Born in the Bronx, CHAZZ PALMINTERI is a veteran theater actor and writer that first gained wide public attention in the early 1990’s with the critically acclaimed lead actor and screenwriting debut, "A Bronx Tale" (1993).
During the early 1980’s, Palminteri acted in off-Broadway productions such as "The Guys in the Truck" and "Twenty-Two Years" while appearing in several student films, including Ang Lee's "Fine Line" (1984). In the mid 1980’s he made guest appearances in numerous TV series that are now classics including "Wiseguy," "Hill Street Blues" and "Matlock.”
Still looking for the major breakout role to suit his talents, he wrote the play "A Bronx Tale" (1988), a remarkable one-man show featuring 35 characters.
This compelling 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.
After his feature debut in "An Even Break" (1989), Palminteri subsequently appeared in the Sylvester Stallone comedy "Oscar" (1991), as well as supporting roles in "Innocent Blood" and "Night and the City" (both 1992). But his big break came with his co-starring role opposite first-time director Robert De Niro in the film version of "A Bronx Tale" (1993). Next, Woody Allen cast him in "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994) for which he earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor.
In 1995, Palminteri co-starred with Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro and Gabriel Byrne in the critical and International cult hit "The Usual Suspects," directed by Bryan Singer. The success of the film proved to be the start of a stream of high-profile roles for the actor. He starred in "Jade" (1995), written by Joe Eszterhas and directed by William Friedkin. In 1996, he played Sharon Stone’s unlucky lover in "Diabolique" and was a member of the 1950s "Hat Squad" with Nick Nolte in the cop drama "Mulholland Falls." His second screenplay, "Faithful," with Cher and Ryan O’Neil, was released in 1996.
Palminteri continues to divide his roles between high profile features, playing opposite Robert De Niro again and Billy Crystal in “Analyze This” (1999), directed by Harold Ramis; and as the voice of ‘Smokey, the Chief Alley-Cat in the smash hit adventure-comedy “Stuart Little” (1999), directed by Robert Minkoff. Other movies include edgy, independent fare like “Hurly Burly” (1998) with Sean Penn, and “Poolhall Junkies” with Rod Steiger.
In 2004, Palminteri reached an even bigger audience by aping his tough, wise guy image in the successful “Vanilla Coke” ads and can next be seen in the feature “Running Scared” (2005) with Paul Walker.
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