Biography
Who is Chazz Palminteri?
Early life and background
Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri was born on May 15, 1952, in the Bronx, New York. He grew up in the Fordham area and the Belmont neighborhood. His parents, Lorenzo and Rose, were both born in New York. His father worked as a bus driver while his mother stayed at home.
The family had Sicilian roots, as all four of his grandparents emigrated from Sicily to the United States. His paternal grandparents, Calogero Palminteri and Rosa Bonfante, moved from Menfi in the province of Agrigento in 1910. This heritage is a significant part of his family history.
How Chazz became famous
Before his success, Chazz worked as a bouncer at a New York nightclub alongside Dolph Lundgren. During a party for agent Swifty Lazar, he refused the man entry. This incident led to him being fired from his job. This period of unemployment prompted him to write the play A Bronx Tale to create his own starring opportunity.
His career took off when Robert De Niro saw his one-man stage show in 1990. They collaborated to turn the play into a major motion picture. Chazz Palminteri wrote the screenplay and played the character Sonny in the 1993 film. This project became a big success for both the actor and the director.
Film and television career
He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Bullets Over Broadway in 1994. His film credits include The Usual Suspects, Mulholland Falls, and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure. He has also provided voices for animated characters like Smokey in Stuart Little and Woolworth in Hoodwinked.
On television, he played the character Shorty in Modern Family for several years. He also appeared in crime dramas like Rizzoli & Isles and Godfather of Harlem. His directing work includes the 2004 film Noel and an episode of the series Oz. In the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, he provided the voice and likeness for Sal De Luca.
Business ventures and personal life
Chazz has explored the restaurant industry with several locations. He opened Chazz: A Bronx Original in Baltimore in 2011, which served Italian food before closing in 2015. He later opened Chazz Palminteri Ristorante Italiano in New York City and another location in White Plains, New York in 2021.
He currently resides in Bedford, located in Westchester County, New York. He married Gianna Ranaudo in 1992, and the couple has two children. He also hosts The Chazz Palminteri Show, a podcast launched on YouTube in February 2021.
Birthday and age
Chazz Palminteri was born on May 15, 1952, which makes Chazz 74 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Chazz shares the date with 26 other famous people.
Explore more
