Danny Aiello
Danny Aiello | |
---|---|
Born | Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. June 20, 1933 New York City,New York, U.S. |
Died | December 12, 2019 | (aged 86)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1970–2019 |
Spouse |
Sandy Cohen (m.1955) |
Children | 4, includingDanny Aiello IIIandRick Aiello |
Relatives | Michael Kay(nephew) |
Website | dannyaiello |
Daniel Louis Aiello Jr.(/aɪˈɛloʊ/) (June 20, 1933[1]– December 12, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, includingThe Godfather Part II(1974),The Front(1976),Once Upon a Time in America(1984),Hide in Plain Sight(1984),The Purple Rose of Cairo(1985),Moonstruck(1987),Harlem Nights(1989),Do the Right Thing(1989),Jacob's Ladder(1990),Hudson Hawk(1991),Ruby(1992),Léon: The Professional(1994),2 Days in the Valley(1996),Dinner Rush(2000), andLucky Number Slevin(2006). He played Don Domenico Clericuzio in the miniseriesThe Last Don(1997).
Aiello was nominated for anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actorfor his role as Salvatore "Sal" Frangione in theSpike LeefilmDo the Right Thing(1989).
Early life
[edit]Aiello, the fifth of six children, was born on West 68th Street, Manhattan,[2]the son of parents Frances Pietrocova, aseamstressfrom Naples,Italy,and Daniel Louis Aiello, a laborer who deserted the family after his wife lost her eyesight and became legally blind.[3]For many years, Aiello publicly condemned his father, but the two reconciled in 1993, although Aiello harbored a resentment of his father's conduct.[4][5]He was of Italian descent.[6]He moved to theSouth Bronxwhen he was seven, and later attendedJames Monroe High School.[5]
At the age of 16, Aiello lied about his age to enlist in theUnited States Army.After serving for three years, he returned toNew York Cityand did various jobs in order to support himself and, later, his family.[7][8]
In the 1960s, Aiello served as president of New York Local 1202 of theAmalgamated Transit Union,representingGreyhound Busworkers. In 1967, he presided over an unsanctionedwildcat strikewhen the company changed bus driver schedules.[9]The strike was called without authorization by the parent union and he was suspended for that action. He called off the strike after one day.[10]
He was also a bouncer at the legendary New York City comedy club,The Improv.[11]In the mid-1980s, he was a nightly regular at Café Central, a bistro frequented by celebrities on 79th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, in Manhattan, and at an eatery named Columbus restaurant on 66th Street and Columbus Avenue.[12]
Career
[edit]Film and television
[edit]Aiello broke into films in the early 1970s. One of his earliest roles came as a ballplayer in the baseball drama,Bang the Drum Slowly(1973), withRobert De Niro.Aiello had a walk-on role as small-time hood Tony Rosato inThe Godfather Part II(1974), ad-libbing the line "Michael Corleonesays hello! "during a hit on rival gangsterFrank Pentangeli(Michael V. Gazzo).[13]
Aiello had a co-lead role withJan-Michael VincentinDefiance(1980), about some Manhattan residents who fight back against the thugs terrorizing the neighborhood. He received considerable acclaim for playing a racist New York City cop inFort Apache, The Bronx(1981) withPaul Newman.In 1981, Aiello won aDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programmingfor his appearance in anABC Afterschool SpecialcalledA Family of Strangers.[14]
He was paired with De Niro again for theSergio Leonegangster epic,Once Upon a Time in America(1984), as a police chief whose name was also "Aiello." His many film appearances included two for directorWoody Allen,who cast him inThe Purple Rose of Cairo(1985), andRadio Days(1987).[15]He played a main role in the 1985-86 television seriesLady Blue.[16]
Aiello played the pizzeria owner Sal inSpike Lee'sDo the Right Thing(1989). At the time of the film's release, in an interview with theChicago Tribune,he called the role his "first focal part". He further identified the film as a very collaborative effort, during which Spike Lee at one point told him, "Whatever you wanna do, you do." Aiello went on to write a crucial scene he shared withJohn Turturroten minutes prior to its production.[17]The role earned him nominations for aGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Pictureand theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor,while the film critics' associations ofBoston,Chicago,andLos Angeleseach named him best supporting actor.[18]
Aiello also portrayed more sympathetic characters. He gained recognition as the befuddled fiancé ofCheropposite her Oscar-winning performance in the romantic comedyMoonstruck(1987), and made a comic appearance indragfor theRobert Altmanfashion-industry filmPrêt-à-Porter(1994).[19]He also had sympathetic roles in the horror thrillerJacob's Ladder(1990) and the comedy-drama29th Street(1991).
Aiello played nightclub owner andLee Harvey OswaldassassinJack Rubyin the biopicRuby(1992), the lead role inPaul Mazursky's film business satireThe Pickle(1993), the titular character in the Academy Award-winning short filmLieberman in Love(1995), and a political big shot with mob ties inCity Hall(1996), starringAl Pacino.He later starred in the independent feature filmDolly Baby(2012), written and directed by Kevin Jordan; Aiello also starred in Jordan'sBrooklyn Lobster,which premiered at theToronto International Film Festivalin 2005.[20]
Music
[edit]Aiello's singing was on display in films such asHudson Hawk(1991),Once Around(1991), andRemedy(2005) that starred his son Ricky Aiello andJonathan Doscher.He released several albums featuring a big-band includingI Just Wanted to Hear The Words(2004),Live from Atlantic City(2008), andMy Christmas Song for You(2010). Aiello andEMIsongwriter Hasan Johnson released an album of standards fused with rap entitledBridgesin 2011.[21]
He played the father for the video ofMadonna's song, "Papa Don't Preach"(1986), and recorded his ownanswer song,"Papa Wants the Best for You", written byArtie Schroeck.[22]
Theater
[edit]Aiello appeared on the Broadway stage many times throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He appeared in three plays by Louis La Russo II:Lamppost Reunion(his Broadway debut - 1975),Wheelbarrow Closers(1976), andKnockout(1979). In 1977, he originated the role of Fran Geminiani in the long-running playGemini.[23]
In 1981, Aiello starred inWoody Allen's playThe Floating Light BulbalongsideBeatrice Arthur.The play, set in 1945, is a semi-autobiographical tale of alower middle classfamily living inBrooklyn,New York City.Frank Rich,critic fromThe New York Timesgave the play a mild review, writing "there are a few laughs, a few well-wrought characters, and, in Act II, a beautifully written scene that leads to a moving final curtain". Rich also compared the play to the work ofTennessee Williams.[24]
In the mid-1980s, Aiello starred in a replacement cast version ofHurlyburly(1984) alongsideChristine Baranski,Frank Langella,Ron Silver,andCandice Bergen.He also starred inThe House of Blue Leaves(1986) alongsideJohn Mahoney(who earned aTony Awardfor his performance),Ben Stiller,Stockard Channing,andJulie Hagerty[25]
In 2002, Aiello starred inElaine May's comedic play,Adult Entertainmentalongside May's daughter,Jeannie Berlin.The play was directed byStanley Donenand opened off-broadway at the Variety Arts Theatre. CriticBen BrantleyofThe New York Times,described the play as an "often very funny, but overstretched comedy sketch".[26]
In July 2011, Aiello appearedOff-Broadwayin the two-act dramaThe Shoemaker,written bySusan Charlotteand directed by Antony Marsellis. The play is a stage version of his 2006 movieA Broken Sole,which began life in 2001 as a one-act play.[27]
Personal life
[edit]Aiello lived inRamsey, New Jersey,for many years with his wife, Sandy Cohen, whom Aiello married in 1955.[28]He later moved toSaddle River, New Jersey.[29]
In 2014, Aiello published his autobiography,I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else: My Life on the Street, on the Stage, and in the MoviesviaSimon & Schuster.[30]He was the father of stuntman and actorDanny Aiello III,who died in 2010 ofpancreatic cancer.[31]Another sonRick,who was also an actor, died in 2021 of the same disease. His surviving children are Jaime, and Stacey Aiello.[14]His nephew isMichael Kay,broadcaster for theNew York Yankees.[32]
Death
[edit]Aiello died on December 12, 2019, at age 86, at a hospital in New Jersey, following a brief illness.[18][33]
Many in the entertainment industry voiced their sadness either onTwitteror released statements, such as hisMoonstruckco-starCher,andRobert De Niro,who starred alongside Aiello in four films:Bang the Drum Slowly(1973),The Godfather Part II(1974),Once Upon a Time in America(1984), andMistress(1992). De Niro wrote, "I am very saddened to hear of Danny's passing. I have known him for almost 50 years. See you in Heaven, Danny."[34]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | Bang the Drum Slowly | Horse | |
1974 | The Godfather Part II | Tony Rosato | |
1975 | The Godmothers | Uncredited | |
1976 | The Front | Danny LaGattuta | |
1977 | Hooch | Tony | |
1978 | Fingers | Butch | |
1978 | Bloodbrothers | Artie Di Falco | |
1980 | Defiance | Carmine | |
1980 | Hide in Plain Sight | Sal Carvello | |
1981 | Fort Apache, The Bronx | Morgan | |
1981 | Chu Chu and the Philly Flash | Johnson | |
1983 | Blood Feud | Randy Powers | |
1984 | Old Enough | Mr. Bruckner | |
1984 | Once Upon a Time in America | Police Chief Vincent Aiello | |
1984 | Broadway Danny Rose | Uncredited | |
1985 | The Purple Rose of Cairo | Monk | |
1985 | The Stuff | Vickers | |
1985 | The Protector | Danny Garoni | |
1985 | Key Exchange | Carabello | |
1987 | Radio Days | Rocco | |
1987 | Man on Fire | Conti | |
1987 | The Pick-up Artist | Phil Harper | |
1987 | Moonstruck | Johnny Cammareri | |
1988 | The Third Solution | George Sherman | |
1989 | The January Man | Captain Vincent Alcoa | |
1989 | White Hot | Charlie Buick | |
1989 | Do the Right Thing | Salvatore "Sal" Fragione | |
1989 | Shocktroop | John Cunningham | |
1989 | Harlem Nights | Phil Cantone | |
1990 | Jacob's Ladder | Louis | |
1990 | The Closer | Chester Grant | |
1990 | He Ain't Heavy | Short | |
1991 | Once Around | Joe Bella | |
1991 | Hudson Hawk | Tommy "Five-Tone" Messina | |
1991 | 29th Street | Frank Pesce Sr. | |
1992 | Deathmask | Capt. Mike Grasso | |
1992 | Ruby | Jack Ruby | |
1992 | Mistress | Carmine Rasso | |
1993 | The Cemetery Club | Ben Katz | |
1993 | The Pickle | Harry Stone | |
1993 | Me and the Kid | Harry | |
1994 | Léon: The Professional | Tony | |
1994 | Prêt-à-Porter | Major Hamilton | |
1994 | Save the Rabbits | Ronnie | |
1995 | Power of Attorney | Joseph Scassi | |
1995 | Lieberman in Love | Joe Lieberman | Short |
1995 | Two Much | Gene | |
1996 | City Hall | Frank Anselmo | |
1996 | 2 Days in the Valley | Dosmo Pizzo | |
1996 | Mojave Moon | Al | |
1997 | Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis | Mr. Rathbone | |
1997 | A Brooklyn State of Mind | Danny Parente | |
1998 | Wilbur Falls | Phillip Devereaux | |
1999 | 18 Shades of Dust | Vincent Dianni | |
2000 | Mambo Café | Joey | |
2000 | Dinner Rush | Louis Cropa | |
2000 | Prince of Central Park | Noah Cairn | |
2001 | Off Key | Fabrizio Bernini | |
2003 | Mail Order Bride | Tony Santini | |
2004 | Zeyda and the Hitman | Nathan | |
2005 | The Fool | Voice of the Dummy | Short |
2005 | Brooklyn Lobster | Frank Giorgio | |
2006 | Lucky Number Slevin | Roth | |
2006 | Last Request | Pop | |
2006 | A Broken Sole | The Shoemaker | |
2010 | Stiffs | Frank Tramontana | |
2013 | Dolly Baby | Tony Lanza | |
2014 | Henry & Me | Dr. Acosta | Voice |
2014 | Reach Me | Father Paul | |
2017 | The Neighborhood | Joseph Donatello | |
2018 | Little Italy | Carlo | |
2019 | The Last Big Save | Louis Brown | |
2019 | Making a Deal With The Devil | Mario | |
2021 | One Moment | Joe McGuinness | Posthumous release; Final film role |
TBA | Hereafter Musical | Jason | Short |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Kojak | Mattie | Episode: "Black Thorn" |
1977 | The Andros Targets | Lt. Phil Lombardi | 3 episodes |
1978 | On Our Own | Skip Mazarelli | 2 episodes |
1978 | The Last Tenant | Carl | TV film |
1978 | Lovey: A Circle Of Children, Part II | Bernie Serino | TV film |
1980 | A Family of Strangers | Dominic Ginetti | ABC Afterschool Special |
1982 | Gemini | Fran | TV film |
1982 | Nurse | Gene Halley | Episode: "Gene Halley" |
1982 | The Unforgivable Secret | Frank Caruso | ABC Afterschool Special |
1982 | A Question of Honor | Martelli | TV film |
1983 | 3-2-1 Contact | Florist | Episode: "Babies: Growth and Development" |
1984 | Tales from the Darkside | Tommy Vale | Episode: "The Odds" |
1985 | The Lucie Arnaz Show | Vic Rosetti | Episode: "Good Sports" |
1985–1986 | Lady Blue | Lt. Terry McNichols | 14 episodes |
1987 | Saturday Night Live | Master of Ceremonies | Episode: "Charlton Heston/Wynton Marsalis" |
1987 | Daddy | Coach Jacobs | TV film |
1987 | Night Heat | Frankie D. | Episode: "Comeback" |
1988 | Alone In The Neon Jungle | Chief | TV film |
1989 | The Preppie Murder | Det. Mike Sheehan | TV film |
1990 | Madonna: The Immaculate Collection | Papa | Segment: "Papa Don't Preach" |
1992 | The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 | Tony Rosato | TV reruns |
1995 | Brothers' Destiny(akaThe Road Home) | Duke | TV film |
1996 | Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook | Narrator | Documentary |
1996 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Danny Aiello/Coolio" |
1997 | The Last Don | Don Domenico Clericuzio | TV mini-series |
1997–1998 | Dellaventura | Anthony Dellaventura | 14 episodes |
1998 | The Last Don II | Don Domenico Clericuzio | TV mini-series |
2009 | Harry: A Communication Breakdown | Narrator | Documentary |
2017 | Broken Dreams Blvd | Teddy Berry | TV film |
2017 | Difficult People | Danny Aiello (voice) | Episode: "Passover Bump" |
Theatre
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
1944 | Follow the Girls | Dancing Boy | New Century Theatre,Broadway |
1975 | Lamppost Reunion | Biggie | Little Theatre,Broadway |
1976 | Wheelbarrow Closers | Chester Grant | Bijou Theatre,Broadway |
1977 | Gemini | Fran Geminiani | Little Theatre,Broadway |
1979 | Knockout | Damie Ruffino | Helen Hayes Theatre,Broadway |
1981 | The Floating Light Bulb | Max Pollack | Vivian Beaumont Theater,Broadway |
1985 | Hurlyburly | Phil (replacement) | Ethel Barrymore Theatre,Broadway |
1986 | The House of Blue Leaves | Billy Einhorn | Plymouth Theatre,Broadway |
2002 | Adult Entertainment | Guy Aikens | Variety Arts Theatre, Off Broadway |
2011 | The Shoemaker | Performer | Acorn Theatre,Off-Broadway |
2017 | Home for the Holidays | Performer | August Wilson Theatre,Broadway |
Awards
[edit]Publications
[edit]- Aiello, Danny (2014).I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else: My Life on the Street, On the Stage, and in the Movies.Simon and Schuster.ISBN9781476751924.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Danny Aiello, 'Do the Right Thing' and 'Moonstruck' Actor, Dies at 86".The Hollywood Reporter.December 13, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2021.
- ^Danny AIELLO profileArchivedFebruary 16, 2021, at theWayback Machine,International Who's Who.accessed September 1, 2006.
- ^Frances Pietrocovamyheritage.it[user-generated source]
- ^Michael Norman (January 21, 1990)."His Bus Came In".The New York Times.
- ^abDanny Aiello Biography,Yahoo; accessed June 21, 2017, Archived from theoriginalon May 22, 2011 at theWayback Machine.
- ^Lip, Tony; Prigge, Steven (October 3, 2006).Shut Up and Eat!: Mangia with Family Recipes and Stories from Your Favorite Italian-American Stars.Penguin Publishing Group.ISBN9780425211779– via Google Books.
- ^Succeeding: Overcoming the Odds.Prestwick House. 2005. pp. 61–62.ISBN9781580493093.RetrievedDecember 17,2019.
- ^Carrick, Jim (June 17, 2015)."Million served in WWII".The Spectrum.RetrievedDecember 17,2019.
- ^"Greyhound Walkout Spreading".Press and Sun-Bulletin.Binghamton, N.Y. Associated Press. June 21, 1967. p. 49.RetrievedDecember 14,2019– viaNewspapers.
- ^"Greyhound Drivers End 1-Day Strike".Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, Wilkes-Barre Record.Associated Press. June 23, 1967. p. 14.RetrievedDecember 14,2019– viaNewspapers.
- ^Bailey-Millado, Rob (December 13, 2019)."How Danny Aiello went from 'part-time thief' to 'Do the Right Thing'".New York Post.RetrievedDecember 14,2019.
- ^Aiello, Danny (2014).I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else: My Life on the Street, On the Stage, and in the Movies.Simon and Schuster. pp. 175, 228.ISBN9781476751924.RetrievedDecember 17,2019.
- ^Middleton, Faith (November 10, 2014)."Actor Danny Aiello, The Godfather, and Madonna".wnpr.org.RetrievedMarch 3,2018.
- ^abcdCarcaterra, Lorenzo (February 19, 1990)."Danny Aiello".PEOPLE.RetrievedMarch 3,2018.
- ^"Danny Aiello".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedDecember 16,2019.
- ^Reesman, Bryan (June 30, 2017)."Analog Gems: Jamie Rose Talks 'Lady Blue' on ABC".New York Observer.Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2017.
- ^Emerson, Jim (July 7, 1989)."Danny Aiello Is 'The Jackie Robinson of Spike Lee Movies'".Chicago Tribune.
- ^abcdeGates, Anita (December 13, 2019)."Danny Aiello, Actor in 'Do the Right Thing,' Dies at 86".The New York Times.
- ^Ebert, Roger (December 25, 1994)."Ready To Wear (Prêt-à-Porter) movie review (1994) | Roger Ebert".rogerebert.
- ^Hamill, Denis (October 30, 2005)."LOVE & LOBSTERS. A family drama tells the true story of a Sheepshead Bay seafood firm under threat".NY Daily News.RetrievedMarch 3,2018.
- ^Bridges(Media notes). Danny Aiello. CD Baby. September 27, 2011.ASINB005SI4MSA.
{{cite AV media notes}}
:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^Liz Smith, "Papa Gets Second Chance In New Video",Sarasota Herald-Tribune(October 22, 1986), 5E.
- ^"Danny Aiello – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".ibdb.RetrievedDecember 13,2020.
- ^Rich, Frank (April 28, 1981)."Stage: 'Light Bulb,' by Woody Allen".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedFebruary 2,2020.
- ^"The House of Blue Leaves - 1986 Broadway Tickets, News, Info, Photos, Videos".broadwayworld.RetrievedFebruary 2,2020.
- ^Brantley, Ben (December 12, 2002)."THEATER REVIEW; Is She a Serious Actress? XXXtremely".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedFebruary 2,2020.
- ^Lee, Felicia R. (July 23, 2011)."A Word With: Danny Aiello. Emotional Guy, Speaking for Others".The New York Times.
- ^Golden, Tim."FILM; Danny Aiello Journeys Along The Blue-Collar Road to Stardom",The New York Times,February 10, 1991. Accessed January 23, 2008. "Though friends say he is cashing paychecks of close to $1 million, Mr. Aiello and his wife, Sandy, live in the same split-level house in Ramsey, N.J., that they bought a decade ago for $125,000."
- ^Andrea Adams,Saddle River,The Star-Ledger,April 28, 2005; "Last year, instead of amusements during the day, Saddle River Night featured a band concert by a 40-piece orchestra, as well as the family-style picnic and a special treat: Saddle River resident Danny Aiello sang a few songs after the band concert."
- ^""DANNY AIELLO" Book Results on Simon & Schuster ".simonandschuster.
- ^"Passings: Danny Aiello III".Los Angeles Times.May 4, 2010.
- ^Abrahams, Matthew (February 13, 2011)."Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay marries news anchor Jodi Applegate".nypost.
- ^"Danny Aiello, 'Do the Right Thing' and 'Moonstruck' Actor, Dies at 86".Variety.December 13, 2019.RetrievedDecember 13,2019.
- ^Fernandez, Alexia (December 13, 2019)."Robert De Niro Mourns Death of Former Costar Danny Aiello: 'See You in Heaven'".PEOPLE.RetrievedFebruary 2,2020.
External links
[edit]- 1933 births
- 2019 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Male actors from New Jersey
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- American people of Italian descent
- Male actors from Manhattan
- People from Ramsey, New Jersey
- People from Saddle River, New Jersey
- Comedians from the Bronx
- Military personnel from New York City
- United States Army soldiers
- James Monroe High School (New York City) alumni
- Writers from the Bronx
- New Jersey Republicans
- Comedians from Manhattan
- Comedians from New Jersey
- People from Mott Haven, Bronx
- Actors from Bergen County, New Jersey