His last major film role was a mob boss, Tommy Como in Raging Bull (1980). He began having trouble securing directing jobs by the end of the 1970s due to his declining health. His role on Cheers won him three Emmy nominations, one for each season.Ĭolasanto was diagnosed with heart disease in the mid 1970s. Colasanto accepted the role after Robert Prosky - who later returned to play Rebecca Howe's father in the final season - turned it down. His character was explained to be a former minor league manager and major-league coach of Sam Malone's, and an ex-ballplayer that had been beaned several times, explaining his deteriorated mental status.

He appeared in the films 'Fat City' and 'Raging Bull'.Ĭolasanto was cast as the befuddled ex-coach and bartender Ernie Pantusso. Though better known as a director, he also had some notable acting roles. He directed several episodes of television shows, including 'Starsky and Hutch', 'Bonanza', 'Columbo', 'Hawaii-Five-o', and 'S.W.A.T.'.

He moved to Hollywood in 1965, and became known as a director. He also appeared in television commercials. He acted in off-Broadway productions, such as 'A Hatful of Rain' and 'Across the Board Tomorrow Morning' - the latter earning him a Tony nomination. He joined a theatre company in Phoenix, then moved to New York.

After college, he worked as a bookkeeper.Ĭolasanto began his entertainment career at the age of 28, getting interested after seeing Henry Fonda act on Broadway. He attended Bryant College, a private institution in Smithfield, Rhode Island. He served in World War II as a coxswain, being honorably discharged in 1945, then returned to Rhode Island to finish his studies. He attended Central High School in Providence, but in 1943, he joined the Navy before graduating. Nicholas Colasanto was born January 19, 1924, in Providence, Rhode Island.

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