John Capodice, an Army veteran turned actor, has passed away at the age of 83. His death was confirmed through an obituary posted by Pizzi Funeral Home in New Jersey on Monday. Capodice was best known for his portrayal of Sgt. Aguado in the 1994 comedy “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” where he played a key antagonist to Jim Carrey’s title character. He also had a recurring role in the soap opera “General Hospital,” where he portrayed Carmine Cerullo, the father of Lois Cerullo, in a series of episodes during the mid-1990s.
Capodice’s extensive acting career spanned decades, and he made memorable appearances in a wide range of television shows and films. One notable guest spot was in “Seinfeld,” where he played Vic, a laundromat owner in Season 2. In this episode, Jerry Seinfeld and Kramer mistakenly targeted Vic as the person responsible for Jerry’s missing money, only to later discover he wasn’t the culprit. Throughout his career, Capodice was often cast in roles as police officers, mafia members, mobsters, and other working-class figures, including bartenders and cab drivers. He played the character “Sal” on multiple occasions.
A U.S. Army veteran, Capodice served in Korea from 1964 to 1966, before launching his acting career. Over the years, he appeared in more than 100 television episodes, including iconic shows such as “Monk,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Will & Grace,” “NYPD Blue,” “Law & Order,” “Blossom,” and “Murphy Brown.” His filmography included roles in major films like “Independence Day,” “Gremlins 2,” and “Speed.”
In addition to his live-action roles, Capodice was also active in voice acting, contributing to projects such as the 2023 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, the video game Mafia II, and animated series including Superman: The Animated Series and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.
Capodice leaves behind a legacy of diverse roles in both television and film.