Danny Aiello
Danny Aiello
Daniel Louis "Danny" Aiello, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including The Godfather: Part II, The Front, Once Upon a Time in America, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Hudson Hawk, Ruby, Léon: The Professional, 2 Days in the Valley, Dinner Rushand Lucky Number Slevin. He had a pivotal role in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thingas Salvatore "Sal" Frangione, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Aiello...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth20 June 1933
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
My father was never around. It was almost as if he didn't exist. I would tell my friends he was in Cleveland, on business. Sometimes, every six months or so, he would come by for dinner.
(for which he won numerous critics' prizes and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe.
I'm an actor and that's what I do for a living, but I just wanted them to know where I came from and hopefully remember what I've started to do.
When I saw the script, ... I called them that night. I liked it that much. I love this character, I think he's loaded with love. This is a blustering kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. He tells the truth and that's why I love him.
For me it's a European-type movie, ... It's a small story about family and it's these kinds of characters that I most like to portray and I'm not always given the opportunity to do that.
I try to be a good parent. I've probably repressed my kids more than I should have, protecting them overly. I never hit them. I yelled a lot.
Like most people, I would sing in the privacy of my home. I'd also sing for my daughters or at a guest at somebody's function. I loved doing it.
You don't have to be worried about labeling me.
The choreographer for the Milton Berle show wanted me to audition. I walked away from that.
My father never saw me play ball, and I was an outstanding ballplayer. I missed all that adoration.
If I stunk for some reason, you can always blame it on the character.
I'm a traditionalist. I have certain values I live by.
I was just so blatantly shy throughout my life.
I used to make up stories about my father. I would go to the movies and look for a character who looked like my father.