Chazz Palminteri
Chazz Palminteri | |
|---|---|
 Palminteri in 2011 | |
| Born | Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri[1] May 15, 1952 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse |
Gianna Ranaudo (m.1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | chazzpalminteri |
Calogero Lorenzo"Chazz"Palminteri(born May 15, 1952)[1]is an American actor. He is best known for his film roles inA Bronx Tale(1993), based on hisplay of the same name,Bullets Over Broadway(1994) for which he was nominated for anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor,and The Usual Suspects(1995), as well as his recurring role as Shorty inModern Family(2010–2019).
His other notable films includeMulholland Falls(1996),A Night at the Roxbury(1998),Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure(2001),Little Man(2006),Once Upon a Time in Queens(2013), andLegend(2015). He is also known for his recurring roles inWiseguy(1989),Kojak(2005),Rizzoli & Isles(2010–2014) andGodfather of Harlem(2019–2021).
Early life
[edit]Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri was born on May 15, 1952, in The Bronx, New York. He is the son of Rose, a homemaker, and Lorenzo Palminteri, a bus driver.[2]He was raised in theBelmontneighborhood of the Bronx.[3]Palminteri is ofSicilian origin;his grandparents, Calogero Palminteri and Rosa Bonfante, married in 1908, and emigrated to live in the United States in 1910 fromMenfiin the province ofAgrigento,Sicily. At the age of nine, Palminteri allegedly witnessed the murder of amobsterin front of his apartment building; the police questioned him, but he maintained that he did not see the incident.[4]
He struggled to become an actor, splitting his time between acting inoff-Broadwayplays andmoonlightingas abouncer,alongsideDolph Lundgren.[5]In 1988, Palminteri was working at a New York nightclub where a party was being thrown for Hollywood talent agent and dealmakerIrving Paul "Swifty" Lazar.When Lazar tried to enter, Palminteri stopped him as he did not know who he was. Lazar got him fired which led to the broke (and unemployed) Palminteri writingA Bronx Talefor himself to star in since he was not being offered any work.[6]
Career
[edit]Theater
[edit]Palminteri starred onBroadwayinA Bronx Tale,the autobiographicalone-man showbased on his childhood that he first performed atTheatre Westin Los Angeles in 1989.[7]Palminteri states that he began writing the play after being fired from a club when, as a doorman, he refused entry tosuper agentSwifty Lazar.[8][9]The Broadway production, directed byJerry Zaksand with music byJohn Gromada,began previews October 4, 1988, at the Walter Kerr Theatre and opened on October 25, running for 18 weeks. Palminteri plays 18 roles inA Bronx Tale,which depicts a rough childhood on the streets of the Bronx. The play ran for two months at Playhouse 91 in 1989.[10]
Palminteri starred oppositeKenny D'Aquilain D'Aquila's play,Unorganized Crime.[11][12]Palminteri always appreciated the shot thatRobert De Nirogave him, so he in turn agreed to star in D'Aquila's mafia-themed drama.[13]
Palminteri performed in the Broadwaymusical versionofA Bronx Talein 2018.
Film career
[edit]Robert De Niro saw Palminteri's Broadway show ofA Bronx Talein 1990, and the two partnered together to adapt the play into afilm.Palminteri created the screenplay and starred as Sonny, the gangster Calogero meets, while De Niro directed the film, making his directorial debut, and co-starring as Lorenzo, Calogero's father.[14]The film was a commercial and critical success.[15]In 1994, Chazz Palminteri played mob henchman Cheech in the black comedy filmBullets Over Broadway,for which he was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Palminteri also had performances in films such asThe Usual Suspects,The Perez Family,Jade,andDiabolique,as well as comedic roles in films such asOscar,Analyze ThisandDown to Earth.
During its run, he appeared in many advertisements forVanilla Coke,in which he portrayed a mob Boss who would threaten celebrities if they did not praise the taste of the product in question, and then let them walk away with the Vanilla Coke to "reward their curiosity", touching on its slogan at the time. Palminteri has voiced characters in variousanimated films,the most notable being Smokey inStuart Littleand Woolworth inHoodwinked.
He made his directorial debut with an episode ofOz,then the television filmWomen vs. Menand the 2004 feature filmNoel.
Palminteri's recent acting efforts includeA Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,Running Scared,andArthur and the Minimoys.
In 2004, he received the "Indie Hero Award" from theMethod Fest Independent Film Festivalfor his artistic achievements in film.
Television
[edit]On January 20, 2010, Palminteri guested onModern Familyand played the same character on the November 2, 2011, episode.[16]Palminteri has reprised the role twice more in season 5. In June 2010, Palminteri began guest-starring on theTNTcrime dramaRizzoli & Islesas Frank Rizzoli, Sr. He guest starred twice on the CBS dramaBlue Bloodsas Angelo Gallo, a mob lawyer and childhood friend of main character Frank Reagan.
Palminteri portrayed deceased mobsterPaul Castellanoin the 2001TV filmBoss of Bosses.
Other work
[edit]In 2011, Palminteri opened a restaurant, Chazz: A Bronx Original, inBaltimore'sLittle Italyneighborhood; their main foods are coal-fired pizza and Italian food. However, the restaurant closed in 2015.[17]Palminteri opened an Italian restaurant, Chazz Palminteri Ristorante Italiano, in New York City on Second Avenue. Also, Palminteri did the voice acting for theCall of Duty: Black Ops IIcharacter Sal De Luca in the zombies mapMob of the Dead,and his likeness was used for the character as well.
The Chazz Palmenteri Show Podcast
[edit]On February 15, 2021, during theCOVIDpandemic, Palmintieri launchedThe Chazz Palminteri Showpodcast onYouTube.[18]Palmintieri's guests on the podcast have includedWilliam Baldwin,[19]Kathrine Narducci,[20]Fat Joe,[21]Mario Cantone,[22]andShaquille O'Neal.[23]
Personal life
[edit]Palminteri lives inWestchester County,New York, in the town ofBedford.He describes himself as a "very spiritual", devoutRoman Catholic.[24]He married Gianna Ranaudo in 1992, and together they have two children. He is a self-avowedNew York Yankeesfan.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Sonny Cappelito | Episode: "Bald Ambition" |
| 1987 | Matlock | MP Sgt. Marcy | Episode: "The Court-Martial: Part 2" |
| 1989 | Dallas | Frank | Episode: "He-e-ere's Papa!" |
| Valerie | Leslie | Episode: "Viva Las Vegas" | |
| 1st & Ten: The Championship | Al | Episode: "Duty Call" | |
| Wiseguy | Peter Alatorre/Sal Rosselli | Recurring Cast: Season 3 | |
| 1990 | Sydney | Tony | Episode: "Love Ya, Babe" |
| 1997 | The Directors | Himself | Episode: "The Films of William Friedkin" |
| 1999 | Dilbert | Leonardo da Vinci(voice) | Episode: "Art" |
| 2001 | An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| Bravo Profiles | Himself | Episode: "Rod Steiger" | |
| 2003 | AFI Life Achievement Award | Episode: "A Tribute to Robert De Niro" | |
| Biography | Episode: "Humphrey Bogart" | ||
| 2004 | Dr. Vegas | Duke Walcott | Episode: "Lust for Life" |
| 2005 | Kojak | Captain Frank McNeil | Recurring Cast |
| 2010 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Himself | Episode: "Episode #2.4" |
| 2010–14 | Rizzoli & Isles | Frank Rizzoli Sr. | Recurring cast: season 1, guest: seasons 3-4 |
| 2010–19 | Modern Family | Shorty | Guest cast: seasons 1, 3-5, and 9-10 |
| 2011 | Rocco's Dinner Party | Himself | Episode: "Ultimate Summer Party" |
| 2012 | The Haunting of... | Episode: "Chazz Palminteri" | |
| 2012–13 | Blue Bloods | Angelo Gallo | 2 episodes[25][26] |
| 2014 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Perry Cannavaro | Episode: "Jersey Breakdown" |
| 2017 | Kevin Can Wait | Vincent | Episode: "Plus One Is the Loneliest Number" |
| 2017–18 | Voltron: Legendary Defender | Burr (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2019–21 | Godfather of Harlem | Joe Bonanno | Recurring role (seasons 1-2) |
| 2021 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Manfredi Sinatra | Episode: "What Happens in Puglia" |
| Gravesend | Cesar Tremaldo | Recurring role (season 2) | |
| 2023 | Bubble Guppies | Tiny the Slug (voice) | Episode: "A Slow Day in Zippy City!" |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Game | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Salvatore "Sal" DeLuca | Featured on 2013's "Uprising" downloadable content.[27] |
Documentary
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Little Italy | |
| 1997 | Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's | |
| 1998 | Italians in America | |
| 2005 | Bullets Over Hollywood | [28] |
| 2008 | Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies | |
| 2014 | Journey to Sundance | |
| 2016 | Davi's Way |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Bullets Over Broadway | Nominated | [29] |
| 1994 | American Comedy Awards | Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| 1994 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [30] | |
| 1994 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Male | Won | [31] | |
| 1995 | National Board of Review Awards | Best Acting by an Ensemble | The Usual Suspects | Won | [32] |
| 1996 | Sant Jordi Awards | Best Foreign Actor | A Bronx Tale,Bullets Over Broadway,andThe Usual Suspects | Won | |
| 1994 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Bullets Over Broadway | Nominated | [33] |
| 2006 | Sundance Film Festival | Best Ensemble Performance | A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints | Won |
Theatre work
[edit]Broadway
[edit]- 2007 –A Bronx Tale– performer
- 2013 –Human– performer and writer
- 2016 –A Bronx Tale– writer and performer
Off-Broadway
[edit]- 1989 –A Bronx Tale– writer and performer
- 2002 –The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui– Ernesto Roma
References
[edit]- ^abChazz Palminteri bioArchivedSeptember 25, 2017, at theWayback Machine.Chazzpalminteri.net. Retrieved on November 19, 2013.
- ^Duggan, Dennis (December 24, 1989)."A Playwright (And an Actor) Grows in the Bronx".Newsday.[permanent dead link]
- ^Allis, Sam (March 22, 2009)."All that Chazz".Boston.RetrievedOctober 18,2015.
- ^"Chazz Palminteri and the real-life inspiration for 'A Bronx Tale' are forever intertwined".bostonglobe. March 31, 2019.
- ^"Dolph Lundgren: Grace Jones would bring as many as five girls back... 'Exhausting'".The Irish Times.November 23, 2018.
- ^"11 Surprising Facts About A Bronx Tale".mentalfloss.September 28, 2018.
- ^The Villager,Vol. 77, No. 23; November 7–13, 2007
- ^"Broadway Names with Julie James,"On Broadway,SiriusXM, October 11, 2012.
- ^Winn, Steven."Palminteri revisits 'A Bronx Tale'"San Francisco Chronicle,September 23, 2008.
- ^"Cheri,Based on Colette's Classic Novella, Begins Performances Off-Broadway ".Broadway. November 19, 2013.
- ^"Kenny D'Aquila".IMDb.
- ^"'Unorganized Crime' a quirky mob-family melodrama ".Los Angeles Times.May 16, 2014.
- ^"Chazz Palminteri Talks New Play 'Unorganized Crime,' Getting His Start from Robert DeNiro (Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.May 8, 2014.
- ^Vlastelica, Ryan (March 2, 2016)."Chazz Palminteri on A Bronx Tale, Keyser Söze, and Stallone's career advice".The A.V. Club.RetrievedFebruary 27,2020.
- ^Kachka, Boris (October 14, 2007)."How 'A Bronx Tale' Got Told – New York Magazine".Nymag.RetrievedFebruary 20,2014.
- ^Natalie Abrams (October 26, 2009)."Elizabeth Banks and Chazz Palminteri to Guest-Star on Modern Family".TVGuide.
- ^"Chazz: A Bronx Original Closes".Baltimore magazine.January 26, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^"Chazz Palminteri Show - YouTube".youtube.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"A Chat With Billy Baldwin".YouTube, Chazz Palminteri Show.March 1, 2021.
- ^"Spirituality of Acting with Kathrine Narducci".YouTube, Chazz Palminteri Show.October 3, 2022.
- ^Fat Joe: Just Another Bronx Tale | Chazz Palminteri Show | EP 145,retrievedFebruary 19,2024
- ^Mario Cantone: Comedy & Sex in the City | Chazz Palminteri Show | EP 154,retrievedFebruary 19,2024
- ^Shaquille O'Neal | Chazz Palminteri Show | EP 158,retrievedFebruary 19,2024
- ^Rypka, Marsala (December 2009)"With Chazz Palminteri".luxurylv.Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2010.RetrievedOctober 31,2014..
- ^"Blue Bloods: Season 3, Episode 9 Secrets and Lies".IMDb.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^"Blue Bloods: Season 4, Episode 8; Justice Served".IMDb.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^"Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – Mob of the Dead: Chazz Palminteri".May 16, 2013.
- ^"Bullets Over Hollywood (2005)".IMDb.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^"The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.RetrievedNovember 20,2011.
- ^"1988-2013 Award Winner Archives".Chicago Film Critics Association.January 1, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 7,2024.
- ^"36 Years of Nominees and Winners"(PDF).Independent Spirit Awards.RetrievedAugust 13,2021.
- ^"1995 Award Winners".National Board of Review.RetrievedFebruary 7,2024.
- ^"The 1st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards".Screen Actors Guild Awards.RetrievedFebruary 7,2024.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- A Bronx Tale on Broadway | The Official Website
- AskChazz
- Chazz PalminteriatIMDb
- Chazz Palminteriat theInternet Broadway Database
- Chazz Palminteriat theInternet Off-Broadway Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1952 births
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- People of Sicilian descent
- Belmont, Bronx
- Catholics from New York (state)
- Film directors from New York City
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male winners
- Living people
- Male actors from the Bronx
- Sundance Film Festival award winners
- American people of Italian descent