Danny Aiello, known for his turn as Sal the pizza-joint owner in Do the Right Thing (1989) and for portraying Chers lovelorn suitor in Moonstruck (1987), died in December 2019 at 86. He had bit parts in feature films and won an Emmy in 1980 for the TV show A Family of Strangers. (2012) and Afterburn: The Creek Fire Documentary (2021). Once he got arrested for stealing a chocolate bar from Woolworths and was taken to the 41st Precinct police station (that would be Fort Apache). 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Danny Aiello, the Brooklyn-born, Oscar-nominated character actor who died at 86 Thursday, was, among many things, a paradigm of the late bloomer and an inspiration for anybody who believes their . var rcds = document.getElementById("rcjsload_b42b6d"); His literary agent Jennifer De Chiara told USA Today: "The world has lost one of its greatest actors who also happened to be a wonderful human being. He has appeared in several films including The Godfather: Part II, Once Upon a Time in America, The Front, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Lon: The Professional, Lucky Number Slevin, Do the Right Thing and 2 Days in the Valley, to name a few. Actor Rick Aiello, who starred in The Sopranos, Twin Peaks and Do The Right Thing alongside his father, the late Danny Aiello, has died. His nephew is play-by-play broadcaster Michael Kay. Danny Aiello, the actor from Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and Norman Jewison's Moonstruck, died on Thursday night after a reported sudden illness. Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. began starring in movies in the early 1970s. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Another aspect of "One Moment" that will touch your heart is that it posthumously stars legendary actor Danny Aiello. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. In a 2011 interview withBackstage, Aiello said acting was more important than ever after his sons death. Buon viaggio , So very sad to hear that Danny Aiello has died. One of six kids, Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. was born in New York City on June 20, 1933. Rick's elder brother Danny Aiello III, a stuntman, also died of pancreatic cancer in 2010 at the . Danny Aiello, the Oscar-nominated star of "Do the Right Thing," has died at the age 86. Aiello is survived by his wife, Arlene Urichich, and their two children. He was a superb actor and a lovely person. Between 1985 and 1987, he did a number of big screen projects including The Purple Rose of Cairo, Radio Days and Moonstruck. He studied at James Monroe High School. Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Danny Aiello was an American actor. Still, the experience made him feel for the first time that he belonged as an actor. Rick Aiello is survived by wife Arlene and their children Ricky Jr. and Tori; brother Jamie; sister Stacey; and mother Sandy Aiello. December 13, 2019, 10:41 AM Danny Aiello, the acclaimed actor who rose to prominence with roles in "The Godfather Part II" and "Do The Right Thing," has passed away at 86 years old. Thank you for everything, Danny. The actor and his father Danny starred together in Do the Right Thing, both also appearing in the TV series Dellaventura and later costarring in the 1998 film A Brooklyn State of Mind. Im the only Italian American in the country that hasnt been in his pictures.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Aiello sang Fly Me to the Moon in Lasse HallstromsOnce Around(1991), and he wound up releasing a handful of jazz albums, including 2004sI Just Wanted to Hear the Words, which made it to No. Rick Aiello, the son of late actor Danny Aiello who appeared with his father in such films as Do the Right Thing, A Brooklyn State of Mind and Harlem Nights, died Monday of pancreatic cancer in a Warwick, New York, hospital. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. In 2019 he could be seen in Making A Deal With The Devil and The Last Big Save. 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Actor Danny Aiello has passed away at age 86, according to TMZ. rcds.appendChild(rcel); His father had roots in Naples, Campania. Fingerhut remembers him as a great uncle who was close to all his nieces and nephews, and a strong guy., With more than 60 acting credits, Aiello followed in his fathers footsteps, appearing alongside him in Spike Lees 1989 classic Do the Right Thing. His father earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Salvatore Sal Fragione andAiello played Officer Long, a role hed reprise a couple years later in Lees Jungle Fever.. The actor also played Don Domenico Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don. Except I saw a little bit of beauty in that I Four years later, he made a comic appearance in drag for the fashion industry flick Prt--Porter. To support his wife and four children, he would take any odd job going. 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Danny Aiello was born on June 20, 1933 in Manhattan, New York, USA, to parents Daniel Louis Aiello, Sr. and Frances. "The family asks for privacy at this time. And he could never figure out why Martin Scorsese never cast him. It is with profound sorrow to report that Danny Aiello, beloved husband, father, grandfather, actor and musician passed away last night after a brief illness, his family said in a statement. Rick is survived by his spouse, their two children Ricky Jr. and Tori, his brother Jamie, his sister Stacey, and his mother Sandy. Dannys paternal grandfather was Guiseppe/Joseph Aiello (the son of Amiello/Aniello Aiello and Rosa Polio/Paula). May You Rest In PARADISE.. Danny was the son of Frances (Pietriacoca/Pietrocova) and Daniel Louis Aiello. I [finally] said to him, If you give me an opportunity to add something to this character I know this character, I may know him better than you. He said Lee listened to his recommendations and allowed Aiello to supply bits of dialogue, like when Sal yells at the African American kids in his pizza place and says, They grew up on my food., Lee posted on Instagram: Just Found Out My Brother DANNY AIELLO Made His Transition Last Night. In 2011, he starred as a shoemaker in the play The Shoemaker, directed by Antony Marsellis. Early life. Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Known for Motion 8.5 TV Series Producer 2009-2014 92 eps My Family Recipe Rocks! Send us a tip using our annonymous form. At the age of 16 he lied about his age in order to join the US Army. Raffaele was born in Italy. One of his first films was in Robert De Niro's movie Bang The Drum Slowly. He went on to do the films Once Around with Holly Hunter and Hudson Hawk with Bruce Willis, and he also made a Broadway appearance with Harvey Keitel in Those the River Keeps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtZBH41Ue1w. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Yes, you are, La Russo replied, you just dont know it yet.. Service arrangements will be announced at a later date.". In a similar vein, he battled with Paul Newman inFort Apache the Bronx(1981), portraying a crooked cop who tosses a kid off a roof. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. A service for the popular actor is set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Riverside Memorial Chapel at 180 W. 76th St. in Manhattan. Aiello died on Thursday night at a medical facility in New Jersey, TMZ reports. He was once nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Salvatore "Sal" Frangione in the comedy-drama film "Do the Right Thing" (1989). Reports have said he was dealing with an infection related to an injection site and died shortly after his family left following a visit, according to TMZ. He has also worked on television, with his most notable role being in the miniseries The Last Don. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Cohen, and their three children. Danny Aiello: Spike Lee, Mia Farrow, Cher and More Remember 'Do the Right Thing' Actor. Daniel Louis Aiello Jr., popularly known as Danny Aiello, is an American actor and musician. Samuel L. Jackson's Life and Career in Photos, Celebrities Who Starred With Their Kids in Movies and TV Shows, A Tribute to Black Icons from Harry Belafonte to Whitney Houston by the Family Members Who Know Them Best, 'Do the Right Thing' and 'Moonstruck' Actor Danny Aiello Dies at 86, A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents. He then starred in the next two La Russo efforts, 1976sWheelbarrow Closersand 1979sKnockout(as a boxer); both played on Broadway as well. 'Sex and the City' Cast: Where Are They Now? Aiello played Biggie, a pop singer from Hoboken, New Jersey, in La RussosLampost Reunion, and he and it went fromconverted churchesto Broadway in 1975, when it earned a Tony nomination for best play and the actor a Theatre World award. "For actors, that's no time at all. USA TODAY. He had five siblings. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Aiello, whonever took an acting class, was considered the favorite in the supporting actor race entering the Oscar telecast, but he lost out to Denzel Washington ofGlory. For actors, that's no time at all. Actor Rick Aiello, who starred in "The Sopranos," "Twin Peaks" and "Do The Right Thing" alongside his father, the late Danny Aiello, has died. Danny, We Made Cinema History Together With DO THE RIGHT THING. His parents were both of Italian descent. D'Aiello: Related names: D'Azeglio Gelli: Aiello (or Ajello) is a surname of Italian origin. But he never stopped. 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