Francis Vaselle Aiello was born on June 6, 1915, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from high school, he pursued various odd jobs, including working alongside his father, Carmine, at his tailoring shop. He earned the nickname "The Earl of Warwick" due to his relentless efforts to secure a position at the prestigious Warwick Hotel in New York City, where he would often sit in the lobby for weeks, waiting for an opportunity to arise.
Despite his persistence, Aiello's initial attempts to get hired at the Warwick Hotel were unsuccessful. However, he found inspiration in the film performances of James Cagney, which led him to develop an uncanny impression of the actor. He would often mimic Cagney for his friends and family, who would enthusiastically approve of his talent.
Aiello's admiration for Cagney eventually drove him to attempt to secure an interview with the actor in Hollywood. Although his first attempt failed, he persisted and eventually landed a job on the vaudeville circuit, performing impressions of Cagney. A Warner Bros. talent scout discovered his act and subsequently offered him a role in the 1938 film "Angels with Dirty Faces," in which he played the young version of Cagney's character, Rocky Sullivan.
Aiello went on to appear in 17 films before disappearing from the public eye in 1941. His whereabouts from 1941 to approximately 1961 remain unknown, although he later revealed that during this period, he lived as a "Hobo," traveling by rail and sleeping on trains. However, his health began to decline, and he was eventually taken off a train in Junction City, Kansas, where he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Aiello was admitted to a long-term care facility in Chapman, Kansas, where he passed away just weeks later on April 7, 1983.
