Bennett Morgan & Associates, Ltd.

     
Danny Aiello
DANNY AIELLO, a native of New York City, has a reputation for no-holds-barred stage and screen performances, which are brimming with honest emotion. Aiello's portrayal of Cher's jilted fiancé in "Moonstruck" endeared him to film audiences. As 'Sal' in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing," Aiello received unanimous acclaim including Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor, and was named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago Film Critics Associations. He also starred as 'Joe Lieberman' in the romantic comedy "Lieberman in Love." Directed by Christine Lahti, the film won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1996. Aiello is currently starring in the independent film "Lobster Farm" (director Kevin Jordan) alongside Jane Curtain. Other films competed and coming out this year include "Lucky Number Seven" with Bruce Willis and Morgan Freedman, and "The Showmaker" with Judith Light. He is currently shooting a new movie in Boston entitled "STIFFS," a Mavex Film Production, directed and written by Lynn filmmaking brothers Frank and Joe Ciota and produced by Watertown native Sandy Missakian. "STIFFS" follows the plight of a proud Italian-American hearse driver, played by Danny Aiello, who finds himself involved in a devious plot to keep a dying neighborhood funeral home in the black.

A respected actor whose services are always in demand, Aiello received much praise for his role in the surprise hit "Dinner Rush," an independent film directed by Bob Giraldi. On the small screen, Aiello last starred in and executive produced the CBS television series "Dellaventura." The show was filmed entirely in New York City and was based on the true exploits of a former NYPD detective. He followed up his critically acclaimed role of 'The Don' in CBS' "The Last Don 2." Based on the Mario Puzo novel, "The Last Don" was the network's highest rated mini-series since 1994 and brought in over 27 million viewers. Aiello previously distinguished himself on television for his work in the telefilm, "A Family of Strangers," for which he received an Emmy Award for Best Actor.

When Danny is not making movies, he's touring with his eight-piece swinging jazz band, lead by bandleader Joe Geary. His show consists of songs from his debut album "I Just Wanted To Hear The Words," a collection of traditional standards such as "All of Me," "One for My Baby" and "Besame Mucho," together with a variety of other Aiello favorites including a special tribute to singer Bobby Darin. "I Just Wanted to Hear The Words" debuted at #4 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart, just after five days of release alongside Diana Krall and Tony Bennett.

ABC Radio called the album, "Superb," and Conde Nast Traveler Magazine named Aiello to their "What's New and Hot for 2004" list. It's obvious that Danny is just as passionate about his music as he is about his acting and both album and live show have received national critical acclaim. Variety Magazine says "an appealing mix of dash and swagger...a musically adept, firmly controlled baritone" while the Los Angeles Times says, "His voice warm and amiable, his phrasing easygoing and conversational, his singing revealed influences from his numerous idols-Bobby Darin in particular...but as with his acting, Aiello's singing at its core was far more than an accumulation of influences. It was a pure manifestation, instead of his own rich persona, of the abundant life experience he brings to his art." The New York Times adds "Mr. Aiello's singing has the bounce of his idols Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima, and the throaty lyricism of another idol, Tony Bennett."

In addition to playing various theatres, clubs, and casinos Mr. Aiello is especially honored to have performed last year with his band at the monumental Apollo Theatre, the stage of the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, at the breathtaking Rainbow Room, and more recently with the Boston Pops Orchestra. He's also performed with his band on "The Today Show," "Live with Regis & Kelly" and "Carson Daly" to name a few.

Mr. Aiello's other film credits include "Once Around," with Richard Dreyfuss, Gena Rowlands and Holly Hunter; "Mojave Noon," opposite Anne Archer; MGM/UA's "2 Days In The Valley," opposite James Spader; Castle Rock Entertainment's "City Hall," opposite Al Pacino; "Two Much" with Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith; "The Professional," directed by French film maker Luc Besson; Robert Altman's "Ready To Wear;" "The Cemetery Club, " opposite Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis, and Diane Ladd; "Mistress," with Robert DeNiro; "Ruby," in which Aiello portrayed Lee Harvey Oswald's murderer, 'Jack Ruby'; and "29th Street." After making his motion picture debut in "Bang the Drum Slowly," Aiello continued to distinguish himself in such feature films as "Hide In Plain Sight," "Once Upon A Time In America" and "The Purple Rose of Cairo," among others.

His award-winning debut performance in "Lamppost Reunion" led to a number of prominent theatre credits including "Knockout," Woody Allen's "The Floating Light Bulb," and "The House of Blue Leaves." He received an Obie Award for his starring role in "Gemini" - a role he later recreated on Broadway. He also received a Fabergé Award and two Jefferson Nominations for "That Championship Season." Additionally, he received unanimous critical acclaim and an LADCC Best Actor Award for his "on-the-edge" portrayal of 'Phil' in the L.A. debut of "Hurlyburly" and went on to join the national tour of Tom Dulack's hit comedy, "Breaking Legs."

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