Senate Resolution No. 4153

BY: Senator GOLDEN

HONORING Tony Lo Bianco upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Thomas Colasanto
Humanitarian Award by American Legion Kings County
Youth Recreational Facilities, Inc. on April 15,
2018

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

WHEREAS, Tony Lo Bianco has given not only of his time and energies
but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Tony Lo
Bianco upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Thomas
Colasanto Humanitarian Award by American Legion Kings County Youth
Recreational Facilities, Inc. to be celebrated at its 24th Annual
Baseball Banquet on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at Gargiulo's Restaurant in
Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, American Legion Kings County Youth Recreational Facilities,
Inc. provides and maintains baseball fields for use by neighborhood
youth organizations and schools in Brooklyn, New York, allowing
thousands of children to play baseball in a clean and safe environment
at no cost to them or their families; and

WHEREAS, Born In Brooklyn, New York, Tony Lo Bianco is a gifted
actor, and a former Golden Gloves boxer and all-star baseball player;
and

WHEREAS, Tony Lo Bianco has enjoyed a long and successful acting
career, appearing in over 100 films, television programs, and stage
performances, both on-screen and off as a writer, director, and
producer; he has worked with some of the very best in performing arts,
both past and present; and

WHEREAS, Tony Lo Bianco won an Obie Award for Best Actor in Jonathan
Reynold's Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the 7th on Off-Broadway; he was
also nominated for a Tony Award, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award
for his memorable performance on Broadway as Eddie Carbone in Arthur
Miller's A View from the Bridge; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his roles on the Great White Way, Tony Lo
Bianco appeared in numerous television shows; he starred as the
undefeated heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano in "Marciano," and again in
the remake, "The Rocky Marciano Story" with George C. Scott and Jon
Favreau; and

WHEREAS, This great thespian also had featured roles in the
mini-series "Marco Polo," Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" with
Lawrence Olivier and Anthony Quinn, "La Romana" with Gina Lollobrigida,
"The Last Tenant" with legendary acting teacher Lee Strasberg, "Police

Story," and "Palace Guard," as well as "Jessie," with Lindsay Wagner; he
appeared in episodes of "Law & Order," "Murder, She Wrote," and numerous
two-hour movies of the week; and

WHEREAS, Tony Lo Bianco spent time behind the camera directing
episodes of the television series "Police Story," "Kaz," and several
others, and the feature film "Too Scared to Scream"; today, he is in the
process of writing, and will direct in his new film based on his younger
years; and

WHEREAS, This exceptional actor received an Emmy Award for
"Hizzoner! The Life of Fiorello La Guardia," and two Emmys for his work
on "Just A Common Soldier," a video which has been viewed over 22
million times; and

WHEREAS, Tony Lo Bianco's best known film performances include: Sal
Boca in the five Academy Awards winning "The French Connection," with
Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider; Ray Fernandez in the cult classic "The
Honeymoon Killers"; and Peter in "God Told Me To"; "Bloodbrothers" with
Richard Gere; "City Heat" with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds; "Nixon"
with Anthony Hopkins; "The Juror" with Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore;
"F.I.S.T." with Sylvester Stallone; and "Kill the Irishman," alongside
Vincent D'Onofrio, Val Kilmer, and Christopher Walken; as well as "The
Engagement Ring" with Lainie Kazan and Patricia Heaton; and

WHEREAS, Dedicated to his craft, Tony Lo Bianco co-founded the
Triangle Theater and served as artistic director for six years; he also
directed eight shows and produced 25 others; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Tony Lo Bianco is touring with his one-man show,
"The Little Flower: The Life and Times of New York Mayor, Fiorello La
Guardia," and presenting his inspirational talk, "From Brooklyn to
Broadway and Beyond" to audiences across the country; he is also sharing
his skills with up and coming actors; and

WHEREAS, When he is not acting, Tony Lo Bianco enjoys supporting
numerous worthy organizations; for his generous humanitarian efforts, he
was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the
Eleanora Duse Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts,
a Lifetime Entertainment Award by the Columbus Day Parade Committee, the
1997 Golden Lion Award, Man of the Year Award by the New Jersey Senate,
the Humanitarian Award of the Boys' Town of Italy, the Louis Prima Arts
and Entertainment Award, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; and

WHEREAS, A member of the Order Sons of Italy, Tony Lo Bianco was
named Man of the Year for his Outstanding Contributions to the
Italian-American Community by the Police Society of New Jersey, and was
inducted into the Italian American National Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Alyse, who has shown
him love and support and rejoices in his many achievements; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Tony Lo Bianco upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Thomas Colasanto Humanitarian Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Tony Lo Bianco.