Born Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. New York City. Experienced Broadway performer (Gemini, 1977, Hurlyburly, 1985, The House of Blue Leaves, 1986) who entered films at the age of 40 in BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (1973). Aiello established himself as a leading New York character actor in a wide variety of roles, from the adulterous and unsympathetic husband in Woody Allen's THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985) to the confused and trapped pizzeria owner in Spike Lee's DO THE RIGHT THING (1989). Other notable credits in over 90 film and TV appearances include FORT APACHE THE BRONX and CHU CHU AND THE PHILLY FLASH (both 1981), ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA (1984), RADIO DAYS, THE PICK-UP ARTIST and MOONSTRUCK (all 1987), HARLEM NIGHTS (1989), JACOB'S LADDER (1990), HUDSON HAWK (1991), RUBY (1992 - as Jack Ruby), THE CEMETERY CLUB (1993), PRÊT-À-PORTER (1994), LIEBERMAN IN LOVE (1995), CITY HALL and 2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY (both 1996), "The Last Don" and "The Last Don II" (1997-8, TV mini-series), DINNER RUSH, MAMBO CAFÉ and PRINCE OF CENTRAL PARK (all 2000), OFF KEY (2001), MAIL ORDER BRIDE (2003), ZEYDA AND THE HITMAN (2004), THE FOOL (voice) and BROOKLYN LOBSTER (both 2005), STIFFS, LUCKY NUMBER SLEVEN, THE LAST REQUEST and A BROKEN SOLE (all 2006), and ANYONE'S SON and 4CHOSEN (both scheduled for 2008).  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1989: DO THE RIGHT THING 1 nomination