Chazz Palminteri

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Chazz Palminteri
Chazz Palminteri 2011 Shankbone.JPG
Palminteri in New York, April 2011
Born Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri
(1946-05-15) May 15, 1946 (age 67)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor, screenwriter, film producer
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s) Gianna Ranaudo (m. 1992)
Children Dante Lorenzo and Gabriella Rose
Website
http://www.chazzpalminteri.net

Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri (born May 15, 1946[1]) is an American actor and writer, best known for his performances in The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale, and his Academy Award nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Bullets Over Broadway.

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Early life [edit]

Palminteri is of Sicilian origin; his family is originally from Menfi in the province of Agrigento. His grandparents, Calogero Palminteri and Rosa Bonfante, married in 1908 and moved from Menfi to the United States in 1910. Chazz Palminteri was born in the Bronx on May 15, 1946, the son of Rose, a homemaker, and Lorenzo Palminteri, a bus driver.[2] He struggled to become a star, splitting his time between acting in off-Broadway plays and moonlighting as a bouncer, alongside Dolph Lundgren. His big break did not come until 1988 with the premiere of his autobiographical one-man show, A Bronx Tale, which he wrote after being fired from a club for refusing entry to super agent Swifty Lazar;[3] Robert De Niro later developed and directed a film version (1993). Palminteri confirms he witnessed a murder first-hand as a child, as depicted in the play and film.[citation needed]

Career [edit]

Film career [edit]

Palminteri has had acclaimed dramatic performances in films such as 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 did 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 2006's Hoodwinked.

He made his directorial debut with Women vs. Men. He has also directed 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.

Palminteri starred on Broadway in A Bronx Tale the semi-autobiographical one-man show he first performed off-Broadway in 1989. The production, directed by Jerry Zaks and with music by John Gromada, began previews October 4, 2008 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. Robert De Niro saw this show there and made his directorial debut with the big-screen version, co-starring with Palminteri.[4]

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

On January 20, 2010, Palminteri guested on Modern Family and played the same character on the November 2, 2011, episode.[5] In June 2010, Palminteri began guest-starring on the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles as Frank Rizzoli, Sr.[6]

Palminteri will portray deceased mobster Paul Castellano in the upcoming John Gotti biopic Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father.

Other Work [edit]

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. His nephew Robert kept in the family tradition by working in a premier movie rental outlet in Ireland.

Personal life [edit]

Palminteri lives in Bedford, New York. He describes himself as a "very spiritual," devout Roman Catholic.[7] He is married to actress Gianna Ranaudo, with whom he has two children: Dante Lorenzo (born Wednesday, October 11, 1995) and Gabriella Rose (born Tuesday, December 25, 2001). He is a self-avowed New York Yankees fan, and is often heard as caller "Chazz from Bedford" on WFAN-AM, a sports radio station.[8] Chazz has been known to have frequent disagreements about the Yankees with WFAN host Mike Francesa.

Filmography [edit]

Film [edit]

Year Title Role Notes/Awards
1984 Home Free All Truck Hijacker
1985 The Last Dragon Hood #2
1991 Oscar Connie
1992 Innocent Blood Tony
There Goes the Neighborhood Lyle Corrente
1993 A Bronx Tale Sonny LoSpecchio Also writer
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Also Bullets Over Broadway and The Usual Suspects
1994 Bullets Over Broadway Cheech Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Also A Bronx Tale and The Usual Suspects
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 David "Dave" Kujan, Special Agent, U.S. Customs Service National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Also A Bronx Tale and Bullets Over Broadway
The Perez Family Lt. John Pirelli
The Last Word Ricky
Jade Matt Gavin
1996 Diabolique Guy Baran
Faithful Tony Also writer
Dante and the Debutante Also producer and writer
Mulholland Falls Elleroy Coolidge
1998 Scar City Lieutenant Laine Devon
Hurlyburly Phil
A Night at the Roxbury Benny Zadir Uncredited
1999 Analyze This Primo Sidone
Stuart Little Smokey, the Chief Alley-Cat (voice)
2001 Down to Earth King
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (video) Buster (voice)
One Eyed King Eddie Dugan
2002 Poolhall Junkies Joe
2003 One Last Ride Tweat
Just Like Mona unknown
2004 Noel Arizona
2005 Hoodwinked! Woolworth (voice)
Animal (video) Kassada
In the Mix Frank
2006 Running Scared Detective Rydell
Push Vince
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Monty Sundance Film Festival - Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Performance
Arthur and the Minimoys The Travel Agent (voice: English version)
Little Man Walken
2007 Body Armour Maxwell
The Dukes George Also co-producer
2008 Yonkers Joe Yonkers Joe Also executive producer
Jolene Sal
2009 Once More with Feeling Frank Gregorio
Hollywood & Wine Geno Scarpaci
2010 Henry and Me Babe Ruth (voice)
2011 The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure Marvin Milkshake post-production
Mighty Fine Joe Fine post-production
Safe Eddie Also producer
pre-production
2012 The Stone Pony Angelo Casella pre-production
2013 Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father Paul Castellano pre-production

Television [edit]

Year Title Role Notes/Awards
1986 Hill Street Blues Sonny Cappelito Episode: "Bald Ambition"
1987 Glory Years Drummond TV movie
Matlock MP Sgt. Marcy Episodes: "The Court-Martial: Part 1",
"The Court-Martial: Part 2"
1989 Dallas Frank Episode: "He-e-ere's Papa!"
Peter Gunn Soldier TV movie
Valerie Leslie Episode: "Viva Las Vegas"
Wiseguy Peter Alatorre / Sal Rosselli Episodes: "Sins of the Father",
"Heir to the Throne",
"How Will They Remember Me?"
1990 Sydney Tony Episode: "Love Ya, Babe"
1999 Excellent Cadavers Giovanni Falcone TV movie
Dilbert Leonardo Da Vinci (voice)
Episode: "Art"
2001 Boss of Bosses Paul Castellano TV movie
2004 Dr. Vegas Duke Walcott Episode: "Lust for Life"
2005 Kojak Captain Frank McNeil
2010 Rizzoli & Isles Frank Rizzoli Sr.
Modern Family Shorty Episodes: "Fifteen Percent"
"Treehouse"
2012 Blue Bloods Angelo Gallo Episode: "Secrets and Lies"

Video games [edit]

Year Game Role Notes
2013 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Salvatore "Sal" DeLuca "Uprising" DLC, featured on the zombies map "Mob of the Dead"

Theatre Work [edit]

Broadway [edit]

Off-broadway [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.chazzpalminteri.net/bio.htm Palminteri web site bio. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "Broadway Names with Julie James", On Broadway, SiriusXM Radio, 11 Oct 2012
  4. ^ http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=551402
  5. ^ Natalie Abrams. "Elizabeth Banks and Chazz Palminteri to Guest-Star on Modern Family". TVGuide.com. 
  6. ^ SeattlePI.com http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/423653_tvgif19.html |url= missing title (help). [dead link]
  7. ^ http://luxurylv.com/2009/12/up-close-and-personal/3756
  8. ^ Various WFAN Podcasts.

External links [edit]

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