Danny Aiello

Biography

Danny Aiello was an American actor who began appearing in films in the early 1970s, after growing up in Manhattan and the South Bronx. He had an early role as a ballplayer in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) and a walk-on part in The Godfather Part II. Aiello won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1981 for the ABC Afterschool Special A Family of Strangers, and he drew strong notices as a racist New York City officer in Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981). As Sal, the pizzeria owner in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989), he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor, while critics' circles in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles all picked him as best supporting actor. His varied credits include Moonstruck (1987), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Ruby (1992), City Hall (1996), Dinner Rush (2000), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006). Aiello also performed on Broadway and recorded big-band albums.

86years old at death

Born June 20, 1933Manhattan
Died December 12, 2019New Jersey
Star sign: GeminiLast day of the sign, on the Cancer cusp
Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 33
Career span: 45 years1973 to 2018

Genres

Drama70%, 23 films
Comedy55%, 18 films
Crime39%, 13 films
Romance21%, 7 films
Thriller12%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Getting ready for a role
Aiello had a walk-on part as small-time hood Tony Rosato in The Godfather Part II (1974). While rival gangster Frank Pentangeli was being hit, he ad-libbed the line "Michael Corleone says hello!"
Behind the camera
Aiello played Sal, the pizzeria owner, in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. Lee once told him, "Whatever you wanna do, you do," and Aiello wrote a crucial scene with John Turturro ten minutes before it was produced.
A change of course
During the 1960s, Aiello headed New York Local 1202 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represented Greyhound Bus workers. When the company altered bus driver schedules in 1967, he led an unsanctioned wildcat strike.

Danny Aiello movies on Netflix

Little Italy2018IMDb rating 5.7as Carlo Campo
Reach Me2014IMDb rating 4.9as Father Paul
Lucky Number Slevin2006IMDb rating 7.7as Roth
Dinner Rush2000IMDb rating 7.2as Louis Cropa
2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5as Dosmo Pizzo
City Hall1996IMDb rating 6.2as Frank Anselmo
Mojave Moon1996IMDb rating 5.2as Al
Two Much1995IMDb rating 5.4as Gene
The Pickle1993IMDb rating 4.4as Harry Stone
Mistress1992IMDb rating 5.4as Carmine Rasso
Ruby1992IMDb rating 5.5as Jack Ruby
29th Street1991IMDb rating 7.1as Frank Pesce Sr.
Hudson Hawk1991IMDb rating 5.7as Tommy Five-Tone
Once Around1991IMDb rating 6.5as Joe Bella
Jacob's Ladder1990IMDb rating 7.4as Louis
Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9as Salvatore 'Sal' Fragione
Harlem Nights1989IMDb rating 6.1as Phil Cantone
The January Man1989IMDb rating 5.5as Captain Vincent Alcoa
Man on Fire1987IMDb rating 5.8as Conti
Moonstruck1987IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4as Rocco
The Pick-up Artist1987IMDb rating 5.4as Phil Harper
The Purple Rose of Cairo1985IMDb rating 7.6as Monk
The Stuff1985IMDb rating 5.9as Vickers
Deathmask1984IMDb rating 4.7as Capt. Mike Grasso
Old Enough1984IMDb rating 6.3as Mr. Bruckner
Once Upon a Time in America1984IMDb rating 8.3as Police Chief Vincent Aiello
Chu Chu and the Philly Flash1981IMDb rating 4.2as Johnson
Fort Apache, the Bronx1981IMDb rating 6.7as Morgan
Defiance1980IMDb rating 6.1as Carmine
Fingers1978IMDb rating 6.7as Butch
The Front1976IMDb rating 7.3as Danny LaGattuta
Bang the Drum Slowly1973IMDb rating 6.7as Horse

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Do the Right Thing1989 Dramaas Salvatore 'Sal' Fragione
IMDb rating 7.9126K votes
Jacob's Ladder1990 Drama, Horror, Mysteryas Louis
IMDb rating 7.4131K votes
Once Upon a Time in America1984as Police Chief Vincent Aiello
IMDb rating 8.3412K votes
Hudson Hawk1991as Tommy Five-Tone
IMDb rating 5.765K votes
Radio Days1987as Rocco
IMDb rating 7.439K votes
The Purple Rose of Cairo1985as Monk
IMDb rating 7.658K votes
Moonstruck1987as Mr. Johnny Cammareri
IMDb rating 7.279K votes
2 Days in the Valley1996as Dosmo Pizzo
IMDb rating 6.523K votes

Most often with

Woody Allen directed two of these films, John Herzfeld two and James Toback two. Five actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Robert De Niro

Harvey Keitel

Jeff Daniels

Tony Sirico

Tom Signorelli

Bruce Willis

Woody AllenDirector, 2 films

John HerzfeldDirector, 2 films

James TobackDirector, 2 films

Films together

Robert De Niro3 films together, 1973 to 1992
Robert De Niro's page
- Mistress1992IMDb rating 5.4Aiello as Carmine RassoNiro as Evan M. Wright
- Once Upon a Time in America1984IMDb rating 8.3Aiello as Police Chief Vincent AielloNiro as David 'Noodles' Aaronson
- Bang the Drum Slowly1973IMDb rating 6.7Aiello as HorseNiro as Bruce Pearson
Harvey Keitel3 films together, 1978 to 1989
Harvey Keitel's page
- The January Man1989IMDb rating 5.5Aiello as Captain Vincent AlcoaKeitel as Police Commissioner Frank Starkey
- The Pick-up Artist1987IMDb rating 5.4Aiello as Phil HarperKeitel as Alonzo Scolara
- Fingers1978IMDb rating 6.7Aiello as ButchKeitel as Jimmy Fingers
Jeff Daniels3 films together, 1985 to 1996
Jeff Daniels's page
- 2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5Aiello as Dosmo PizzoDaniels as Alvin Strayer
- Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4Aiello as RoccoDaniels as Biff Baxter
- The Purple Rose of Cairo1985IMDb rating 7.6Aiello as MonkDaniels as Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd
Tony Sirico3 films together, 1978 to 1991
Tony Sirico's page
- 29th Street1991IMDb rating 7.1Aiello as Frank Pesce Sr.Sirico as Chink Fortunado
- Defiance1980IMDb rating 6.1Aiello as CarmineSirico as Davey
- Fingers1978IMDb rating 6.7Aiello as ButchSirico as Riccamonza
Tom Signorelli3 films together, 1973 to 1987
Tom Signorelli's page
- The Pick-up Artist1987IMDb rating 5.4Aiello as Phil HarperSignorelli as Marty
- Fingers1978IMDb rating 6.7Aiello as ButchSignorelli as Italian Prisoner
- Bang the Drum Slowly1973IMDb rating 6.7Aiello as HorseSignorelli as Goose Williams
Bruce Willis2 films together, 1991 to 2006
Bruce Willis's page
- Lucky Number Slevin2006IMDb rating 7.7Aiello as RothWillis as Mr. Goodkat
- Hudson Hawk1991IMDb rating 5.7Aiello as Tommy Five-ToneWillis as Hudson Hawk
Woody AllenDirector, 2 films, 1985 to 1987
All films by Woody Allen
- Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4Aiello as Rocco
- The Purple Rose of Cairo1985IMDb rating 7.6Aiello as Monk
John HerzfeldDirector, 2 films, 1996 to 2014
All films by John Herzfeld
- Reach Me2014IMDb rating 4.9Aiello as Father Paul
- 2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5Aiello as Dosmo Pizzo
James TobackDirector, 2 films, 1978 to 1987
All films by James Toback
- The Pick-up Artist1987IMDb rating 5.4Aiello as Phil Harper
- Fingers1978IMDb rating 6.7Aiello as Butch
Also two films together25 more actors
- Robert ForsterLucky Number Slevin (2006) and 29th Street (1991)
- Martin LandauCity Hall (1996) and Mistress (1992)
- Eli WallachTwo Much (1995) and Mistress (1992)
- Austin Pendleton2 Days in the Valley (1996) and Two Much (1995)
- Mia FarrowRadio Days (1987) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- Vincent SchiavelliTwo Much (1995) and Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)
- Alyssa MilanoLittle Italy (2018) and Old Enough (1984)
- Joe PesciMan on Fire (1987) and Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
- Michael MoriartyThe Stuff (1985) and Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
- Vincent GardeniaMoonstruck (1987) and Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
- Brian TarantinaJacob's Ladder (1990) and The January Man (1989)
- Paul HermanRadio Days (1987) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- Irving MetzmanThe Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) and Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981)
- Polly DraperDinner Rush (2000) and The Pick-up Artist (1987)
- Roxanne HartOnce Around (1991) and Old Enough (1984)
- Frank Pesce29th Street (1991) and Defiance (1980)
- Frank StalloneReach Me (2014) and Hudson Hawk (1991)
- Robert WeilMoonstruck (1987) and Deathmask (1984)
- Don Blakely29th Street (1991) and Defiance (1980)
- Leonard TermoMojave Moon (1996) and Ruby (1992)
- Andrea MarcovicciThe Stuff (1985) and The Front (1976)
- Rick Aiello29th Street (1991) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Lenny MontanaDefiance (1980) and Fingers (1978)
- Robin HarrisDo the Right Thing (1989) and Harlem Nights (1989)
- Veronica HartRuby (1992) and Deathmask (1984)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.