Born Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri in New York City. Bronx-bred actor-writer who, after bouncing between small parts in film, TV and off-Broadway productions, made his feature lead and screenwriting debut in A BRONX TALE (1993). Palminteri moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and began appearing in numerous TV series, usually as Italian-American gangsters. Discouraged by his inability to land "great roles" in Hollywood, Palminteri wrote the play A Bronx Tale (1988), a one-man showcase featuring 35 characters. This powerful story of an Italian-American boy and the struggle between his father and a local gangster for his devotion garnered great reviews and a long run. He moved the play from LA to New York, where it ran for four sold-out months. After his feature debut in AN EVEN BREAK (1989), Palminteri subsequently appeared in OSCAR (1991), and INNOCENT BLOOD (1992) and NIGHT AND THE CITY (1992). He then co-starred with Robert De Niro (who also directed), in the film version of A Bronx Tale (1988). Woody Allen made use of Palminteri's screen image when he cast him as the poetic gangster Cheech in his ode to the playwright and the theater, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (1994). For his efforts Palminteri walked away with an Oscar® nomination for Supporting Actor. Other notable screen credits include THE PEREZ FAMILY, THE LAST WORD, JADE and THE USUAL SUSPECTS (all 1995), DIABOLIQUE, FAITHFUL (also play, screenplay), DANTE AND THE DEBUTANTE (writer) and MULHOLLAND FALLS (all 1996), HURLYBURLY (1998), ANALYZE THIS, SCAR CITY, EXCELLENT CADAVERS and STUART LITTLE (voice) (all 1999), DOWN TO EARTH and ONE EYED KING (both 2001), POOLHALL JUNKIES (2002), JUST LIKE MONA (2003), NOEL (2004, also director), HOODWINKED! and IN THE MIX (both 2005), RUNNING SCARED, PUSH, LITTLE MAN and A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS (all 2006), BODY ARMOUR and THE DUKES (also producer) (both 2007), and JOLENE, JOE YONKERS, SAFE (also producer) and CAT TALE (all scheduled for release in 2008). Palminteri has directed some television movies and TV series episodes.  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1994: BULLETS OVER BROADWAY 1 nomination