Chazz Palminteri, a Bronx-born and raised actor, writer, and director, has been a prominent figure in the film industry for decades. He was a natural fit to continue the Italianate torch in film, following in the footsteps of icons such as Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, John Cazale, and Joe Pesci.
Born Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri in 1952, he grew up in a tough area of the Bronx, which would later influence his acting career. He attended Theodore Roosevelt High School and began studying at the Actor's Studio in 1973. Palminteri's early career included off-Broadway performances and various jobs, including working as a bouncer and doorman in nightclubs.
In 1986, he moved to Los Angeles, where he found success in TV shows such as Wiseguy, Matlock, and Hill Street Blues. He made his film debut in 1991's Oscar, playing a 1930s-style gangster. Palminteri wrote and performed in the one-man stage play "A Bronx Tale" in 1988, which told the story of his childhood and was later adapted into a film in 1993. The play earned strong reviews and helped launch Palminteri's career.
Palminteri's breakthrough role came in 1994's Bullets Over Broadway, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He went on to appear in a string of successful films, including The Perez Family, The Usual Suspects, Diabolique, and Faithful.
Throughout his career, Palminteri has been drawn to playing tough, gritty characters, often with a strong Italian-American influence. He has appeared in a range of films and TV shows, including One Eyed King, Poolhall Junkies, In the Fix, Running Scared, Yonkers Joe, Once More with Feeling, Mighty Fine, Body Armour, The Dukes, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Push, Jolene, Legend, Vault, Clover, and many more.
In addition to his film work, Palminteri has also had a successful career in television, appearing in shows such as Kojak, Rizzoli & Isles, Godfather of Harlem, and Modern Family. He has been married to actress Gianna Palminteri since 1992 and has one daughter, Florence. Palminteri continues to be a respected and beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
