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 borough of New York City, 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. [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 from a club when, as a doorman, he refused entry to super agent Swifty Lazar. [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, Chazz 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.

The Chazz Palmenteri Show Podcast

On February 15, 2021, during the COVID pandemic, Palmintieri 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
1987Glory YearsDrummondTelevision film
1989 Peter Gunn Soldier
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 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
1995 The Usual Suspects Dave Kujan National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
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
Excellent Cadavers Giovanni Falcone Television film
Stuart Little Smokey (voice)
2001 Down to Earth King
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure Buster (voice)Video
Boss of Bosses Paul Castellano Television film
One Eyed King Eddie Dugan
2002 Poolhall Junkies Joe
2004 One Last Ride Tweat
Noel Arizona
2005 Animal KassadaVideo
In the Mix Frank
Hoodwinked! Woolworth (voice)
2006 Running Scared Detective Rydell
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Monty
PushVince
Little Man Walken
Arthur and the Minimoys Travel Agent (voice)
2007The BodyguardLee Maxwell
The Dukes George
2008 Yonkers Joe Yonkers Joe
Jolene Sal
2009 Once More with Feeling Frank GregorioVideo
2010 Hollywood & Wine Geno Scarpaci
2012 Mighty Fine Joe Fine
The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure Marvin Milkshake
2013 Once Upon a Time in Queens Ben Rose
Underdogs Stinky (voice)
Final RecourseDr. Tomman
2014 Henry & Me Babe Ruth (voice)
2015 Legend Angelo Bruno
2019 Vault Raymond Patriarca Sr.
2020CloverTony

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Hill Street Blues Sonny CappelitoEpisode: "Bald Ambition"
1987 Matlock MP Sgt. MarcyEpisode: "The Court-Martial: Part 2"
1989 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"
2001 An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson Himself/HostMain Host
Bravo Profiles HimselfEpisode: "Rod Steiger"
2003 AFI Life Achievement Award Episode: "A Tribute to Robert De Niro"
Biography Episode: "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: seasons 3-4
2010–19 Modern Family ShortyGuest cast: seasons 1, 3-5, and 9-10
2011 Rocco's Dinner Party HimselfEpisode: "Ultimate Summer Party"
2012 The Haunting of... Episode: "Chazz Palminteri"
2012–13 Blue Bloods Angelo Gallo2 episodes [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 Burr (voice)2 episodes
2019–21 Godfather of Harlem Joe Bonanno Recurring role (seasons 1-2)
2021 Law & Order: Organized Crime Manfredi SinatraEpisode: "What Happens in Puglia"
GravesendCesar TremaldoRecurring role (season 2)
2023 Bubble Guppies Tiny the Slug (voice)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]
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, and The Usual SuspectsWon
1994 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Bullets Over BroadwayNominated [33]
2006 Sundance Film Festival Best Ensemble Performance A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Won

Theatre work

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Pacino</span> American actor (born 1940)

Alfredo James Pacino is an American actor. Considered one of the greatest and most influential actors of the 20th century, Pacino has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, achieving the Triple Crown of Acting. He has also received four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2001, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2007, the National Medal of Arts in 2011, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Pantoliano</span> American actor

Joseph Peter Pantoliano is an American actor who has played over 150 roles across film, television, and theater. He is best known for portraying Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto on the HBO crime drama The Sopranos (1999–2007), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and Cypher in the sci-fi action film The Matrix (1999).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Pesci</span> American actor (born 1943)

Joseph Frank Pesci is an American actor and musician. He is known for portraying tough, volatile characters in a variety of genres and for his collaborations with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in the films Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), and The Irishman (2019). He has received several awards including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award with nominations for three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Aiello</span> American actor (1933–2019)

Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, including The Godfather Part II (1974), The Front (1976), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Hide in Plain Sight (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Moonstruck (1987), Harlem Nights (1989), Do the Right Thing (1989), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Hudson Hawk (1991), Ruby (1992), Léon: The Professional (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Dinner Rush (2000), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006). He played Don Domenico Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don (1997).

Thomas Daniel Mottola is an American businessman, record executive, television producer, theater producer, film producer, investor, and serial entrepreneur. Mottola is Chairman of Mottola Media Group, cofounder of Ntertain Studios, founding partner of Range Media Partners, and was Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columbia label, for nearly 15 years. Since 2000, he has been married to Mexican actress and singer Thalía.

<i>A Bronx Tale</i> 1993 film directed by Robert De Niro

A Bronx Tale is a 1993 American coming-of-age crime drama film directed by and starring Robert De Niro in his directorial debut and produced by Jane Rosenthal, adapted from Chazz Palminteri's 1989 play of the same name. It tells the coming-of-age story of an Italian-American boy, Calogero, who, after encountering a local Mafia boss, is torn between the temptations of organized crime and the values of his honest, hardworking father, as well as racial tensions in his community. The Broadway production was converted to film with limited changes, and starred Palminteri and De Niro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving Paul Lazar</span> American lawyer (1907–1993)

Irving Paul "Swifty" Lazar was an American lawyer, talent agent and dealmaker, representing both movie stars and authors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael DeLorenzo</span> American actor

Michael DeLorenzo is an American actor, director, writer, producer, dancer, and musician. He is known for his work in television and film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lillo Brancato</span> American actor (born 1976)

Lillo Brancato Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Calogero “C” Anello in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He also portrayed Matthew Bevilaqua, a young aspiring mobster, on The Sopranos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solo performance</span> Single person telling a story to entertain an audience

A solo performance, sometimes referred to as a one-man show, one-woman show, or one-person show, features a single person telling a story for an audience, typically for the purpose of entertainment. This type of performance comes in many varieties, including autobiographical creations, comedy acts, novel adaptations, vaudeville, poetry, music and dance. In 1996, Rob Becker's Defending the Caveman became the longest-running one-person play in the history of Broadway theatre.

Joseph Edward Barbara is an American television and soap opera actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gromada</span>

John Gromada is a prolific, award-winning composer and sound designer. He is best known for his many scores for theatrical productions in New York on and off-Broadway and in regional theatres. Broadway plays he has scored include the 2014 production of The Elephant Man, starring Bradley Cooper, The Trip to Bountiful with Cicely Tyson, Gore Vidal's The Best Man, Seminar by Theresa Rebeck, Next Fall, Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale, David Auburn's The Columnist and Proof, Lisa Kron's Well, Rabbit Hole, and A Few Good Men; revivals of Prelude to a Kiss, Summer and Smoke, Twelve Angry Men, Torch Song, and A Streetcar Named Desire. His score for the nine-hour production of Horton Foote's The Orphans' Home Cycle was featured at the Hartford Stage Company and Signature Theatre in New York. Gromada also designed the sound for the Broadway production of Bruce Norris' Tony award-winning play, Clybourne Park.

Theatre West is a theatre company in Hollywood, California, the oldest continually-operating theatre company in Los Angeles.

A Bronx Tale is an autobiographical one-man show written and performed by Chazz Palminteri. It tells the coming-of-age story of Calogero Anello, a young New Yorker torn between the temptations of organized crime and the values of his hardworking father. It originally premiered in Los Angeles in 1989, before moving Off-Broadway. A film version involving Palminteri and Robert DeNiro was released in 1993. In 2007, Palminteri performed his one-man show on Broadway and on tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart F. Lane</span> Broadway producer, director, playwright and former actor

Stewart F. Lane is a Broadway producer, director, playwright and former actor. He has also written books, including Let's Put on a Show! and Jews of Broadway. He has also produced in Dublin. In addition to publishing two plays, he has directed across the country, working with Stephen Baldwin, Shannen Doherty, Chazz Palminteri, and more. He is co-owner of the Palace Theatre (Broadway) with the Nederlander Organization and a partner in the Tribeca Grill with Robert De Niro, Sean Penn and Mikhail Baryshnikov. He has written three books: Let's Put on a Show!, Jews on Broadway: An Historical Survey of Performers, Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists and Producers, and Black Broadway: African Americans on the Great White Way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert De Niro</span> American actor (born 1943)

Robert Anthony De Niro is an American actor and film producer. Known for his collaborations with Martin Scorsese, he is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential actors of his generation. De Niro is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2009, De Niro received the Kennedy Center Honors, and earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Vitale</span> American film director

Tony Vitale is an American film director, screenwriter, film producer, and television producer. He is best known for the 1997 film Kiss Me, Guido. More recently, Vitale pioneered the use of Internet Protocol television (IPTV) technologies and broadcast TV programming to help create dedicated OTT streaming channels.

<i>A Bronx Tale</i> (musical) Musical based on the play by the same name

A Bronx Tale is a musical based on the play by the same name with a book by Chazz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Glenn Slater. After a ten-year development process, the original one man show was adapted into a new musical and premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey on February 4, 2016, before opening on Broadway December 1 later that year.

Kenny D'Aquila is an American actor, writer, producer, and singer.

Chazz is an English masculine given name and nickname that is a diminutive form of Charles. Notable people with this name include the following:

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.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. Allis, Sam (March 22, 2009). "All that Chazz". Boston.com. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  4. "Chazz Palminteri and the real-life inspiration for 'A Bronx Tale' are forever intertwined". bostonglobe.com. March 31, 2019.
  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.
  9. Winn, Steven. "Palminteri revisits 'A Bronx Tale'" San Francisco Chronicle , September 23, 2008.
  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.
  14. Vlastelica, Ryan (March 2, 2016). "Chazz Palminteri on A Bronx Tale, Keyser Söze, and Stallone's career advice". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  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..
  25. "Blue Bloods: Season 3, Episode 9 Secrets and Lies". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  26. "Blue Bloods: Season 4, Episode 8; Justice Served". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  27. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – Mob of the Dead: Chazz Palminteri". May 16, 2013.
  28. "Bullets Over Hollywood (2005)". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  29. "The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  30. "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives". Chicago Film Critics Association. January 1, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  31. "36 Years of Nominees and Winners" (PDF). Independent Spirit Awards . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  32. "1995 Award Winners". National Board of Review . Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  33. "The 1st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards . Retrieved February 7, 2024.