Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. (/aɪˈɛloÊŠ/; June 20, 1933 â€" December 12,
2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures,
including The Godfather Part II (1974), The Front (1976), Once Upon a
Time in America (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Moonstruck
(1987), Harlem Nights (1989), Hudson Hawk (1991), Ruby (1992), Léon:
The Professional (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Dinner Rush
(2000), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006). He played Don Domenico
Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don (1997). Aiello was nominated
for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as
Salvatore "Sal" Frangione in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing
(1989).Aiello, the fifth of six children, was born on West 68th
Street, Manhattan, the son of parents Frances (Pietrocova), a
seamstress, and Daniel Louis Aiello, a laborer, who deserted the
family after his wife lost her eyesight and became legally blind. For
many years, Aiello publicly condemned his father, but the two
reconciled in 1993, although Aiello harbored a resentment of his
father's conduct. He was of Italian descent. He moved to the South
Bronx when he was seven, and later attended James Monroe High
School.At the age of 16, Aiello lied about his age to enlist in the
United States Army. After serving for three years, he returned to New
York City and did various jobs in order to support himself and later
his family.
2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures,
including The Godfather Part II (1974), The Front (1976), Once Upon a
Time in America (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Moonstruck
(1987), Harlem Nights (1989), Hudson Hawk (1991), Ruby (1992), Léon:
The Professional (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Dinner Rush
(2000), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006). He played Don Domenico
Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don (1997). Aiello was nominated
for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as
Salvatore "Sal" Frangione in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing
(1989).Aiello, the fifth of six children, was born on West 68th
Street, Manhattan, the son of parents Frances (Pietrocova), a
seamstress, and Daniel Louis Aiello, a laborer, who deserted the
family after his wife lost her eyesight and became legally blind. For
many years, Aiello publicly condemned his father, but the two
reconciled in 1993, although Aiello harbored a resentment of his
father's conduct. He was of Italian descent. He moved to the South
Bronx when he was seven, and later attended James Monroe High
School.At the age of 16, Aiello lied about his age to enlist in the
United States Army. After serving for three years, he returned to New
York City and did various jobs in order to support himself and later
his family.
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