Frank Vincent: 'Goodfellas', 'Raging Bull' actor dies at 78

Frank Vincent, known for his roles in classics, such as "Raging Bull", "Goodfellas" and "The Sopranos", died on Wednesday after complications from open-heart surgery. He was 78.

Vincent had a heart attack last week and died during open-heart surgery at a hospital in New Jersey, reported TMZ.

Vincent was a character actor that specialised in Mafia roles and appeared as a gangster in Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese's critical-acclaimed films like "The Raging Bull", "Casino" and "Good fellas", where he played real-life Gambino mobster Billy Batts.

His first big screen role was alongside Joe Pesci in the 1976 crime film "The Death Collector", where he essayed the role of a gambler who gets killed by the mob.

Vincent's credits also included "The Pope of Greenwich Village", "Wise Guys", "Do the Right Thing", "Jungle Fever","Night Falls on Manhattan", "Cop Land", and "Chicago Overcoat".

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In 2006, Vincent co-wrote a book named "A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man".

Most recently, he appeared on an episode of "Law & Order: SVU". Last year, Vincent was also the voice of Jon Gabagooliin the animated series "Mr Pickles".

Taking to Twitter, Maureen Van Zandt, who played Gabriella Dante on "The Sopranos", expressed grief over Vincent's demise.

"We lost one of our family today. Frank Vincent.Wonderful actor and lovely man. Rest In Peace, Frankie," she wrote.