---
name: "Sam Coppola"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/sam-coppola"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "31 July 1935"
died: "5 February 2012"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 83
updated: "2026-09-16T21:18:06.451453+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sam Coppola

Actor. Born 31 July 1935 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. Died 5 February 2012.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 31 July 1935, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
- **Died:** 5 February 2012
- **Active:** 1977–2002
- **Also known as:** Sam J. Coppola

## Biography

Sam Coppola, also credited as Sam J. Coppola, was an American character actor of stage, film and television. He appeared in more than 35 films and nearly 40 television shows from 1968 until his death.

He trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. His film roles include an uncredited cop in *Serpico* (1973), Dan Fusco in *Saturday Night Fever* (1977), Fuselli in *Fatal Attraction* (1987) and a taxi driver in *Jacob's Ladder* (1990). On television he appeared in series including *The Sopranos* (as Dr Reis), *The Wire*, multiple *Law & Order* franchise shows and *The Good Wife*.

Coppola was married to Helen Elizabeth Shinnick until her death in 1991. He died on 5 February 2012 in Leonia, New Jersey.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, tvmaze.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *The Wire* (2002), Fi1m 90, as Former Mayor 'Young Tony' — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md)
- *Jacob's Ladder* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Taxi Driver — [page](https://film.one/film/jacobs-ladder.md)
- *Saturday Night Fever* (1977), Fi1m 78, as Fusco — [page](https://film.one/film/saturday-night-fever.md)

## Also known for

- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), Uncle Sammy
- *Serpico* (1973), Cop (uncredited)
- *Fatal Attraction* (1987), Fuselli
- *Law & Order* (1990), Federal Judge Vance, Bartender
- *Blue Steel* (1990), PBA Representative
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), Neal Dornan
- *The Anderson Tapes* (1971), Private Detective
- *A Kiss Before Dying* (1991), Detective Michaelson

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/sam-coppola