Here is the biography of James Coco:
Born in New York City, James Coco was the son of Feliche, an Italian shoemaker, and Ida (Detestes) Coco. He began shining shoes with his father at a young age and developed an interest in acting early on. At 17, he toured with a children's theatre troupe for three years, playing Old King Cole and Hans Brinker. After intensive study with acting guru Uta Hagen, he made his Broadway debut at 29 in "Hotel Paradiso" in 1957.
Coco went on to win three Obie Awards for his performances in "The Moon in Yellow River" (1961),"Fragments" (1967),and "The Transfiguration of Benno Blimppie" (1977). He also had a successful career in comedy, appearing in numerous stage productions, including "Auntie Mame," "Everybody Loves Opal," "A Shot in the Dark," "Bell, Book and Candle," and "You Can't Take It With You."
In the late 1960s, Coco formed a strong collaboration with playwright Terrence McNally, appearing in several of his one-act plays. He also earned kudos for his work in Neil Simon comedies, including "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers" (1969),which earned him a Tony Award nomination as Best Actor.
Coco achieved stardom first on stage, but his film career was a mixed bag. He appeared in several notable films, including "Murder by Death" (1976),"The Cheap Detective" (1978),and "Only When I Laugh" (1981),which earned him a sole Oscar nomination. He also had a successful television career, appearing in several sitcoms, including "Maude" and "Alice," and earning an Emmy for his dramatic performance on "St. Elsewhere" (1982).
In his later years, Coco received attention for his culinary talents and best-selling cookbooks. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in New York City in 1987 at the age of 56, and was buried in St. Gertrude's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.
