Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. (June 20, 1933 – December 12, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous films, including The Godfather Part II (1974), The Front (1976), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Moonstruck (1987), Harlem Nights (1989), Hudson Hawk (1991), Ruby (1992), Léon: The Professional (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Dinner Rush (2000), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006). He had a pivotal role in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing (1989) as Salvatore "Sal" Frangione, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also played Don Domenico Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don (1997).

Filmography

• 2026Once Upon a Time in Jersey
• 2021One Moment — Joe McGuinness
• 2019Making a Deal with the Devil — Mario
• 2019The Last Big Save — Louis Brown
• 2018Little Italy — Carlo
• 2017The Neighborhood — Joseph Donatello
• Difficult People — Danny Aiello (voice)
• 2014Henry & Me — Dr. Acosta (voice)
• 2014Reach Me — Father Paul
• 2010Stiffs — Frank Tramontana
• 2009Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection — Papa (segment "Papa Don't Preach")
• 2006Lucky Number Slevin — Roth
• 2006The Last Request — Pop
• 2005Brooklyn Lobster — Frank Giorgio
• 2004Zeyda and the Hitman — Nathan
• 2003Mail Order Bride — Tony Santini
• 2001Off Key — Fabrizio Benini
• 2000Dinner Rush — Louis Cropa
• 2000Mambo Café — Joey
• 2000Prince of Central Park — Noah Cairn
• 199918 Shades of Dust — Vincent Dianni
• The Rat Pack — Narrator (voice)
• 1998A Brooklyn State of Mind — Danny Parente
• The Last Don II — Don Domenico Clericuzio
• 1998Wilbur Falls — Philip Devereaux
• 1997Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis — Mr. Rathbone
• Dellaventura — Anthony Dellaventura, Executive Producer
• The Last Don — Don Domenico Clericuzio
• 1997Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook — Narrator
• 19962 Days in the Valley — Dosmo Pizzo
• 1996City Hall — Frank Anselmo
• 1996Mojave Moon — Al
• 1995Brothers' Destiny — Duke
• 1995Lieberman in Love — Joe Lieberman
• 1995Power of Attorney — Joseph Scassi
• The Watcher — Director
• 1995Two Much — Gene
• 1994Léon: The Professional — Old Tony
• 1994Prêt-à-Porter — Major Hamilton
• 1993Me and the Kid — Harry
• 1993The Cemetery Club — Ben Katz
• 1993The Pickle — Harry Stone
• 1992Mistress — Carmine Rasso
• 1992Ruby — Jack Ruby
• 199129th Street — Frank Pesce Sr.
• 1991Hudson Hawk — Tommy Five-Tone
• 1991Once Around — Joe Bella
• 1991Rabbit Ears - Pinocchio — Narrator (voice)
• 1990Jacob's Ladder — Louis
• 1990Madonna: The Immaculate Collection — Papa (segment "Papa Don't Preach")
• 1990The Closer — Chester Grant
• 1989Do the Right Thing — Sal
• 1989Harlem Nights — Phil Cantone
• 1989Shocktroop — John Cunningham
• 1989The January Man — Captain Vincent Alcoa
• 1989The Preppie Murder — Mike Sheehan
• 1989White Hot — Charlie Buick
• 1988Alone in the Neon Jungle — Chief
• 1988The Third Solution — George Sherman
• 1987Daddy — Coach Jacobs
• 1987Man on Fire — Conti
• 1987Moonstruck — Mr. Johnny Cammareri
• 1987Radio Days — Rocco
• 1987The Hustler of Money — Master of Ceremonies
• 1987The Pick-up Artist — Phil Harper
• 1987U.S. Marshals: Waco & Rhinehart — Executive Producer
• 1985Key Exchange — Carabello
• Lady Blue — Lt. Terry McNichols
• Night Heat
• 1985The Protector — Danny Garoni
• 1985The Purple Rose of Cairo — Monk
• 1985The Stuff — Vickers
• 1984Deathmask — Capt. Mike Grasso
• 1984Old Enough — Mr. Bruckner
• 1984Once Upon a Time in America — Police Chief Aiello
• Tales from the Darkside — Tommy Vale
• 1983Blood Feud — Randy Powers
• Blood Feud — Randy Powers
• 1982A Question of Honor — Martelli
• 1982Gemini — Fran Geminiani
• 1981Chu Chu and the Philly Flash — Johnson
• 1981Fort Apache, the Bronx — Morgan
• Nurse — Gene Halley
• 1980Defiance — Carmine
• 1980Hide in Plain Sight — Sal Carvello
• 1978Bloodbrothers — Artie
• 1978Fingers — Butch
• 1978Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II — Bernie Serino
• 1978The Last Tenant — Carl
• 1977Hooch — Tony
• On Our Own — Skip Mazarelli
• The Andros Targets — Lt. Phil Lombardi
• 1976The Front — Danny LaGattuta
• Saturday Night Live — Self - Host, Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
• 1974The Godfather Part II — Tony Rosato
• 1973Bang the Drum Slowly — Horse
• Kojak — Matty
• 1973The Godmothers — (uncredited)
• ABC Afterschool Special — Dominic Ginetti

Appearances as themselves (11)

• 2021Stallone: Frank, That Is — Self
• Basketball: A Love Story — Self (archive footage)
• 2014Do The Right Thing 25 Year Anniversary A Beats Music Experience — self
• 2010Mulberry St. — Self
• 2006Moonstruck: At the Heart of an Italian Family — Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien — Self - Guest
• 1990Building 'Jacob's Ladder' — Self
• 1990Night of 100 Stars III — Self
• 1990Richard Lewis: I'm Doomed — Self
• 1989Making 'Do the Right Thing' — Self
• Late Night with David Letterman — Self - Guest