Chazz Palminteri

Early life Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri was born on May 15, 1952, in the Bronx, New York. He is the son of Rose (née Anello) (1921–2016), a homemaker, and Lorenzo Palminteri (1919–2008), a bus driver. He was raised in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx. Palminteri is of Sicilian descent. All four of his grandparents were born in Sicily and emigrated to the United States. Both of his parents were born in New York. His paternal grandparents, Calogero Palminteri and Rosa Bonfante, married in 1908 and emigrated in 1910 from Menfi in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. At the age of nine, Palminteri allegedly witnessed the murder of a mobster in front of his apartment building; the police questioned him, but he maintained that he did not see the incident.

He struggled to become an actor, splitting his time between acting in off-Broadway plays and moonlighting as a bouncer, alongside Dolph Lundgren. In 1988, Palminteri was working at a New York nightclub where a party was being thrown for Hollywood talent agent and dealmaker Irving 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 writing A Bronx Tale for himself to star in since he was not being offered any work.

Career Theater Palminteri starred on Broadway in A Bronx Tale, the autobiographical one-man show based on his childhood that he first performed at Theatre West in Los Angeles in 1989. Palminteri states that he began writing the play after being fired for refusing entry to super agent Swifty Lazar. The Broadway production, directed by Jerry Zaks and with music by John Gromada, began previews October 4, 1988, at the Walter Kerr Theatre and opened on October 25, running for 18 weeks. Palminteri plays 18 roles in A Bronx Tale, which depicts a rough childhood on the streets of the Bronx. The play ran for two months at Playhouse 91 in 1989.

Palminteri starred opposite Kenny D'Aquila in D'Aquila's play, Unorganized Crime. Palminteri always appreciated the shot that Robert De Niro gave him, so he in turn agreed to star in D'Aquila's mafia-themed drama.

Palminteri performed in the Broadway musical version of A Bronx Tale in 2018.

Film career Robert De Niro saw Palminteri's Broadway show of A Bronx Tale in 1990, and the two partnered together to adapt the play into a film. 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. The film was a commercial and critical success. In 1994, Palminteri played mob henchman Cheech in the black comedy film Bullets Over Broadway, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Palminteri also had performances in films such as The Usual Suspects, The Perez Family, Jade, and Diabolique, as well as comedic roles in films such as Oscar, Analyze This and Down to Earth.

During its run, he appeared in many advertisements for Vanilla 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 various animated films, the most notable being Smokey in Stuart Little and Woolworth in Hoodwinked.

He made his directorial debut with an episode of Oz, then the television film Women vs. Men and the 2004 feature film Noel.

Palminteri's recent acting efforts include A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Running Scared, and Arthur and the Minimoys.

In 2004, he received the "Indie Hero Award" from the Method Fest Independent Film Festival for his artistic achievements in film.

Television On January 20, 2010, Palminteri guested on Modern Family and played the same character on the November 2, 2011, episode. Palminteri has reprised the role twice more in season 5. In June 2010, Palminteri began guest-starring on the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles as Frank Rizzoli, Sr. He guest starred twice on the CBS drama Blue Bloods as Angelo Gallo, a mob lawyer and childhood friend of main character Frank Reagan.

Palminteri portrayed deceased mobster Paul Castellano in the 2001 TV film Boss of Bosses.

Other work In 2011, Palminteri opened a restaurant, Chazz: A Bronx Original, in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood; its main menu offerings were coal-fired pizza and Italian food. The restaurant closed in 2015. In 2016, he opened Chazz Palminteri Ristorante Italiano in New York City. In 2021, he opened Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant in White Plains, New York, with another location in New York City.

Palminteri did the voice acting for the Call of Duty: Black Ops II character Sal De Luca in the zombies map Mob of the Dead, and his likeness was used for the character as well.

On February 15, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Palminteri launched The Chazz Palminteri Show podcast on YouTube. Palminteri's guests on the podcast have included William Baldwin, Kathrine Narducci, Fat Joe, Mario Cantone, and Shaquille O'Neal.

Personal life

Palminteri lives in Westchester County, New York, in the town of Bedford. He describes himself as a "very spiritual", devout Roman Catholic. He married Gianna Ranaudo in 1992, and together they have two children.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1983 Home Free All Truck Hijacker 1985 The Last Dragon Hood No. 2 1991 Oscar Connie 1992 Innocent Blood Tony Silva There Goes the Neighborhood Lyle Corrente 1993 A Bronx Tale "Sonny" LoSpecchio Also writer 1994 Bullets Over Broadway "Cheech" 1995 The Usual Suspects US Customs Agent Dave Kujan The Perez Family Lieutenant John Pirelli The Last Word Ricky Jade Matt Gavin 1996 Diabolique Guy Baran Faithful Tony Also Writer Mulholland Falls Detective Elleroy Coolidge 1998 Scar City Lieutenant Laine Devon Hurlyburly Phil A Night at the Roxbury Benny Zadir 1999 Analyze This Primo Sidone The Book That Wrote Itself Mr. Palminteri Stuart Little Smokey Voice 2001 Down to Earth King Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure Buster Voice; direct-to-video One Eyed King Detective Eddie Dugan 2002 Poolhall Junkies Joe 2004 One Last Ride Tweat Noel Arizona Also director 2005 Animal Kassada Direct-to-video In the Mix Frank Pacelli Hoodwinked! Woolworth Voice 2006 Running Scared Detective Rydell A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Monty Montiel Push Vince Little Man Mr. Walken Arthur and the Minimoys Travel Agent Voice 2007 The Bodyguard Lee Maxwell The Dukes George 2008 Yonkers Joe Joe "Yonkers Joe" Jolene Sal Fontaine 2009 Once More with Feeling Frank Gregorio Direct-to-video 2010 Hollywood & Wine Geno Scarpaci 2012 Mighty Fine Joe Fine The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure Milky Marvin The Milkshake 2013 Once Upon a Time in Queens Ben Rose Metegol Ermitaño / Stinky Voice; American dub Final Recourse Dr. Tomman 2014 Henry & Me Babe Ruth Voice 2015 Legend Angelo Bruno 2019 Vault Raymond L. S. Patriarca 2020 Clover Tony TBA Bad News on the Doorstep Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 Hill Street Blues "Sonny" Cappelito Episode: "Bald Ambition" 1987 Matlock MP Sergeant Marcy Episode: "The Court-Martial: Part 2" Glory Years Drummond TV movie 1989 Peter Gunn Soldier 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" Excellent Cadavers Giovanni Falcone TV movie 2001 An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson Himself Main host Bravo Profiles Himself Episode: "Rod Steiger" Boss of Bosses Paul Castellano TV movie 2003 AFI Life Achievement Award Himself Episode: "A Tribute to Robert De Niro" Biography Himself 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" 2010–2014 Rizzoli & Isles Frank Rizzoli Sr. Recurring cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 3-4 2010–2019 Modern Family "Shorty" Guest Cast: Season 1, 3-5 & 9-10 2011 Rocco's Dinner Party Himself Episode: "Ultimate Summer Party" 2012 The Haunting of... Himself Episode: "Chazz Palminteri" 2012–2013 Blue Bloods Angelo Gallo Guest Cast: Season 3-4 2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Perry Cannavaro Episode: "Jersey Breakdown" 2017 Kevin Can Wait Vincent Episode: "Plus One Is the Loneliest Number" 2017–2018 Voltron: Legendary Defender Burr Voice; guest cast: Season 4 & 8 2019–2021 Godfather of Harlem Joseph Bonanno Recurring cast: Season 1-2 2021 Law & Order: Organized Crime Manfredi Sinatra Episode: "What Happens in Puglia" 2021–2023 Gravesend Cesar Tremaldo Recurring cast: Season 2 2023 Bubble Guppies Tiny The Slug Voice; episode: "A Slow Day in Zippy City!"

Video games Year Game Role Notes 2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Salvatore "Sal" DeLuca Featured on 2013's "Uprising" downloadable content.

Documentary Year Title Notes 1996 Little Italy 1997 Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's 1998 Italians in America 2005 Bullets Over Hollywood 2008 Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies 2014 Journey to Sundance 2016 Davi's Way

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref. 1994 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Bullets Over Broadway 1994 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 1994 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actor 1994 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male 1994 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role 1995 National Board of Review Awards Best Acting by an Ensemble The Usual Suspects 1996 Sant Jordi Awards Best Foreign Actor A Bronx Tale, Bullets Over Broadway, and The Usual Suspects 2006 Sundance Film Festival Best Ensemble Performance A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

Theatre work Broadway 2007 – A Bronx Tale: The Musical – performer 2013 – Human – performer and writer 2014 – Unorganized Crime – Sal Sicuso 2016 – A Bronx Tale: The Musical – writer and performer

Off-Broadway 1989 – A Bronx Tale (play) – writer and performer 2002 – The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui – Ernesto Roma