Daniel Louis Aiello, Jr. (born June 20, 1933) is an Italian-American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including Once Upon a Time in America, Ruby, The Godfather: Part II, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Léon: The Professional, Two Days in the Valley, and Dinner Rush. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the 1989 Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. Aiello was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1990 for his portrayal of Sal, the pizzeria owner.
Aiello was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Italian American parents Daniel Louis Aiello, Sr., a laborer, and Frances Pietrocova, a seamstress. He attended James Monroe High School.
Aiello once served as a union representative for Greyhound bus workers, and was a night club bouncer.
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Although his characters are often crass, vulgar, and violent, Aiello has also portrayed sensitive, kindly men with an earthy sense of humor, for example his roles in Jacob's Ladder and Once Around.
Aiello played the title character in the video for Madonna's song "Papa Don't Preach".
Aiello was a Democrat until the Lewinsky sex scandal in 1998, when he switched his support to the Republican Party.[citation needed] He has also criticized swearing in films and television series featuring poor portrayals of Italian Americans, especially The Sopranos.
Aiello has released several CDs of jazz music.
He is the uncle of New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay.
