Danny Aiello was an American actor of Italian descent, born in Manhattan, New York City on June 20, 1933. His parents were laborer Daniel Louis Aiello and seamstress Frances Pietrocova. Aiello was raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family when Aiello was a child. He resented his father's actions and refused to have any contact with him for decades until they reconciled in 1993.
Aiello dropped out of school at the age of 16 and joined the United States Army, where he served for three years before being discharged in 1952. After his military service, he worked various jobs to support himself, including as a bus driver for Greyhound Lines.
In the 1960s, Aiello became involved in labor union activities, serving as president of the Amalgamated Transit Union's New York Local 1202. However, he was suspended for leading a wildcat strike in 1967.
Aiello began his acting career in the early 1970s, appearing in films such as "Bang the Drum Slowly" (1973) and "The Godfather Part II" (1974). He gained recognition for his role as Salvatore "Sal" Frangione in the comedy-drama film "Do the Right Thing" (1989),for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Throughout his career, Aiello appeared in a wide range of films, including "Fort Apache, The Bronx" (1981),"Once Upon a Time in America" (1984),"The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985),"Radio Days" (1987),and "Moonstruck" (1987). He also had notable roles in television, including the detective series "Lady Blue" (1985-1986) and the mini-series "The Last Don" (1997).
Aiello continued to work as an actor until his death in December 2019 at the age of 86. He was remembered by director Spike Lee as a talented actor who was loved despite their political differences.
