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.
Early life
Palminteri is of Sicilian origin; his family is originally from Menfi in the province of Agrigento. His parents, 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, 1952, the son of Rose, a homemaker, and Lorenzo Palminteri, a bus driver.[1] 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 did not come until 1988 with the premiere of his one-man show, "A Bronx Tale," which eventually was made into a movie (1993). Palminteri said he witnessed a murder right in front of him, similar to the murder in his play and movie, A Bronx Tale.[citation needed]
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 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 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.[2] [1][2]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.[3] In June 2010, Palminteri began guest-starring on the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles as Frank Rizzoli, Sr.[4]
Palminteri will portray deceased mobster Paul Castellano in the upcoming John Gotti biopic Gotti: In The Shadow Of My Father.
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 great italian food.
Personal life
Palminteri lives in Bedford, New York. He describes himself as a "very spiritual", devout Roman Catholic.[5] 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.[6]
Filmography
Actor
Year | Film | 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 | 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 | 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 Broadway |
The Perez Family | Lt. John Pirelli | ||
The Last Word | Ricky | ||
Jade | Matt Gavin | ||
1996 | Diabolique | Guy Baran | |
Faithful | Tony | ||
Dante and the Debutante | |||
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 | ||
2008 | Yonkers Joe | Yonkers Joe | |
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 |
Year | Television | 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" |
Producer and Writer
Year | Film | Producer/Writer |
---|---|---|
1993 | A Bronx Tale | Screenwriter |
1996 | Faithful | Writer |
Dante and the Debutante | Writer and producer | |
2007 | The Dukes | Co-producer |
2008 | Yonkers Joe | Executive producer |
Director
Year | Film/Television | Notes |
---|---|---|
1990 | Oz | Episode: "Unnatural Disasters" |
2004 | Noel |