RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
12-13-19, 09:31 AM
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Veteran actor Danny Aiello -- known for his supporting roles in many acclaimed movies since the '70s -- died Thursday night ... TMZ has learned.
According to his family ... Danny passed away at a medical facility in New Jersey where he was being treated for a sudden illness. We're told he suffered an infection related to his treatment. Danny's family had come to visit him Thursday, and we're told he died shortly after they'd left that evening.
Aiello broke into movies in the early '70s by landing a small role in the Robert De Niro baseball drama, "Bang the Drum Slowly." He followed it up by playing Tony Rosato in "The Godfather: Part II" ... in which he delivered the famous line, "Michael Corleone says hello!"
Danny would go on to earn praise in several hit films in the '80s, like "Fort Apache the Bronx" with Paul Newman, "Once Upon a Time in America," "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Moonstruck" opposite Cher.
He gained massive critical acclaim and his first Best Supporting Oscar nomination for his role as Sal, the pizza joint owner, in Spike Lee's, "Do the Right Thing." Danny was also a singer and a Broadway actor.
Danny is survived by 4 children and his wife Sandy, to whom he was married since 1955
According to his family ... Danny passed away at a medical facility in New Jersey where he was being treated for a sudden illness. We're told he suffered an infection related to his treatment. Danny's family had come to visit him Thursday, and we're told he died shortly after they'd left that evening.
Aiello broke into movies in the early '70s by landing a small role in the Robert De Niro baseball drama, "Bang the Drum Slowly." He followed it up by playing Tony Rosato in "The Godfather: Part II" ... in which he delivered the famous line, "Michael Corleone says hello!"
Danny would go on to earn praise in several hit films in the '80s, like "Fort Apache the Bronx" with Paul Newman, "Once Upon a Time in America," "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Moonstruck" opposite Cher.
He gained massive critical acclaim and his first Best Supporting Oscar nomination for his role as Sal, the pizza joint owner, in Spike Lee's, "Do the Right Thing." Danny was also a singer and a Broadway actor.
Danny is survived by 4 children and his wife Sandy, to whom he was married since 1955
12-13-19, 09:33 AM
#2
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Wow. That's a bummer. My condolences to all his children, especially Madonna.
BTW : Never knew he was in Godfather Part II.
BTW : Never knew he was in Godfather Part II.
12-13-19, 09:41 AM
#3
Political Exile
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
great actor in my favorite all time movie, Leon the Professional.
12-13-19, 10:15 AM
#4
Moderator
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
He always played characters who struck me as very earnest, and from what I gather he was a very earnest man. Good night, Danny, and God speed.
12-13-19, 10:27 AM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Always liked his work. Particularly Do the Right Thing and Leon: The Professional.
RIP
RIP
12-13-19, 10:37 AM
#6
Moderator
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Sad to hear. He was in a number of good movies over the years. Married 65 years and checking IMDB, see that he never really retired and was still acting. God speed indeed, Danny. RIP
12-13-19, 10:39 AM
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
I always enjoyed Aiello's very likeable screen presence...he'll definitely be missed. RIP
Last edited by L Everett Scott; 12-13-19 at 10:56 AM.
12-13-19, 10:40 AM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
I guess if you've worked on a Frank D'Angelo film the 3 years or so, you're on a death watch.
Danny Aiello, Martin Landau, Margot Kidder, Robert Loggia, Doris Roberts and Tony Rosato. Of course most of these are pretty old actors.
But look out James Cann, Paul Sorvino, Giancarlo Giannini, Kris Kristofferson and Burt Young.
Danny Aiello, Martin Landau, Margot Kidder, Robert Loggia, Doris Roberts and Tony Rosato. Of course most of these are pretty old actors.
But look out James Cann, Paul Sorvino, Giancarlo Giannini, Kris Kristofferson and Burt Young.
12-13-19, 11:36 AM
#10
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Woah. I just watched The Protector for the first time last night. For those unfamiliar, the Protector was the failed 1985 attempt to breakout Jackie Chan in America where he plays a cop partnered up with Danny Aiello. The movie fails spectacularly at showcasing what makes Jackie special, and he and Aiello make for a bizarre team up to say the least, but I was surprised at how much trashy fun it all is regardless. Aiello plays it way over the top and while watching I googled him to confirm that he was still alive. I guess the news hadn't hit yet.
Last edited by rocket1312; 12-13-19 at 11:57 AM.
12-13-19, 11:46 AM
#11
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Always liked him, but I don't what is says that the first Danny Aiello movie I thought of when I saw this news was Hudson Hawk.
"If you'd like to swing on a star..."
"If you'd like to swing on a star..."
12-13-19, 12:45 PM
#13
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Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
He’s so great in Jacob’s Ladder. Such a calming presence at the heart of a very unsettling movie.
I too did not know that was him in Godfather 2. I always think of that scene as the only scene in the saga that just doesn’t work. It’s muddled and unclear what’s going on. Like they didn’t get all the coverage they needed or something.
I too did not know that was him in Godfather 2. I always think of that scene as the only scene in the saga that just doesn’t work. It’s muddled and unclear what’s going on. Like they didn’t get all the coverage they needed or something.
12-13-19, 01:29 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
12-13-19, 01:32 PM
#15
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Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
RIP Danny
12-13-19, 05:38 PM
#20
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Extra Cheese is two dollars.
12-13-19, 07:00 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
RIP
I think he retired since he has not had a big presence in movies and TVs in the new Millennium and most of his big roles came before 2000.
Sal's Pizzeria was always a place where I would like to try the food.
I think he retired since he has not had a big presence in movies and TVs in the new Millennium and most of his big roles came before 2000.
Sal's Pizzeria was always a place where I would like to try the food.
" You want brothers up on the Wall of
fame, you open up your own business,
then you can do what you wanna do.
my pizzeria, Italian Americans up
on the wall. "
fame, you open up your own business,
then you can do what you wanna do.
my pizzeria, Italian Americans up
on the wall. "
12-14-19, 06:28 PM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Danny Aiello - Dead at 86
Here is his small role in Godfather 2
