# Rick Aiello

Richard Aiello (September 21, 1955 – July 26, 2021) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing Officer Long in the Spike Lee films Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever.

## Career

Aiello worked as a nightclub bouncer, bartender and club manager, and later pursued his acting career.
Aiello guest-starred in television programs including Diagnosis: Murder, L.A. Law, 21 Jump Street, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Early Edition, The Sopranos, Walker, Texas Ranger and 18 Wheels of Justice. He also appeared and co-starred in films such as Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Clockers as NYCPD patrol officers, One Good Cop as an NYCPD detective, She Hate Me, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, The Don's Analyst, Me and the Kid, Hollywood Confidential, Sex and the City, A Brooklyn State of Mind, 29th Street and Silent Madness. Aiello also co-starred in the short-lived American crime drama television series Dellaventura, playing Teddy Naples. He retired in 2016, last appearing in the film Nobody's Perfect.

## Personal life

Aiello was the son of actor Danny Aiello. Aiello died of pancreatic cancer at St. Anthony Community Hospital (WMCHealth) in Warwick, New York, on July 26, 2021, at the age of 65.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1984 | Silent Madness | Michael |
| 1984 | The Terminator | Bouncer |
| 1989 | Do the Right Thing | Officer Long |
| 1989 | Harlem Nights | Man #1 |
| 1990 | Downtown | Mickey Witlin |
| 1990 | The Closer | Billy Grant |
| 1991 | One Good Cop | Knudson |
| 1991 | Switch | Wiseguy at Duke's |
| 1991 | Jungle Fever | Officer Long |
| 1991 | 29th Street | Jimmy Vitello |
| 1992 | Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Cliff Howard |
| 1993 | Me and the Kid | Agent Pasetta |
| 1994 | Minotaur | Mink |
| 1994 | Endangered | Sheriff Shirley |
| 1995 | Clockers | Cop #2 |
| 1998 | A Brooklyn State of Mind | Nicky Vetrino |
| 2000 | Other Voices | Mink |
| 2001 | One Eyed King | Terry / Voice over |
| 2004 | She Hate Me | Rocco Bonasera |
| 2004 | Jimmy Whispers Returns to Mulberry Street | Bobby Bars |
| 2005 | Remedy | Tom |
| 2005 | Brooklyn Lobster | Tommy C. |
| 2007 | The Gentleman | Cooper Russo |
| 2008 | Sex and the City | Angry Driver |
| 2012 | Destination Fame | Mr. Perry |
| 2014 | Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces | Cliff Howard |
| 2014 | Reach Me | Maitre D' |
| 2016 | Nobody's Perfect | Dr. Drummond |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder | Parker Newton | Television film |
| 1989 | The Preppie Murder | Policeman | Television film |
| 1989 | 21 Jump Street | Lenny | Episode: "Say It Ain't So, Pete" |
| 1990 | K-9000 | Waiter | Television film |
| 1990 | Parker Kane | Bartender | Television film |
| 1990 | Knights of the Kitchen Table | Barry | Television film |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Michael Maceina | Episode: "Badfellas" |
| 1992 | The Fifth Corner | Ovid Giorgano | Episode: "Home" |
| 1992 | Tales from the Crypt | Marty | Episode: "This'll Kill Ya" |
| 1992 | Angel Street | Gianni America | Episode: "Death of a Car Salesman" |
| 1993 | Renegade | Johnny Bendetti | Episode: "The Rabbit and the Fox" |
| 1994, 1996 | Diagnosis: Murder | Eddie Romero / Daniel Strega | 2 episodes |
| 1994, 2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Chachi / Anthony | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Marker | Hit man | Episode: "Factor X" |
| 1995 | Brothers' Destiny | Yale Preacher | Television film |
| 1995, 1996 | Strange Luck | Frankie | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue | Joe Carlin | Episode: "A Tushful of Dollars" |
| 1996 | High Incident | Al | Episode: "52 Car Pick-Up" |
| 1997 | Hollywood Confidential | Joey Di Rosa | Television film |
| 1997 | The Don's Analyst | Frankie Leoni | Television film |
| 1997–1998 | Dellaventura | Teddy Naples | 14 episodes |
| 1998 | Clueless | Jason | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Early Edition | Knuckles | Episode: "Everybody Goes to Rick's" |
| 2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Eddie 'The Horse' Ferenga | Episode: "Amore... Omerta" |
| 2001 | V.I.P. | Dolman | Episode: "Amazon Val" |
| 2002 | 100 Centre Street | William Monteleone | Episode: "Justice Delayed" |
| 2002 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Boxing Referee | Episode: "Fight Night" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Craig Fulton | Episode: "Choice" |
| 2006, 2008 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Thug Boyfriend / Mac McGregor | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | The Sopranos | Ray-Ray D'Abaldo | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Ugly Betty | Bouncer #1 | Episode: "London Calling" |