Acting
Sal Viscuso
The dedication of Sal Viscuso to the craft of acting can be dated to a singular evening in 1967. A college freshman, he happened upon a teleplay of Ronald Ribman's CBS Playhouse: The Final War of Olly Winter (1967) and was so inspired by Ivan Dixon's Emmy-winning rendition of the title role that he entered the drama department the very next day, later explaining, "I felt that there I had found my family." He earned his BA from the University of California at Davis, then went on to study with Olympia Dukakis at NYU School of the Arts, from which he graduated with an MFA. Opportunities presented themselves rapidly, and Sal made his film debut in the classic The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). An introduction to Burt Metcalfe, associate producer of the iconic series M*A*S*H (1972), led to his move to Los Angeles, and soon Sal was a regular on NBC's sitcom The Montefuscos (1975). He was an off-screen loudspeaker announcer (as well as various other characters) on M*A*S*H (1972); appeared in Gene Wilder's homage to 1920's Hollywood, The World's Greatest Lover (1977); improvised in Robert Altman's Three Women (1977); and played multiple parts on the beloved Barney Miller (1975) (one of which was written especially for him by the show's creator, Danny Arnold). He was also to feature in what TIME magazine has rated as one of the "Top 100 TV shows of all time," Susan Harris's Soap (1977). His vocationally challenged Father Timothy Flotsky (and the show's depiction of one of the first openly gay characters on network television), created instant controversy that attracted 19 million viewers to the series premiere. Shortly thereafter, Sal commenced his professional association with the Bancroft/Brooks combine of talent, first appearing in Anne Bancroft's Fatso (1980), and then in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), about which he has remarked, "I continue to get more attention from that project than from anything I've ever done!"
Filmography
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Film · 2022
Station 19
Series · 2018
9-1-1
Series · 2018
Hollywood Seagull
Film · 2013
Scandal
Series · 2012
Castle
Series · 2009
The Mentalist
Series · 2008
Eyes
Series · 2005
When Billie Beat Bobby
Film · 2001
The Amati Girls
Film · 2001
The Cure for Boredom
Film · 2001
Boston Public
Series · 2000
Providence
Series · 1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Series · 1999
Confessions of a Sexist Pig
Film · 1998
Pinocchio's Revenge
Film · 1996
The Dentist
Film · 1996
EZ Streets
Series · 1996
Clueless
Series · 1996
Kicking and Screaming
Film · 1995
Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester
Film · 1995
ER
Series · 1994
Touched by an Angel
Series · 1994
Diagnosis: Murder
Series · 1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Series · 1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Series · 1993
Batman: The Animated Series
Series · 1992
American Dreamer
Series · 1990
Beverly Hills, 90210
Series · 1990
Dream On
Series · 1990
Booker
Series · 1989
14 Going on 30
Film · 1988
Spaceballs
Film · 1987
Jake and the Fatman
Series · 1987
2 1/2 Dads
Film · 1986
Jake Speed
Film · 1986
Sledge Hammer!
Series · 1986
Matlock
Series · 1986
This Wife for Hire
Film · 1985
Spenser: For Hire
Series · 1985
Amazing Stories
Series · 1985
Cover Up
Series · 1984
Hunter
Series · 1984
Max Dugan Returns
Film · 1983
Princess Daisy
Series · 1983
Fantasies
Film · 1982
Family Ties
Series · 1982
Fame
Series · 1982
Silver Spoons
Series · 1982
Cagney & Lacey
Series · 1982
It Takes Two
Series · 1982
Family Ties
Series · 1982
Falcon Crest
Series · 1981
Simon & Simon
Series · 1981
Today's F.B.I.
Series · 1981
Fatso
Film · 1980
Magnum, P.I.
Series · 1980
The Facts of Life
Series · 1979
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
Film · 1978
Fantasy Island
Series · 1978
The World's Greatest Lover
Film · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
Soap
Series · 1977
Soap
Series · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
Soap
Series · 1977
The Montefuscos
Series · 1975
Barney Miller
Series · 1975
Barney Miller
Series · 1975
Barney Miller
Series · 1975
Barney Miller
Series · 1975
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Film · 1974
M*A*S*H
Series · 1972
M*A*S*H
Series · 1972
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961