Actor. He was best known to both film and television viewers for his roles in the 1967 film "In Cold Blood" and as the detective Tony Baretta in the 1970s ABC detective series "Baretta." Born Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi in Nutley, New Jersey, he first started entertaining along with his parents and siblings at a young age. In 1938, his family moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1939, he made his acting debut as a child actor in the film "Bridal Suite." From 1939 to 1944, he had a lead role in the final years of the MGM's "Our Gang/The Little Rascals" series. He later appeared in 22 of the films in the "Red Ryder" series. Besides "In Cold Blood," he went on to appear in such films as "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948), "Hello, St. Louis" (1954), "PT-109" (1963), "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), "Electra Glide in Blue" (1973) and "Money Train" (1995). In 1952, he made his television debut in "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok." Besides "Baretta," his later television credits would include such series as "The Cisco Kid," "Broken Arrow," "Naked City," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The F.B.I.," and "Hell Town." He earned several Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work in various productions and won the 1975 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in "Baretta." In May 2001, he was thrust back into the spotlight when his wife Bonny Lee Bakley was murdered in his car in the parking lot of Italian restaurant Vitello's in Studio City, where the couple had just dined. He was arrested for the crime in 2002, but was later acquitted of the crime. In November 2005, he was found liable in a California civil court for her wrongful death. He passed away of complications of heart disease.
Actor. He was best known to both film and television viewers for his roles in the 1967 film "In Cold Blood" and as the detective Tony Baretta in the 1970s ABC detective series "Baretta." Born Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi in Nutley, New Jersey, he first started entertaining along with his parents and siblings at a young age. In 1938, his family moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1939, he made his acting debut as a child actor in the film "Bridal Suite." From 1939 to 1944, he had a lead role in the final years of the MGM's "Our Gang/The Little Rascals" series. He later appeared in 22 of the films in the "Red Ryder" series. Besides "In Cold Blood," he went on to appear in such films as "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948), "Hello, St. Louis" (1954), "PT-109" (1963), "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), "Electra Glide in Blue" (1973) and "Money Train" (1995). In 1952, he made his television debut in "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok." Besides "Baretta," his later television credits would include such series as "The Cisco Kid," "Broken Arrow," "Naked City," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The F.B.I.," and "Hell Town." He earned several Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work in various productions and won the 1975 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in "Baretta." In May 2001, he was thrust back into the spotlight when his wife Bonny Lee Bakley was murdered in his car in the parking lot of Italian restaurant Vitello's in Studio City, where the couple had just dined. He was arrested for the crime in 2002, but was later acquitted of the crime. In November 2005, he was found liable in a California civil court for her wrongful death. He passed away of complications of heart disease.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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