Danny Aiello, actor known for iconic roles in 'Godfather II' and 'Do the Right Thing', dies at 86
Veteran actor Danny Aiello, best known for his pivotal role in Spike Lee's 1989 film 'Do the Right Thing' has died. He was 86-years-old.
TMZ, citing his family, reported that Aiello died on December 12, at a medical facility in New Jersey where he was being treated for a sudden illness. The actor is said to have suffered an infection related to his treatment and succumbed shortly after his family left after visiting him that evening.
The fifth of six children, Aiello first broke into films in the early 1970s and made a name for himself as one of the most talented supporting actors on the circuit.
One of his earliest roles came as a ballplayer in 1973 baseball drama 'Bang the Drum Slowly' with Robert De Niro, before turning out in a walk-on role as small-time hood Tony Rosato in 'The Godfather II'.
He was responsible for ad-libbing the now-iconic line "Michael Corleone says hello!" during a hit on rival gangster Frank Pentangeli.
He was paired with De Niro again for Sergio Leone gangster epic 'Once Upon a Time in America' in 1984, and also made appearances in two of Woody Allen's films, 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' (1985) and 'Radio Days' (1987).
His most recognizable part, however, was as pizzeria owner Sal in 'Do the Right Thing', where he was also responsible for writing a crucial scene he shared with John Turturro just ten minutes prior to its production.
That role earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as film critic awards from Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
He also sang in films such as 'Hudson Hawk' (1991), 'Once Around' (1991) and 'Remedy,' and has released several albums, including 'I Just Wanted to Hear the Words' (2004), 'Live From Atlantic City' (2008), and 'My Christmas Song For You' (2010).
He is survived by his wife, Sandy Cohen, and their three children, Rick, Jaime, and Stacey Aiello. His son, Danny Aiello III, died in 2010 of pancreatic cancer.