Danny Aiello, best known for his role in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, has passed away at the age of 86. Born on June 20, 1933, to Frances and Daniel Louis Aiello in Manhattan, Aiello enlisted in the army and worked as a night club bouncer before starting a career in show business. Aiello received a stepping stone into the entertainment industry when he was cast as a baseball player in the 1973 film Bang the Drum Slowly opposite Robert DeNiro.
Before transitioning into a prolific acting career, Aiello wed Sandy Cohen in 1955 and worked at the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Manhattan to support their four children. Sadly, his son Danny passed away in 2010. Revered for utilizing his real-life experiences to perfect his craft in place of studying acting, Aiello frequently displayed his raw talent in skits and off-broadway plays. Aiello made cinema history when he was cast as Tony Rosato in The Godfather: Part II and improvised the famous line, “Michael Corleone says hello!” Aiello’s career was put on the map when Lee cast him as pizzeria owner Salvatore “Sal” Fragione in Do The Right Thing. Starring Paul Benjamin, Samuel L. Jackson, and Giancarlo Esposito, Do the Right Thing garnered critical praise for the film’s powerful writing and exploration of racial tensions. Hailed as the scene-stealer of the film, Aiello received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Sal.
As reported by TMZ, Aiello passed away on Thursday evening, December 12, following a stint with an illness. Unfortunately, Aiello developed an infection while undergoing treatment, leading to a further decline in his health. Surrounded by family, Aiello bid farewell at a medical facility in New Jersey. Aiello is survived by his wife Sandy and their children, Rick, Jaime, and Stacey.
Numerous celebrities, including Spike Lee, Cher, and Mia Farrow, have voiced their tributes to Aiello in the wake of his passing. Aiello consistently aimed to polish his craft and worked steadily into 2019 with the recent releases of Making a Deal with the Devil and The Last Big Save. As of this writing, service arrangements for Aiello will be announced at a later date.
Toting an impressive list of more than 100 appearances in film and television, Aiello’s formidable career included memorable performances in Moonstruck, Jacob’s Ladder, The Last Don, and more. Aiello left a permanent mark on show business, not only with his performances, but with his reputation for being a hard-working, talented, and generous actor. Undoubtedly, Danny Aiello will be greatly missed.
Source: TMZ
