In Memory of Funny Man Actor James Coco: 37 Years After His Tragic Death From a Heart Attack

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Overview

It's been thirty-seven years since acclaimed actor James Coco died at only 56 of a heart attack in 1987. He had struggled for years as an actor in New York before finding fame in 1969 as the star of the Neil Simon play Last of the Red Hot Lovers. He went on to star in TV's Colucci's Department sitcom and to make guest appearances on shows like St. Elsewhere. Shortly before his demise, had finished filming The Chair, and was making Rented Lips, another movie. Coco had also just made a guest appearance on the TV sitcom, Who's the Boss. He was busy until the day he died, doing work he loved. This is his story.

Born for Stardom

James Coco was born the son of a shoemaker in the Little Italy section of Manhattan on March 21, 1929. When just a baby, he and his family relocated to the Pelham Bay area of The Bronx, where he resided until his late teens.

Coco loved going to the movies and had always fantasized about being an actor, which he began to do in the late 1940s. He appeared in over 100 plays before being cast in the 1968 Off-Broadway production Next. That was his big break.

Coco was always heavyset, save for the periodic times he dieted. However, he later made all that work for him with a best-selling diet book The James Coco Diet, which was published in 1984 with co-author Marion Paone.

When He Laughed, We Laughed, Too

When Last of the Red Hot Lovers finished its run, James Coco portrayed Sancho Panza in the film adaptation of Man of La Mancha.

In the fall of 1973, Coco starred in his own television series, the short-lived but critically admired Calucci's Department. A decade later, he won an Emmy for his performance in TV's St. Elsewhere medical drama.

In all, Coco made countless TV guest appearances and became a regular guest on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. He also found success in a series of commercials, playing Willie the Plumber for Drano.

On the Big Screen

In 1981, James Coco starred in Only When I Laugh, a big-screen motion picture about Georgia Hines, a divorced Broadway actress who upon release from rehab for alcohol abuse, attempts to start a new life. Coco earned himself an Oscar nomination for playing Jimmy Perino, a flamboyant gay actor and one of Georgia's best friends.

Coco's other movies include A New Leaf, Tell Me That You Love Me, Such Good Friends, The Wild Party, Murder by Death, and The Muppets Take Manhattan, his final film.'

Conclusion

James Coco was the kind of talented, affable actor that is rarely seen these days in Hollywood. Fortunately, his performances will continue to charm movie and TV audiences for decades to come.