Did you know that Oscar winner and former El Pasoan F. Murray Abraham has ties to El Paso's Como's Italian Restaurant?

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El Paso and celebrities go hand in hand around these parts, especially when former El Pasoans consider it their home, even after living in the city for a few short years.

There is something truly magical about our city, and part of its charm is the people and the abundance of talent that is homegrown in the 915.

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It turns out that F. Murray Abraham, best known for his Oscar-winning performance as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1984), has an interesting connection to one of El Paso's longstanding Italian restaurants in the city.

Abraham's family, who is part Italian from his mother's side and Syrian from his father's side of the family, moved to the Sun City in 1941 when he was two years old. He attended Vilas Elementary in Sunset Heights and graduated from El Paso High School in 1958. After that, the actor began to study acting at Texas Western (UTEP), found his way to Austin, New York, and finally settled in Los Angeles.

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So how does one of Hollywood's old-school actors have anything to do with Como's Italian Restaurant in El Paso?

In the late 50s, his mom opened the Italian restaurant and, after all these years, continues to serve some of the best Italian food in town. Como's Italian Restaurant remains in the family, which explains why diners can expect to see a photo of the actor behind the cash register at the restaurant on North Mesa Street.

Como's Italian Restaurant
Como's Italian Restaurant
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F. Murray Abraham, who has over 70 acting film credits to his name, including Scarface and dozens more credits for his work on TV and Theatre, has returned to his hometown to appear as a special guest for the 15th Annual Plaza Classic Film Festival.

The former El Pasoan arrived Thursday and will be making an appearance tonight (Friday, August 5) before the screening of Amadeus (Directors Cut /1984) beginning at 6 p.m. and then again on Saturday, August 6, for the screening of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) at 4 p.m. Admission: $10 each screening.

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You might also want to keep an eye out for him at Como's Italian Restaurant because it's family, and as all El Pasoans know, home is where the heart is, or in this case, the homemade Italian food.

For more details on the Plaza Classic Film Festival or to purchase a festival pass or individual tickets, visit plazaclassic.com.

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