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Danny Aiello

Danny Aiello

A lifelong resident of New York City, Danny Aiello began acting in his mid 30's and set the tone for his career by immediately earning a Theatre World Award for his debut in "Lamppost Reunion." With a reputation for no-holds-barred stage and screen performances which are brimming with honest emotion, Aiello's portrayal of Cher's jilted fiance in Moonstruck endeared him to film audiences. As 'Sal' in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, Aiello received unanimous acclaim including Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor, and was named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago Film Critics Associations.

Hailing from a working class family, Danny and his six siblings were raised almost single-handedly by their mother. From early childhood, Aiello worked an endless series of jobs including selling newspapers and shining shoes at Grand Central Station. As a teenager, he served a three-year stint in the Army, where he was stationed in Germany. Upon his return to the States, he became so caught up in a decidedly working class existence that being an actor was the furthest thing from his mind.

When he was laid off from his position as the President of the Greyhound Bus Union in his mid-30's, Aiello landed a job as a bouncer at New York's comedy club, The Improvisation, and began to fill-in as an emcee. In spite of the fact that he had never even seen a play, he had an instinct that acting might make for an interesting career.

With absolutely no formal training, his award-winning debut performance in "Lamppost Reunion" led to a number of prominent theatre credits including "Knockout," Woody Allen's "The Floating Light Bulb," and "The House of Blue Leaves." He received an Obie Award for his starring role in "Gemini" -- a role he later recreated on Broadway. He also received a Faberge Award and two Jefferson Nominations for "That Championship Season." Additionally, he received unanimous critical acclaim and an LADCC Best Actor Award for his "on-the-edge" portrayal of 'Phil' in the L.A. debut of "Hurlyburly." His last stage appearance was the 1993 national tour of Tom Dulack's hit comedy, "Breaking Legs," in which he played a "godfather" who becomes the unlikely investor in a prospective off-Broadway show.

Though his work tends to take him away from home for extended periods of time, Aiello devotes as much time as possible giving back to his own community. His many charitable endeavors include public service announcements for Covenant House (a mobile unit that provides food, shelter health care, counseling, education and job training to homeless teens) the United Way of Bergen County, NJ, and the Salvation Army. In addition, Aiello is actively involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Hole in the Wall Gang (Paul Newman's Connecticut based organization that helps children with catastrophic diseases), and the Frances Aiello Day Treatment Center in Brooklyn, (an organization named after Aiello's late mother that treats young adults and children who cannot see or hear.)