Chazz Palminteri

Last updated

Chazz Palminteri
Chazz Palminteri 2011 Shankbone.JPG
Palminteri in 2011
Born
Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri [1]

(1952-05-15) May 15, 1952 (age 72)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1983–present
Spouse
Gianna Ranaudo
(m. 1992)
Children2
Website chazzpalminteri.net

Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri (born May 15, 1952) [1] is an American actor. He is best known for his film roles in A Bronx Tale (1993), based on his play of the same name, Bullets Over Broadway (1994) for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and The Usual Suspects (1995), as well as his recurring role as Shorty in Modern Family (2010–2019).

Contents

His other notable films include Mulholland 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), and Legend (2015). He is also known for his recurring roles in Wiseguy (1989), Kojak (2005), Rizzoli & Isles (2010–2014) and Godfather of Harlem (2019–2021).

Early life

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 the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx. [3] Palminteri is of Sicilian origin; his grandparents, Calogero Palminteri and Rosa Bonfante, married in 1908, and emigrated to live in the United States 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 graduated from Theodor Roosevelt high school in the Bronx in 1965 [4]

He struggled to become an actor, splitting his time between acting in off-Broadway plays and moonlighting as a bouncer, alongside Dolph Lundgren. [5] 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. [6]

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. [7] Palminteri states that he began writing the play after being fired for refusing entry to super agent Swifty. [8] [9] 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. [10]

Palminteri starred opposite Kenny D'Aquila in D'Aquila's play, Unorganized Crime. [11] [12] 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. [13]

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. [14] The film was a commercial and critical success. [15] 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. [16] 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; 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 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.

Palminteri with his wife Gianna Ranaudo in New York City, 2010. Gianna Ranaudo Chazz Palminteri Shankbone 2010.jpg
Palminteri with his wife Gianna Ranaudo in New York City, 2010.

On February 15, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Palminteri launched The Chazz Palminteri Show podcast on YouTube. [18] Palmintieri's guests on the podcast have included William Baldwin, [19] Kathrine Narducci, [20] Fat Joe, [21] Mario Cantone, [22] and Shaquille O'Neal. [23]

Personal life

Palminteri lives in Westchester County, New York, in the town of Bedford. He describes himself as a "very spiritual", devout Roman Catholic. [24] He married Gianna Ranaudo in 1992, and together they have two children. He is a self-avowed New York Yankees fan.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Home Free AllTruck 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 LoSpecchioAlso writer
1994 Bullets Over Broadway Cheech
1995 The Usual Suspects Dave Kujan
The Perez Family Lt. John Pirelli
The Last Word Ricky
Jade Matt Gavin
1996 Diabolique Guy Baran
Faithful Tony
Mulholland Falls 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 SmokeyVoice
2001 Down to Earth King
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure BusterVoice; direct-to-video
One Eyed King Eddie Dugan
2002 Poolhall Junkies Joe
2004 One Last Ride Tweat
Noel ArizonaAlso director
2005 Animal KassadaDirect-to-video
In the Mix Frank
Hoodwinked! WoolworthVoice
2006 Running Scared Detective Rydell
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Monty
PushVince
Little Man Walken
Arthur and the Minimoys Travel AgentVoice
2007The BodyguardLee Maxwell
The Dukes George
2008 Yonkers Joe Yonkers Joe
Jolene Sal
2009 Once More with Feeling Frank GregorioDirect-to-video
2010 Hollywood & Wine Geno Scarpaci
2012 Mighty Fine Joe Fine
The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure Marvin "Milky" Milkshake
2013 Once Upon a Time in Queens Ben Rose
Metegol Ermitaño / StinkyVoice; American dub
Final RecourseDr. Tomman
2014 Henry & Me Babe Ruth Voice
2015 Legend Angelo Bruno
2019 Vault Raymond L. S. Patriarca
2020CloverTony

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Hill Street Blues Sonny CappelitoEpisode: "Bald Ambition"
1987 Matlock MP Sgt. MarcyEpisode: "The Court-Martial: Part 2"
Glory YearsDrummondTV movie
1989 Peter Gunn Soldier
Dallas FrankEpisode: "He-e-ere's Papa!"
Valerie LeslieEpisode: "Viva Las Vegas"
1st & Ten: The Championship AlEpisode: "Duty Call"
Wiseguy Peter Alatorre / Sal RosselliRecurring cast: Season 3
1990 Sydney TonyEpisode: "Love Ya, Babe"
1997The DirectorsHimselfEpisode: "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 HimselfMain host
Bravo ProfilesHimselfEpisode: "Rod Steiger"
Boss of Bosses Paul Castellano TV movie
2003 AFI Life Achievement Award HimselfEpisode: "A Tribute to Robert De Niro"
Biography HimselfEpisode: "Humphrey Bogart"
2004 Dr. Vegas Duke WalcottEpisode: "Lust for Life"
2005 Kojak Captain Frank McNeilRecurring cast
2010 Celebrity Ghost Stories HimselfEpisode: "Episode #2.4"
2010–14 Rizzoli & Isles Frank Rizzoli Sr.Recurring cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 3-4
2010–19 Modern Family ShortyGuest Cast: Season 1, 3-5 & 9-10
2011 Rocco's Dinner Party HimselfEpisode: "Ultimate Summer Party"
2012 The Haunting of... HimselfEpisode: "Chazz Palminteri"
2012–13 Blue Bloods Angelo GalloGuest Cast: Season 3-4 [25] [26]
2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Perry CannavaroEpisode: "Jersey Breakdown"
2017 Kevin Can Wait VincentEpisode: "Plus One Is the Loneliest Number"
2017–18 Voltron: Legendary Defender BurrVoice; guest cast: Season 4 & 8
2019–21 Godfather of Harlem Joseph Bonanno Recurring cast: Season 1-2
2021 Law & Order: Organized Crime Manfredi SinatraEpisode: "What Happens in Puglia"
2021–23GravesendCesar TremaldoRecurring cast: Season 2
2023 Bubble Guppies Tiny the SlugVoice; episode: "A Slow Day in Zippy City!"

Video games

YearGameRoleNotes
2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Salvatore "Sal" DeLucaFeatured on 2013's "Uprising" downloadable content. [27]

Documentary

YearTitleNotes
1996Little Italy
1997 Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's
1998Italians in America
2005Bullets Over Hollywood [28]
2008Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies
2014Journey to Sundance
2016Davi's Way

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultsRef.
1994 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Bullets Over Broadway Nominated [29]
1994 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNominated
1994 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [30]
1994 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male Won [31]
1994 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated [32]
1995 National Board of Review Awards Best Acting by an Ensemble The Usual Suspects Won [33]
1996 Sant Jordi Awards Best Foreign Actor A Bronx Tale , Bullets Over Broadway, and The Usual SuspectsWon
2006 Sundance Film Festival Best Ensemble Performance A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Won

Theatre work

Broadway

Off-Broadway

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References

  1. 1 2 Chazz Palminteri bio Archived September 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine . Chazzpalminteri.net. Retrieved on November 19, 2013.
  2. Duggan, Dennis (December 24, 1989). "A Playwright (And an Actor) Grows in the Bronx". Newsday. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  3. Allis, Sam (March 22, 2009). "All that Chazz". Boston.com. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  4. Wallenberg, Christopher (March 31, 2019). "Chazz Palminteri and the real-life inspiration for 'A Bronx Tale' are forever intertwined". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. "Dolph Lundgren: Grace Jones would bring as many as five girls back... 'Exhausting'". The Irish Times . November 23, 2018.
  6. "11 Surprising Facts About A Bronx Tale". www.mentalfloss.com. September 28, 2018.
  7. The Villager, Vol. 77, No. 23; November 7–13, 2007
  8. "Broadway Names with Julie James," On Broadway, SiriusXM, October 11, 2012.
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  10. "Cheri, Based on Colette's Classic Novella, Begins Performances Off-Broadway". Broadway.com. November 19, 2013.
  11. "Kenny D'Aquila". IMDb .
  12. "'Unorganized Crime' a quirky mob-family melodrama". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2014.
  13. "Chazz Palminteri Talks New Play 'Unorganized Crime,' Getting His Start from Robert DeNiro (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter . May 8, 2014.
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  15. Kachka, Boris (October 14, 2007). "How 'A Bronx Tale' Got Told – New York Magazine". Nymag.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  16. Natalie Abrams (October 26, 2009). "Elizabeth Banks and Chazz Palminteri to Guest-Star on Modern Family". TVGuide.com.
  17. "Chazz: A Bronx Original Closes". Baltimore magazine. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  18. "Chazz Palminteri Show - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  19. "A Chat With Billy Baldwin". YouTube, Chazz Palminteri Show. March 1, 2021.
  20. "Spirituality of Acting with Kathrine Narducci". YouTube, Chazz Palminteri Show. October 3, 2022.
  21. Fat Joe: Just Another Bronx Tale | Chazz Palminteri Show | EP 145 , retrieved February 19, 2024
  22. Mario Cantone: Comedy & Sex in the City | Chazz Palminteri Show | EP 154 , retrieved February 19, 2024
  23. Shaquille O'Neal | Chazz Palminteri Show | EP 158 , retrieved February 19, 2024
  24. Rypka, Marsala (December 2009) "With Chazz Palminteri". luxurylv.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2014..
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  29. "The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved November 20, 2011.
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