Danny Aiello was born in the big apple, New York City USA, on West 68th Street, Manhattan, on 20 June 1933, and dons the hat of an actor whose career has spanned over four decades, and who has starred in over 80 movies, earning him loyal legions of fans globally. He is probably best known for his portrayal of the character, Salvatore ¨Sal¨ Frangione in the 1989 movie, ¨Do the Right Thing,¨ which even earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
So just how rich is Danny Aiello, as of early 2017? Despite working in the industry for a lengthy period, compared to the likes of Hollywood superstars, according to authoritative sources Danny has only been able to accumulate a modest net worth of $3 million from his acting career.
Danny Aiello Net Worth $3 million
The fifth of six children, Aiello had a difficult upbringing as his father, Daniel Louis Aiello, Sr, a laborer by trade, deserted the family when he was a child, leaving his blind wife to take care of six children all by herself. At only 16-years-old, Danny enlisted in the US Army for three years, after lying about his age. He also worked as a union representative for Greyhound Bus workers and served as a bouncer at the comedy club, The Improv, before pursuing a career in acting. At least by now he had the basis of his net worth.
He landed his first acting gig when he was cast to play a ballplayer in the film, ¨ Bang the Drum Slowly, ¨ alongside Robert De Niro in 1973. A year later, he ad-libbed the famous line ¨Michael Corleone says hello!¨ in the critically acclaimed ¨The Godfather II.¨ From then onwards, the offers started flooding, however, prior to his performance as the fiancé of Cher in the rom-com ¨Moonstruck ¨ in 1987, Danny had been restricted to only portraying characters that were vulgar and violent. Fortunately, that role showcased his versatility as an actor and people then started taking further notice of him. Also his net worth began rising.
It was only a matter of time before he reached the pinnacle moment of his career; his role in the 1989 film, ¨Do the Right Thing,¨ earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The man also made a smooth transition to the small screen. He enacted stellar scenes as Lt. Terry McNichols in the TV series ¨Lady Blue¨ from 1985 to 1986, and since then Danny has also appeared in the 1997 TV series ¨The Last Don ¨ and ¨Dellaventura.¨
Additionally, Danny recently showcased his writing prowess in 2014 when he published his autobiography, ¨I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else: My Life on the Street, On the Stage, and in the Movies, ¨ via Simon & Schuster.
Danny lived in Ramsey, New Jersey, for several years before setting up his humble abode in Saddle River, New Jersey. He is married to TV producer Sandy Cohen; the couple has been living under the same roof since exchanging wedding vows in 1955. Their coupling led to the birth of the stuntman and actor, Danny Aiello II; regrettably, their son crossed the great divide on 1 May 2010, owing to complications that arose from pancreatic cancer. They have two other sons and a daughter. The actor also has a famous nephew in Michael Kay, who serves as an announcer for the New York Yankees baseball team.
Obie Award for Performance, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer In Children's Programming
Nominations
Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Gemini Award for Best Guest Performance in a Series by an Actor or Actress
Movies
Léon: The Professional, Do the Right Thing, Hudson Hawk, Moonstruck, Once Upon a Time in America, The Purple Rose of Cairo, The Godfather Part II, Jacob's Ladder, Dinner Rush, 29th Street, Once Around, 2 Days in the Valley, Fort Apache, The Bronx, The Protector, Harlem Nights, The Pick-up Artist, L...
TV Shows
Dellaventura, Lady Blue, The Last Don
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Trademark
1
Burly Italian-American characters with volcanic tempers
I was 40 when I did my first movie. I didn't know what the hell I was doing. My interpretation of acting at the time, because I didn't know how to build a character, was pure energy. People call me an instinctive actor. I used to consider that an insult early on, only because I had never studied. Now... I love it.
2
Look, people have an image of Italians. When I go somewhere in the world, I don't care where it is, when they look at me it's not about my intelligence. It's who can I beat up.
3
[comparing The Godfather: Part II (1974) with The Sopranos (1999)] I don't know anyone who curses the way they do in an Italian household. I never said the word "hell" in front of my mother. That was a different time, but I have sons and they have never said the word "hell" in front of me or my wife. That's the truth, that's the truth. There was certainly less profanity, and there was a kind of respect. It's not that I totally agreed with it, but it was a great piece of art.
4
My entire family were Democrats all our lives. But because how furious I was about the previous administration and the particular person running that administration, I turned in my card to become a Republican because I did not want to be known as a Democrat under that person's regime. I'm a traditionalist. I have certain values that I live by, and he practices none of those things, so he can never be what I consider to be a great man. But I don't go around saying he's not my president. He's out of office now, so I can say that I never truly accepted him in my heart. And I'll never say anywhere down the line, I'll never reflect back on this moment in time and say it was a good period for the American people. Because the economy was good, anything goes, and that troubles me. I think many of them are very comfortable with money and don't have to subject themselves to anything other than say, hey - maybe I'm guilty for having all this, and I want to make believe I'm splitting it with the less fortunate. We talk about Hollywood being pro-labor, yet about 70% of our industry has been farmed out to Canada, meaning we are losing jobs like crazy. Where's organized labor asking how we can allow such a thing to happen? The producers know that if they go to Canada, they can make a picture for one-third the price they can in the U.S.
5
The first time I put on a dress and a wig and they took a Polaroid of me, I wanted to throw up. Except I saw a little bit of beauty in that I looked like my mother.
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Fact
1
She completed work on film to be released in 2004 - _Zeyda and the Hit Man (2004)_ (working title), directed by Melanie Mayron, and starring himself & Judd Hirsch. [August 2003]
2
March starts filming Brooklyn Lobster (2005) in New York. [March 2004]
3
He will be releasing his first album of standards titled "I Just Wanted To Hear The Words" under the IN2N lable in late March or early April 2004. [February 2004]
Was in Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" music video, playing her father.
6
A lifelong resident of New York City, Danny and his six siblings were raised almost single-handedly by their mother.
7
Sold newspapers and shined shoes at Grand Central Station in his youth.
8
Served a three-year stint in the Army, and was at one time stationed in Germany.
9
Once was a bus driver and the president of the Greyhound Bus union in his 30s before he pursued acting.
10
A former bouncer at New York's comedy club, The Improvisation, he broke into the business when he started filling in there as an emcee.
11
Among his various charitable interests include Covenant House (a mobile unit that provides food, shelter health care, counseling, education and job training to homeless teens,) the United Way, the Salvation Army, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and the Frances Aiello Day Treatment Center in Brooklyn (named after his late mother) that treats young blind and deaf adults and children.
12
The 70-year-old Aiello released his first single, "All of Me," in March of 2004, and followed it a month later with an album of standards. Continues to sing on tour with an eight-piece jazz band.
13
His son, actor/stuntman/stunt coordinator Danny Aiello III died of pancreatic cancer in 2010 at age 53.
He was nominated for a 1976 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role for his performance in "That Championship Season", at the Arlington Park Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
16
Is Italian-American.
17
He says that the one thing that annoys him more than anything is if a man is rubbing a girl's back (or vice versa) on a movie set, or even if people of the same sex are rubbing each others' backs.
18
Uncle of New York Yankees sportscaster (radio/play by play) Michael Kay.
$3 Million
