---
name: "Victor Argo"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/victor-argo"
fi1m_id: "victor-argo"
imdb_id: "nm0034519"
tmdb_id: 2561
wikidata_id: "Q973065"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 November 1934"
died: "7 April 2004"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-09-26T01:52:04.627846+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."
---

# Victor Argo

## Identity

Victor Argo

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/victor-argo
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** victor-argo
- **IMDb ID:** nm0034519
- **TMDB ID:** 2561
- **Wikidata ID:** Q973065
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Argo, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973065, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0034519/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2561

Actor. Born 5 November 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Died 7 April 2004.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 November 1934, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- **Died:** 7 April 2004
- **Active:** 1971–1999
- **Also known as:** Vic Argo
- **Frequently works with:** [Harvey Keitel](https://film.one/person/harvey-keitel.md), [Abel Ferrara](https://film.one/person/abel-ferrara.md), [Martin Scorsese](https://film.one/person/martin-scorsese.md), [Mary Kane](https://film.one/person/mary-kane.md), [Robert De Niro](https://film.one/person/robert-de-niro.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 87 (3), 1980s 82 (3), 1990s 78 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 74 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 8, Drama 7, Comedy 3, Thriller 2, Action 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $87m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Argo, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973065, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0034519/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2561

## Streaming the US now

- **The Criterion Channel:** [*Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai*](https://film.one/film/ghost-dog-the-way-of-the-samurai.md) (80), [*Bad Lieutenant*](https://film.one/film/bad-lieutenant.md) (80)
- **Tubi:** [*Mean Streets*](https://film.one/film/mean-streets.md) (87)
- **Apple TV:** [*King of New York*](https://film.one/film/king-of-new-york.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Victor Argo

> Victor Argo brought a deep voice and a lived-in face to cops, gangsters and small parts that could easily have stayed anonymous. We value his solidity, though too many of those parts asked only for menace.

Argo could look intimidating before he spoke. His jowly face and deep voice suited cops and heavies, but they also gave a small part an immediate identity. In *Taxi Driver* (1976), his deli owner Melio helps make the city feel inhabited beyond Travis, even though the film leaves too little room for anyone but its central character. We found Travis's company frightening because Robert De Niro's restraint makes it hard to know what he will do next.

His early work with Martin Scorsese included Mario in *Mean Streets* (1973), and the association offered one conspicuous escape from the usual casting: the Apostle Peter in *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988). That part matters because so much of his screen work asked for another intimidating New Yorker. It is a reason to be curious about him beyond the crime films, rather than to pretend that every small appearance was a revelation.

Abel Ferrara gave him a more substantial part as the weary, righteous detective Roy Bishop in *King of New York* (1990). In *Bad Lieutenant* (1992), he appears as Bet Cop, with Harvey Keitel carrying the film's distress. We recommend that punishing film for Keitel, whose suffering never makes the policeman's behaviour less repellent, rather than for Argo's supporting appearance. Yet Argo helped make the central performance possible: he persuaded Keitel to take the lead.

Later, Jarmusch cast him as an ageing gangster, Vinny, in *Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai* (1999). There is pleasure in recognising an actor who can give a small role some weight, but also frustration when the same sort of role keeps coming round. We would have liked more departures from the heavies. Start with *Taxi Driver*, then try *King of New York* for a part that gives him more to do.

## Biography

Victor Argo (born Victor Jiménez) was an American actor and musician. He appeared in nearly 70 theatrical films and numerous television productions, often in supporting roles as tough or intimidating characters.

Argo made his film debut in the early 1970s and became a frequent collaborator with directors Martin Scorsese and Abel Ferrara. His credits include *Mean Streets* (1973), *Taxi Driver* (1976) as Melio, *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), *Bad Lieutenant* (1992), *True Romance* (1993) and *Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai* (1999). He also worked in stage productions and made his Broadway debut in the final months of his life in *Anna in the Tropics*.

Argo died in New York City on 7 April 2004, aged 69.

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

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai* (1999), Fi1m 80, as Vinny — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-dog-the-way-of-the-samurai.md)
- *True Romance* (1993), Fi1m 82, as Lenny — [page](https://film.one/film/true-romance.md)
- *Bad Lieutenant* (1992), Fi1m 80, as Bet Cop — [page](https://film.one/film/bad-lieutenant.md)
- *King of New York* (1990), Fi1m 70, as Roy Bishop — [page](https://film.one/film/king-of-new-york.md)
- *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989), Fi1m 84, as Detective — [page](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md)
- *After Hours* (1985), Fi1m 80, as Diner Cashier — [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as Commandante Salazar — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Taxi Driver* (1976), Fi1m 92, as Melio — [page](https://film.one/film/taxi-driver.md)
- *Mean Streets* (1973), Fi1m 87, as Mario — [page](https://film.one/film/mean-streets.md)
- *All in the Family* (1971), Fi1m 82, as Mr. Estrada — [page](https://film.one/tv/all-in-the-family.md)

## Complete filmography (87)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Lustre* (2005), as Hugo
- *Personal Sergeant* (2004), as Chuck Manetta
- *Abel Ferrara: Not Guilty* (2003), Actor
- *Music* (2003), as Salesman
- *Angela* (2002), Actor
- *Bridget* (2002), as Grant
- *'R Xmas* (2001), as Louie
- *Double Whammy* (2001), as Lt. Spigot
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Mr. Garcia
- *Don't Say a Word* (2001), as Sydney Simon
- *Queenie in Love* (2001), as Horace
- *Angel Eyes* (2001), as Carl Pogue
- *Fast Food Fast Women* (2000), as Seymour
- *The Yards* (2000), as Paul Lazarides
- *Blue Moon* (2000), as Tony
- *Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai* (1999), as Vinny — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-dog-the-way-of-the-samurai.md)
- *Coming Soon* (1999), as Mr. Neipris
- *New Rose Hotel* (1999), as Portugese Business Man
- *On the Run* (1999), as Man Shaving
- *Lulu on the Bridge* (1998), as Pierre
- *Side Streets* (1998), as Albani Krug
- *Next Stop Wonderland* (1998), as Frank
- *Going Nomad* (1998), as Spiro
- *Early Edition* (1996), series, as Prosky
- *Sins of Silence* (1996), as Nick DiMatteo
- *The Funeral* (1996), as Julius
- *Condition Red* (1995), as Victor Klein
- *New York News* (1995), series, Actor
- *Blue in the Face* (1995), as Vinnie
- *Smoke* (1995), as Vinnie
- *Somebody to Love* (1994), as Santa Claus
- *Monkey Trouble* (1994), as Charlie
- *Men Lie* (1994), as Scott's Dad
- *Dangerous Game* (1993), as Director of Photography
- *Household Saints* (1993), as Lino Falconetti
- *True Romance* (1993), as Lenny — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/true-romance.md)
- *The Final Contract* (1993), as Victor
- *Bad Lieutenant* (1992), as Bet Cop — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bad-lieutenant.md)
- *Shadows and Fog* (1991), as Vigilante
- *McBain* (1991), as El Presidente
- *Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride* (1991), series, Actor
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Jose Tirado, Enrique Flores — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Johnny Ryan* (1990), as Frank Costello
- *King of New York* (1990), as Roy Bishop — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/king-of-new-york.md)
- *Quick Change* (1990), as Skelton
- *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989), as Detective — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md)
- *Dream Street* (1989), series, Actor
- *New York Stories* (1989), as Cop
- *Her Alibi* (1989), as Avram
- *Father Dowling Mysteries* (1989), series, as Tony lakka
- *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), as Peter, Apostle
- *Leg Work* (1987), series, Actor
- *The Pick-up Artist* (1987), as Harris
- *Florida Straits* (1986), as Pablo
- *Raw Deal* (1986), as Dangerous Man
- *Off Beat* (1986), as Leon
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as O'Hare
- *After Hours* (1985), as Diner Cashier — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Desperately Seeking Susan* (1985), as Sgt. Taskal
- *The Electric Chair* (1985), Actor
- *Falling in Love* (1984), as Victor Rawlins
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Commandante Salazar — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Hanky Panky* (1982), as Pallbearer
- *Dream House* (1981), as Ramirez
- *The Rose* (1979), as Lockerman
- *Buck Rogers in the 25th Century* (1979), series, as Raphael Argus
- *Which Way Is Up?* (1977), as Angel
- *Hot Tomorrows* (1977), as Tony
- *Taxi Driver* (1976), as Melio — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/taxi-driver.md)
- *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Jason
- *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), series, Actor
- *Joe Forrester* (1975), series, Actor
- *Force Five* (1975), as Frankie Hatcher
- *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Jud Brown — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *The Terminal Man* (1974), as Orderly
- *Tight as a Drum* (1974), as Tony Longo
- *Smile Jenny, You're Dead* (1974), as Sgt. Richard Marum
- *The Don Is Dead* (1973), as Augie the Horse
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as Dennison, Joseph Crespi — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *Mean Streets* (1973), as Mario — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/mean-streets.md)
- *The Unholy Rollers* (1972), as Vinnie the Trainer
- *The Waltons* (1972), series, Actor
- *Boxcar Bertha* (1972), as McIver #1
- *Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues* (1972), as 2nd Cuban
- *All in the Family* (1971), series, as Mr. Estrada — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/all-in-the-family.md)

---
© 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/victor-argo