Danny Aiello Dead.

NYC resident who spent most of his career humping luggage at the NY Port Authority Bus Terminal died at 86.

As Trailways, Greyhound and bus travel in general declined, luggage handlers did the obvious: filed for General Relief with NY Social Services.

Not able to bear the shame, he had his wife go thru the awful hell of the NYC Welfare System. No one can actually survive living in NYC on welfare, so he promptly sought night time gigs as "doorman" or "bouncer" in various nightclubs. Such off the books work was common but people doing it soon learned who owned these clubs and how to treat their friends who had to be evicted. He did very well as a Bouncer of Made Men that he became drinking buddies with so many Mafia guys that they thought his personality was great for being an Actor. Afraid to fly he drove to Los Angeles and the West Coast Studio Owners thanked their East Coast friends. Thus a new career: Mafia Don characters were his usual role and he made more money than he had ever dreamed of, doing very well in the roles.

So what do we remember him for?

Luggage schlepping? Lack of courage to face Welfare clerks? Clever with his fists in Mafia clubs? Never losing his fear of flying?
Or as a fine character actor who was clever and aided the studios in creating ways he could carry out his roles?

Quote: Fleastiff

So what do we remember him for?

He got his own thread here for dying, instead of Deadpool 2019?

Quote: Fleastiff

So what do we remember him for?

As a fine character actor who was clever and aided the studios in creating ways he could carry out his roles.

He appeared in feature films at around the age of 40 and died at age 86. He appeared in both Broadway, and Off-Broadway. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming.

I think that his earlier life is only significant for his biography.

The earlier life enhances the inspiration value of his later achievements .

Charles Dutton is another actor who was in prison for most of his youth (up until age of 25).

At the age of 33, Dutton made his Broadway debut in August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, winning a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor.

I loved his performance in Do the Right Thing. To be honest, I suspect he was pretty much playing himself, but who cares? It gives authenticity to a role. What role did John Wayne not play himself, except, maybe, the Quiet Man. I love a good underdog story and Danny's was that. RIP.