Chazz Palminteri

Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri (born May 15, 1952)[1] is an American actor, screenwriter, producer and playwright. He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Bullets over Broadway, the 1993 film A Bronx Tale, based on his play of the same name, Special Agent Dave Kujan in The Usual Suspects, Primo Sidone in Analyze This and his recurring role as Shorty in Modern Family.
== Early life ==
Palminteri was born on May 15, 1952, in the Bronx, the son of Rose, a homemaker, and Lorenzo Palminteri, a bus driver.[2] He was raised in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx.[3] Palminteri's surname is of Sicilian origin and his family is originally from Menfi in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. His grandparents, Calogero Palminteri and Rosa Bonfante, married in 1908 and moved to the United States in 1910.
He struggled to become a star, splitting his time between acting in off-Broadwayplays and moonlighting as a bouncer, alongside Dolph Lundgren. His big break came in 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;[4] Robert De Niro later developed and directed a film version (1993).
== Career ==
=== 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, he appeared in 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 Smokey in Stuart Little and Woolworth in Hoodwinked.
He made his directorial debut with an episode of Oz, then the television film Women vs. Men and the 2004 feature film 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.
=== Theater ===
Palminteri starred on Broadway in A Bronx Tale, the semiautobiographical one-man show he first performed (as A Bronx Play) at Theatre West in Los Angeles in 1989.[5] The Broadway 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.[6]
Palminteri starred opposite Kenny D'Aquila in D'Aquila's play, Unorganized Crime.[7][8] Palminteri always appreciated the shot that Robert De Niro gave him, so he in turn agreed to star in D'Aquila's mafia-themed drama.[9]
Palminteri is currently performing in the Broadway musical version of A Bronx Tale since May 2018.
=== Television ===
On January 20, 2010, Palminteri guested on Modern Family and played the same character on the November 2, 2011, episode.[10] Palminteri has reprised the role twice more in season 5. In June 2010, Palminteri began guest-starring on the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles as Frank Rizzoli, Sr. He guest starred twice on the CBS drama Blue Bloods as Angelo Gallo, a mob lawyer and childhood friend of main character Frank Reagan.
Palminteri portrayed deceased mobster Paul Castellano in the 2001 TV filmBoss of Bosses.
=== Other work ===
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. However, the restaurant closed in 2015.[11] Palminteri opened an Italian restaurant, Chazz Palminteri Ristorante Italiano, in New York City on Second Avenue. Also, Palminteri did the voice acting for the Call of Duty: Black Ops IIcharacter Sal De Luca in the zombies map Mob of the Dead, and his likeness was used for the character as well.
== Personal life ==
Palminteri lives in Bedford, New York. He describes himself as a "very spiritual", devout Roman Catholic.[12] He has two children: Dante Lorenzo (born October 11, 1995) and Gabriella Rose (born December 25, 2001). He is a self-avowed New York Yankees fan.
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes/Awards
1984	Home Free All 	Truck Hijacker 	
1985	The Last Dragon 	Hood No. 2 	
1991	Oscar 	Connie 	
1992	Innocent Blood 	Tony 	
1992	There Goes the Neighborhood 	Lyle Corrente 	
1993	A Bronx Tale 	Sonny LoSpecchio 	Also writer
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Also Bullets Over Broadwayand 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
1995	The Perez Family 	Lt. John Pirelli 	
1995	The Last Word 	Ricky 	
1995	Jade 	Matt Gavin 	
1996	Diabolique 	Guy Baran 	
1996	Faithful 	Tony 	Also writer
1996	Dante and the Debutante 	 	Also producer and writer
1996	Mulholland Falls 	Elleroy Coolidge 	
1998	Scar City 	Lieutenant Laine Devon 	
1998	Hurlyburly 	Phil 	
1998	A Night at the Roxbury 	Benny Zadir 	Uncredited
1999	Analyze This 	Primo Sidone 	
1999	Stuart Little 	Smokey 	Voice
2001	Down to Earth 	King 	
2001	Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure 	Buster 	Voice
2001	One Eyed King 	Eddie Dugan 	
2002	Poolhall Junkies 	Joe 	
2003	One Last Ride 	Tweat 	
2003	Just Like Mona 	 	
2004	Noel 	Arizona 	Also director
2005	Hoodwinked! 	Woolworth 	Voice; cameo
2005	Animal 	Kassada 	
2005	Bullets Over Hollywood[13] 	Himself 	Encore documentary
2005	In the Mix 	Frank 	
2006	Running Scared 	Detective Rydell 	
2006	Push 	Vince 	
2006	A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints 	Monty 	Sundance Film Festival – Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Performance
2006	Arthur and the Minimoys 	Travel Agent 	
2006	Little Man 	Walken 	
2007	Body Armour 	Maxwell 	
2007	The Dukes 	George 	Also co-producer
2008	Yonkers Joe 	Yonkers Joe 	Also executive producer
2008	Jolene 	Sal 	
2009	Once More with Feeling 	Frank Gregorio 	
2009	Hollywood & Wine 	Geno Scarpaci 	
2011	The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure	Marvin Milkshake 	
2011	Safe 	Eddie 	Also producer
2012	The Stone Pony 	Angelo Casella 	
2012	Mighty Fine 	Joe Fine 	
2013	Once Upon a Time in Queens 	Ben Rose 	
2013	Underdogs 	Stinky 	Voice
2014	Henry & Me 	Babe Ruth 	Voice
2015	Legend 	Angelo Bruno 	
2018	Vault 	Raymond 	post-production
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes/Awards
1986 	Hill Street Blues 	Sonny Cappelito 	Episode: "Bald Ambition"
1987 	Glory Years 	Drummond 	TV movie
1987 	Matlock 	MP Sgt. Marcy 	Episodes: "The Court-Martial: Part 1",
"The Court-Martial: Part 2"
1989 	Dallas 	Frank 	Episode: "He-e-ere's Papa!"
1989 	Peter Gunn 	Soldier 	TV movie
1989 	Valerie 	Leslie 	Episode: "Viva Las Vegas"
1989 	1st & Ten: The Championship 	Al 	Episode: "Duty Call"
1989 	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
1999 	Dilbert 	Leonardo da Vinci 	Voice
Episode: "Art"
2001 	Boss of Bosses 	Paul Castellano 	TV movie
2001 	An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson	Host 	
2004 	Dr. Vegas 	Duke Walcott 	Episode: "Lust for Life"
2005 	Kojak 	Captain Frank McNeil 	5 episodes
2010–2014	Rizzoli & Isles 	Frank Rizzoli Sr. 	6 episodes
2010–2017	Modern Family 	Shorty 	5 episodes
2012–2013	Blue Bloods 	Angelo Gallo 	Episodes: "Secrets and Lies",[14]
"Justice Served"[15]
2014 	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 	Perry Cannavaro 	Episode: "Jersey Breakdown"
2015 	The Making of the Mob: New York 	Himself 	
2015 	Kevin Can Wait 	Vincent 	Episode: "Plus One Is the Loneliest Number"
2017 	Voltron: Legendary Defender 	Burrowing Alien 	Episode: "The Voltron Show!"
Category:American male film actors