Aiello, Danny 1933(?)–

PERSONAL

Full name, Daniel Louis Aiello, Jr.; born June 20, 1933 (some sources say 1936), in New York, NY; son of Daniel Louis (a laborer) and Frances (a seamstress; maiden name, Pietrocova) Aiello; married Sandy Cohen, January 8, 1955; children: Rick (an actor), Danny III (a stunt coordinator), Jamie, Stacey.

Addresses: Agent—International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Manager—Untitled Entertainment, 331 North Maple Dr., 3rd Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Office—Manhattan Pictures International, 369 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017.

Career: Actor, producer, and writer. Manhattan Pictures International, New York, NY, partner. Previously worked in a grocery store, in a bowling alley, as a shoe shiner, as a truck loader, and selling newspapers, 1940s and 1950s; worked as a baggage clerk, then a dispatcher, with the Greyhound bus company, New York City, 1957–67; was a bouncer at the Improvisation (comedy club), New York City; also worked as a pool hustler. Served as president of Local 1202 of the Amalgamated Transit Union; was formerly a union shop steward. Involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Hole in the Wall Gang, and the Frances Aiello Day Treatment Center. Military service: U.S. Army, 1951–54; served in Germany.

Awards, Honors: Theatre World Award, 1975, for Lampost Reunion; Obie Award, distinguished performance, Village Voice, 1978, for Gemini; Emmy Award, best performer in a children's program, and Variety Award, 1980, both for "Family of Strangers"; Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, c. 1985, for Hurlyburly; Gemini Award nomination, best guest performance in a series by an actor or actress, Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, 1988, for Night Heat; Boston Society of Film Critics Award, best supporting actor, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Achievement Award, best supporting actor, Chicago Film Critics Association Award, best supporting actor, 1989, Academy Award nomination, best supporting actor, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture, 1990, all for Do the Right Thing; Career Achievement Award, Motion Picture Bookers Club, 1989; National Board of Review Award (with others), best acting by an ensemble, 1994, for Pret-a-Porter; Faberage Award and two Joseph Jefferson nominations for That Championship Season.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(Unreleased) The Godmother, 1973.

Horse, Bang the Drum Slowly, Paramount, 1973.

Tony Rosato, The Godfather II (also known as Mario Puzo's "The Godfather II"), Paramount, 1976.

Danny La Gattuta, The Front, Columbia, 1976.

(Scenes deleted) Annie Hall, 1977.

Hooch, 1977.

Butch, Fingers, Brut, 1978.

Artie, Blood Brothers (also known as A Father's Love), Warner Bros., 1979.

Sal Carvello, Hide in Plain Sight, United Artists, 1980.

Carmine, Defiance, American International Pictures, 1980.

Morgan, Fort Apache, the Bronx, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981.

Johnson, Chu Chu and the Philly Flash, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981.

Amityville II: The Possession, Orion, 1982.

Police Chief Aiello, Once Upon a Time in America (also known as C'era una volta in America), Warner Bros., 1984.

Mr. Brucker, Old Enough, Orion, 1984.

(Uncredited) Broadway Danny Rose, 1984.

Captain Mike Grasso, Deathmask (also known as Unknown), 1984.

Monk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Orion, 1985.

Carabello, Key Exchange, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985.

Vickers, The Stuff, New World, 1985.

Danny Garoni, The Protector (also known as Wei Long Meng Tan), Warner Bros., 1985.

Captain Mike Gress, Death Mask (also known as Unknown), Art Theatre Guild, 1986.

Conti, Man on Fire (also known as Absinthe and Un uomo sotto tiro), TriStar, 1987.

Rocco, Radio Days, Orion, 1987.

Phil, The Pick-Up Artist, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987.

Johnny Cammareri, Moonstruck, United Artists, 1987.

Charlie Buick, Crack in the Mirror (also known as White Hot), Jubran-Rebo, 1988.

George Sherman, Russicum I Giorni del Diavolo (also known as Russicum and The Third Solution), Columbia, 1988.

Sal, Do the Right Thing, Universal, 1989.

Phil Cantone, Harlem Nights, Paramount, 1989.

Captain Vincent Alcoa, The January Man (also known as January Man), United Artists, 1989.

Louis, Jacob's Ladder (also known as The Inferno and Dante's Inferno), TriStar, 1990.

He Ain't Heavy, 1990.

John Cunningham, Shocktroop (also known as Comrades in Arms and Shock Troop), Republic Pictures Home Video, 1991.

Frank Pesce, Sr., 29th Street, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991.

Joe Bella, Once Around, Universal, 1991.

Chester Grant, The Closer, ION Pictures, 1991.

Tommy Five-Tone, Hudson Hawk, TriStar, 1991.

Carmine Rasso, Mistress (also known as Hollywood Mistress), Tribeca Productions, 1992.

Jack Ruby, Ruby, Triumph Releasing, 1992.

Harry Stone, The Pickle, Columbia, 1993.

Ben Katz, The Cemetery Club (also known as Looking for a Live One), Buena Vista, 1993.

Harry, Me and the Kid, Orion, 1993.

Major Hamilton, Pret-a-Porter (also known as Ready to Wear and Pret-a-Porter: Ready to Wear), Miramax, 1994.

Tony, Leon (also known as The Cleaner, The Professional, and Le professionnel), Columbia/TriStar, 1994.

Ronnie, Save the Rabbits, 1994.

Joseph Scassi, Power of Attorney, Prism Pictures, 1995.

Joe Lieberman, Lieberman in Love (short), Chanticleer Films, 1995.

Al, Mojave Moon, New Moon Productions, 1996.

Councilman Frank Anselmo, City Hall, Columbia/TriStar, 1996.

Gene Paletto, Two Much (also known as Loco de amor), Buena Vista, 1996.

Dosmo Pizzo, 2 Days in the Valley, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1996.

Narrator, Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years after Willowbrook (documentary), Castle Hill Productions, 1996.

Danny Parente, A Brooklyn State of Mind, Brooklyn Pictures, 1997.

Mr. Rathbone, Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis, Goldcrest Films International/BBC Films, 1998.

Phil Devereaux, Wilbur Falls (also known as Dead Silence), 1998.

Noah, Prince of Central Park, 1999.

Vincent Dianni, Eighteen Shades of Dust (also known as Dust, Hitman's Journal, The Sicilian Code, and 18 Shades of Dust), MTI Home Video, 1999.

Joey, Mambo Cafe, Unapix Entertainment, 2000.

Louis Cropa, Dinner Rush, Access Motion Picture Group, 2000.

Noah Cairn, Prince of Central Park, Keystone Entertainment, 2000.

Fabrizio Bernini, Off Key (also known as Desafinado), 2001.

Himself, Cannes: Through the Eyes of the Hunter (documentary short), 2001.

Tony Santini, Mail Order Bride, Small Planet Pictures, 2003.

Nathan, Zeyda and the Hitman, 2004.

Voice of the Dummy, The Fool (short), 2005.

Frank Giorgio, Brooklyn Lobster, Meadowbrook Pictures, 2005.

Narrator, Harry: A Communication Breakdown (documentary), 2006.

Film Work:

Coproducer, Leon (also known as The Cleaner, The Professional, and Le professionnel), Columbia/TriStar, 1994.

Executive producer, Shorty (documentary), 2003.

Executive producer, UnConventional (documentary), 2004.

Television Appearances; Series:

Lieutenant Terrence McNichols, Lady Blue, ABC, 1985–86.

Anthony Dellaventura, Dellaventura, CBS, 1997–98.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Randy Powers, Blood Feud, syndicated, 1983.

Jack Ruby, A Woman Named Jackie, NBC, 1991.

Domenico Clericuzio, Mario Puzo's "The Last Don" (also known as The Last Don), CBS, 1997.

Don Domenico Clericuzio, Mario Puzo's "The Last Don II" (also known as The Last Don II), CBS, 1998.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Carl, The Last Tenant, ABC, 1978.

Bernie Serino, Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II, CBS, 1978.

Martelli, A Question of Honor, CBS, 1982.

Coach Jacobs, Daddy, ABC, 1987.

Chief, Alone in the Neon Jungle (also known as Command in Hell), CBS, 1988.

Master of Ceremonies, The Hustler of Money, 1988.

Detective Mike Sheehan, The Preppie Murder (also known as The Preppy Murder), ABC, 1989.

Duke, Brothers' Destiny (also known as Long Road Home and The Road Home), 1995.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Dominic Ginetti, "Family of Strangers," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1980.

Frank Caruso, The Unforgivable Secret, ABC, 1982.

Himself, Making "Do the Right Thing" (documentary), 1989.

Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990.

Comic Relief IV, HBO, 1990.

Richard Lewis: "I'm Doomed" (documentary), 1990.

Narrator, "Pinocchio" (animated), We All Have Tales, Showtime, 1994.

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way, ABC, 1995.

The NFL at 75: An All-Star Celebration (also known as The NFL 75th Anniversary Celebration), ABC, 1995.

The Italian Americans II: A Beautiful Song (documentary), PBS, 1998.

Comedy Central Presents the New York Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller, Comedy Central, 1999.

Narrator, The Rat Pack (documentary), HBO 1999.

Comedy Central Presents: The New York Friars Club Roast of Rob Reiner, Comedy Central, 2000.

Himself, Last Laugh, 2003.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 39th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1985.

The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990.

The 62nd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1990.

The 63rd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1991.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Frank Ravelli, Car Wash, NBC, 1979.

Lieutenant Terrence McNichols, Lady Blue, ABC, 1985.

Also appeared in Last Laugh at Pips, CBS.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Matty, "Black Thorn," Kojak, CBS, 1976.

The Andros Targets, CBS, 1977.

Nurse, CBS, 1982.

Florist, "Babies: Growth and Development," 3-2-1 Contact, 1983.

Tommy Vale, "The Odds," Tales from the Darkside, 1984.

Night Heat, CBS, 1988.

Later with Bob Costas (also known as Later), NBC, 1989.

Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, 1991.

Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), NBC, 1996.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1997.

Himself, "The Two Hilton Lucases," Cosby, CBS, 1997.

Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC, 2004.

Dinner for Five, Independent Film Channel, 2004.

Good Day Live, syndicated, 2004.

Also appeared as himself, "The Films of Spike Lee," The Directors, Encore.

Stage Appearances:

(Broadway debut) Biggie, Lampost Reunion, Little Theatre (now Helen Hayes Theatre), New York City, 1975.

That Championship Season, Chicago, IL, 1975.

Chester Grant, Wheelbarrow Closers, Bijou Theatre, New York City, 1976.

Fran Geminiani, Gemini, Circle Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1977.

Damie Ruffino, Knockout, Helen Hayes Theatre, 1979.

Easy Money, 1980.

Max Pollack, The Floating Light Bulb, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1981.

Floyd, A Destiny with Half Moon Street, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, FL, 1982.

Phil, Hurlyburly, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1985.

Billy Einhorn, The House of Blue Leaves, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, 1986.

Night of 100 Stars III, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990.

Mike Francisco, Breaking Legs, Pacific Theatre, Cerritos, CA, 1993.

Guy Akens, Adult Entertainment, Truglia Theater, Rich Forum, Stamford Center for the Arts, Stamford, CT, 2002, then Variety Arts Theatre, New York City, 2002–2003.

Also appeared as Phil, Hurlyburly, Westwood Playhouse, Los Angeles, CA.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

I Just Wanted to Hear the Words, 2004.

Music Videos:

Appeared as the father in Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach," video, 1986.

WRITINGS

Screenplays:

Save the Rabbits, 1994.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, 4th ed., St. James Press, 2000.

Periodicals:

Film Comment, July-August, 1991, p. 50.

New York Times, January 21, 1990; February 10, 1991, pp. 13, 19.

New York Times Magazine, January 21, 1990, p. 24.

People, February 19, 1990.