubby, and ran a lunch counter in an office building. Just before he died, Coco did two episodes of "Who's the Boss?" as Tony's ne'er-do-well father-in-law. Coco, who was known for his girth, often demonstrated recipes on talk shows and wrote a diet book.

Profession(s):
Actor, waiter, dishwasher, night clerk, toy salesman
Sometimes Credited As:

Horizontal Line
Education
Herbert Berghof Studio New York, New York acting
Awards (Back to top)

CableACE Award Actor (Drama Series) "Ray Bradbury Theatre" 1985
Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series "St. Elsewhere" 1983
OBIE Award Performance "The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie" 1976 - 1977
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance "Next" 1969
OBIE Award Distinguished Performance "Fragments" 1967 - 1968
OBIE Award Distinguished Performance (Actor) "The Moon in the Yellow River" 1960 - 1961

Milestones (Back to top)

1983 Guest-starred on "St. Elsewhere"
1981 Jimmy Perino in "Only When I Laugh"
1976 Series star, "The Dumplings"
1974 Series star, "Calucci's Department"
1972 Sancho Panza in film version, "Man of La Mancha"
1969 Barney in "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" on Broadway
1964 Film acting debut, "Ensign Pulver"
1957 New York stage debut, "Hotel Paradiso"
Stage debut, "Old King Cole" at Clare Tree Majors Theatre
Had recurring role on the ABC sitcom "Who's the Boss?" as Tony's father-in-law

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