John Cassisi
John Cassisi | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1962 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Construction executive |
| Years active | 1976–1982 (acting) |
| Known for | Portraying "Fat Sam" in Bugsy Malone; role in TV show Fish |
John Cassisi (born September 5, 1962) is a former American child actor who gained recognition for portraying "Fat Sam" in the 1976 movie Bugsy Malone and for his leading role in the television show Fish.
Career
Cassisi was discovered by Bugsy Malone filmmaker Alan Parker during a visit to a classroom in Brooklyn, where Parker requested the students to identify the most mischievous boy.[1]
In 1982, Cassisi took on the role of Herschel in the film adaptation of Gemini, part of Broadway on Showtime, acting alongside his former co-star Scott Baio.[2]
Construction career and bribery conviction
Following his departure from acting in 1982, Cassisi pursued a career in construction. He rose to become "Director of Global Construction for Citi Realty Services" at Citigroup, holding that position from 2012 until 2014.[3]
In 2015, Cassisi admitted guilt in a bribery case involving $500,000 in illegal payments. He received a prison sentence ranging from two to six years and was mandated to surrender $500,000.[4][5]
Personal life
Cassisi is married and lives in East Northport, Long Island. He has three children; his oldest son, Robert, died at age 26 due to a pulmonary embolism.
Partial filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Bugsy Malone | Fat Sam Staccetto | |
| 1977 | Barney Miller | Victor Kreutzer | Appeared in 2 episodes; served as backdoor pilot for Fish |
| 1977–1978 | Fish | Victor Kreutzer | Main cast member |
| 1982 | Gemini | Herschel |
- ↑ Parker, Alan. "Bugsy Malone: The Making of the Film". Alan Parker – Director, Writer, Producer. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "Gemini". ibdb. The Broadway League. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAdelhardt-Citicorp - ↑ McKinley, James C. Jr (1 December 2015). "Ex-Citigroup Construction Executive Admits Taking $500,000 in Bribes". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Former Citigroup construction exec sentenced to prison for $500K bribery scheme". Construction Dive.