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1-17 of 17
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Danny Aiello was an American actor of Italian descent, and enjoyed a lengthy career in film. 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).
Aiello was born in Manhattan, New York City on June 20, 1933. His parents were laborer Daniel Louis Aiello and seamstress Frances Pietrocova. Frances eventually lost her eyesight, and became legally blind.. In response, Daniel abandoned his wife and six children. Danny resented his father's actions and would later refuse relations with him for decades. The two reconciled in 1993, when Danny was 60-years-old.
In 1940, Aiello moved to South Bronx. He was educated at James Monroe High School, located in the Soundview section of the Bronx. In 1949, Aiello dropped out of school and joined the United States Army. He was only 16-years-old, and lied about his age in order to enlist. Aiello served in the army for 3 years, and he was discharged in 1952. He returned to New York City, where he supported himself through various jobs.
In 1955, Aiello married Sandy Cohen. They had four children, including actor Danny Aiello III (1957-2010). In the 1960s, Aiello worked for Greyhound Lines, an intercity bus common carrier. He served as president of New York Local 1202 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, a labor organization representing the company's workers.
In 1967, Greyhound Lines changed its bus driver schedules, and Aiello led the workers to protest in a wildcat strike. The strike lasted for a single day. It lacked the authorization by the parent labor union, and Aiello was suspended for his actions.
Aiello eventually pursued an acting career, and started appearing in films during the early 1970s. His earliest credited role was playing baseball player Horse in the sports drama "Bang the Drum Slowly" (1973), at the age of 40. He worked alongside up-and-coming actor Robert De Niro (1943-), who gained acclaim for his performance in the film.
Aiello had a minor role as small-time gangster Tony Rosato in the crime film "The Godfather Part II" (1974). His one scene had him performing a hit on high-ranking gangster Francesco "Frank" Pentangeli (played by Michael V. Gazzo), who had betrayed the Corleone family. Aiello ad-libbed the line "Michael Corleone says hello!"
Aiello eventually had a co-lead role in the neo-noir "Defiance" (1980), as one of of several people who join forces against a powerful gang. Also in 1980, he played Dominic Ginetti in "A Family Of Strangers", an ABC Afterschool Special. For his role, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming, the first of several awards in his acting career.
He gained further acclaim for his role as the cop Morgan in the crime drama "Fort Apache, The Bronx" (1981). He played a corrupt police chief in the crime drama "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984), and the character was named after him as "Vincent Aiello". In this role, Aiello performer along Robert De Niro again, as De Niro was the film's lead actor.
Aiello performed in two films directed by Woody Allen (1935-). The first was the fantasy comedy "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985), where Aiello played the abusive husband Monk. The second was the comedy-drama "Radio Days" (1987).
Aiello gained a supporting role in the detective television series "Lady Blue" (1985-1986). He played police lieutenant Terry McNichols, a leading member of the Violent Crimes Division of the Chicago Police Department, and the boss of protagonist Katy Mahoney (played by Jamie Rose). McNichols was portrayed as a boss appreciative of Mahoney's unorthodox methods of investigation, but concerned by her overly violent behavior.
The series initially received high-ratings, but was considered as too violent for television. It attracted protests by watchdog organization, such as the National Coalition on Television Violence. When ratings fell, the series was canceled. The series lasted for a single season, and 14 episodes. Aiello would not gain a recurring television role again until the late 1990s.
Aiello played the protagonist's father in the video clip "Papa Don't Preach" (1986), based on a hit song by Madonna (1958-). He then recorded his own answer song, called , "Papa Wants the Best for You".
In 1987, Aiello played the protagonist's fiance Johnny Cammareri in the romantic comedy "Moonstruck. It was a then-rare sympathetic role for him. His role was critically well-received.
Aiello gained his most acclaimed role when cast as pizzeria owner Salvatore "Sal" Fragione in the comedy-drama film "Do the Right Thing" (1989), concerning racial tensions in Brooklyn,. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, but the award was won by rival actor Denzel Washington (1954-). He was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, but this award was also won by Denzel Washington., The film critics' associations of Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles each named Aiello the best supporting actor of the year.
Aiello following roles included appearances in the horror film "Jacob's Ladder" (1990) and the comedy-drama "29th Street" (1991). He played nightclub owner and assassin Jack Ruby (1911-1967) in the biographical film "Ruby" (1992). He played film director Harry Stone in the film "The Pickle", a satire of big-budget Hollywood films. He appeared dressed in drag in "Prêt-à-Porter", a satire of the fashion industry.
He next had the lead roe of Joe Lieberman in the award-winning short film "Lieberman in Love" (1995), and politician Frank Anselmo in the thriller "City Hall" (1996),
Aiello had a notable television role as crime lord Don Domenico Clericuzio in the mini-series "The Last Don" (1997), an adaptation of a 1996 crime novel by Mario Puzo. The series depicts Domenico as an aging mafia leader, who oversees plans for his succession. Aiello returned to the role in the sequel miniseries "The Last Don II", where Domenico dies and is succeeded by a much younger relative.
Aiello remained active as an actor through the 2000s and 2010s, although this period had few highlights for his career. He died in December 2019 at hospital, following a short illness. He was 86-years-old. His funeral was held at the Riverside Memorial Chapel on the Upper West Side. Director Spike Lee (1957-) delivered an eulogy at the funeral, remarking on his love for Aiello despite their political differences.- Tatsuo Umemiya was born on 11 March 1938 in Harbin, Manchuria, China. He was an actor, known for Prince of Space (1959), Abashiri bangaichi: Fubuki no tôsô (1967) and Prince of Space: Spaceship of Fear (1959). He was married to Claudia Umemiya and Setsuko Daimon. He died on 12 December 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.
- Production Designer
- Art Department
- Art Director
Nick Mansfield was born on 6 December 1982 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Nick was a production designer and art director, known for Friend of the World (2020), The Music of Erich Zann (2019) and South of 8 (2016). Nick died on 12 December 2019 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.- Albert Jelenic was born on 3 January 1944 in Zdrelac, Pasman Island, Croatia, Yugoslavia (now Zdrelac, Pasman Island, Croatia). He died on 12 December 2019 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Gollapudi Maruthi Rao was born on 14 April 1939 in Vizianagaram, Madras Presidency, British India [now Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India]. He was an actor and writer, known for Papam Pasivaadu (1972), Deshoddharakudu (1986) and Chelleli Kapuram (1971). He died on 12 December 2019.- Actor
- Writer
Eberhard Mellies was born on 8 June 1929 in Schlawe, Pomerania, Germany [now Slawno, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland]. He was an actor and writer, known for Der Teufelskreis (1982), Der Frühling braucht Zeit (1965) and Tatort (1970). He was married to Ruth Langer. He died on 12 December 2019 in Berlin, Germany.- Soundtrack
In the late fifties, the first nationally successful "Rock n'Roll" singer to come out of Detroit. He was born in Windsor, Ontario and moved with his parents to Hazel Park, Michigan when he was two. He was taught to play the guitar by his father. He later took up singing and songwriting. In 1957, at the age of 19, he signed with ABC-Paramount, and later recorded for Carlton and Epic. "My True Love"/ "Leroy" were his double-sided breakthrough hits in 1958. These were followed by "I Never Felt Like This"/ "Bela", "The Way I Walk", "Goodbye Baby", "Burning Bridges", "There She Goes", "It Only Happened Yesterday" and the very somber "What In The World's Come Over You" which has become a rock standard. He continues to tour today.- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Chico Teixeira was a director and writer, known for A Casa de Alice (2007), Absence (2014) and Criaturas Que Nasciam em Segredo (1995). He died on 12 December 2019 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.- Peter Snell was married to Miki Hervey and ???. He died on 12 December 2019 in Dallas, Texas, USA.
- Phil Brigandi was born on 29 June 1959 in Orange, California, USA. He died on 12 December 2019 in Orange, California, USA.
- Gunnar Smoliansky was born on 11 July 1933 in Sweden. Gunnar died on 12 December 2019 in Sweden.
- Music Department
Nivaldo Cerqueira is known for Claudia Leitte: Negalora - Íntimo (2012), Claudia Leitte: Axemusic - Ao Vivo (2014) and Claudia Leitte: Ao Vivo em Copacabana (2008). He died on 12 December 2019 in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Dalton Baldwin was born on 19 December 1931 in Summit, New Jersey, USA. He is known for Too Beautiful for You (1989), Music Now (1968) and Formule 1 (1982). He died on 12 December 2019 in Kunming, Yunnan, China.- Vaughan Johnson was born on 24 March 1962 in Morehead City, North Carolina, USA. He was married to Shirley Ardoin. He died on 12 December 2019 in North Carolina, USA.
- Niki Grant was born in 1931 in Southall, Middlesex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Hancock's Half Hour (1956), The Good Old Days (1953) and You're Welcome (1956). She was married to Norman Grant. She died on 12 December 2019 in Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK.
- Bruno Mantura was an actor, known for Strada Pia (1983) and La scoperta del sig. Capogrossi (2001). He died on 12 December 2019 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
- Phase2 died on 12 December 2019 in New York City, New York, USA.