Danny Aiello

Danny Aiello was an American actor.

Aiello falsified his age to enlist in the U.S. Army at 16 and served for several years before returning to New York City and working at several different jobs before turning to acting.

Among Aiello's best-known films: Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), 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), Lucky Number Slevin (2006), and Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Although more widely known for his film career, Aiello also had extensive TV credits, including a Daytime Emmy-winning role in a 1981 ABC Afterschool Special entitled "A Family of Strangers," the lead role in the 1997 detective series Dellaventura, and the role of Don Domenico Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don (1997), as well as several made-for-TV movies.

Aiello made several Broadway and off-Broadway appearances. Among his notable stage performances were roles on Broadway in Gemini (1977), Hurlyburly (1984) and The House of Blue Leaves (1986).

Aiello played the father in the video for Madonna's song, "Papa Don't Preach" in 1986.

Aiello died December 12, 2019. He was 86.