- Chazz Palminteri
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Chazz Palminteri 
Palminteri in New York, April 2011Born Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri
May 15, 1952
The Bronx, New York, U.S.Occupation Actor, writer Years active 1984–present Religion Roman Catholicism Spouse Gianna Ranaudo (m. 1992–present) Children Dante Lorenzo and Gabriella Rose Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri (born May 15, 1952) 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
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. According to the biography on Netflix, Chazz Palminteri was born in the Bronx on May 15, 1952. He struggled to become a star, splitting his time between working as a bouncer, alongside Dolph Lundgren, and acting in off-Broadway plays. His big break didn't come until 1988 with the premiere of his one-man show, "A Bronx Tale," which eventually was made into a movie (1993). On a T.V. special[which?] Chazz said he witnessed a murder right in front of him similar to the murder in his play and movie, A Bronx Tale.
Film career
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, Palminteri did many advertisements for Vanilla Coke, in which he portrayed a mob boss who would threaten celebrities if they didn't 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 the 2002 television film, Women vs. Men. He has also directed the 2004 film Noel which starred Alan Arkin and Susan Sarandon. Palminteri's recent 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.
Chazz 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.[1]
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.[2] In June 2010, Palminteri began guest-starring on the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles as Frank Rizzoli, Sr.[3]
Palminteri will portray deceased mobster Paul Castellano in the upcoming John Gotti biopic Gotti: In The Shadow Of My Father.
Personal life
Palminteri lives in Bedford, New York. He describes himself as a "very spiritual," devout Roman Catholic.[4] 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.[5]
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes/Awards 1984 Home Free All Truck Highjacker 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 screenwriter
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Also Bullets Over Broadway and The Usual Suspects1994 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 Role1995 The Usual Suspects Dave Kujan, US Customs National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Also A Bronx Tale and Bullets Over BroadwayThe 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 writer and producer 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 Also directed 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-produced 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-production2012 The Stone Pony Angelo Casella pre-production Television Year Title Role Notes 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"Oz Directed
Episode: "Unnatural Disasters"2001 Boss of Bosses Paul Castellano TV movie 2002 Women vs. Men Directed
TV movie2004 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" and "Treehouse" References
- Notes
- ^ http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=551402
- ^ Natalie Abrams. "Elizabeth Banks and Chazz Palminteri to Guest-Star on Modern Family". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Elizabeth-Chazz-ModernFamily-1011242.aspx.
- ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/423653_tvgif19.html%7Cwork=SeattlePI.com
- ^ http://luxurylv.com/2009/12/up-close-and-personal/3756
- ^ Various WFAN Podcasts.
External links
Categories:- 1952 births
- Actors from New York City
- Actors Studio alumni
- American film actors
- American film directors
- American Roman Catholics
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- American people of Italian descent
- American people of Sicilian descent
- Independent Spirit Award winners
- Living people
- People from the Bronx
- Sundance Film Festival award winners
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