Chazz Palminteri

Chazz Palminteri is an Academy Award–nominated actor, screenwriter, and playwright known for work across film, television, and theater.

Palminteri earned an Academy Award nomination and Independent Spirit Award win for his portrayal of Cheech in Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway.” His other film credits include “In the Mix,” starring Usher; the animated comedy “Hoodwinked” with Glenn Close, Jim Belushi, and Anne Hathaway; “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”; “The Dukes”; “Push”; “Running Scared”; and “Cat Tale.” He made his directorial debut with the holiday film “Noel,” starring Penélope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, and Paul Walker, which became the first feature distributed through Flexplay. On television, he starred in USA Network’s “Kojak” and portrayed Mob boss Paul Castellano in TNT’s “Boss of Bosses.” He also directed the “Oz” episode “Unnatural Disasters” and the Showtime film “Women vs. Men.”

Palminteri is best known for creating “A Bronx Tale,” which he first performed as a one-man stage show in Los Angeles before moving it to New York, where it ran for four sold-out months and earned Outer Critics Circle nominations for acting and writing. He also wrote and starred in the film adaptation and later appeared in the play “Faithful” opposite Cher and Ryan O’Neal.

He hosts the podcast, "The Chazz Palminteri Show."

In addition to his artistic work, Palminteri received the 1996 Leadership in Entertainment Award from the Coalition of Italo-American Associations and a Special Achievement Award for the Performing Arts from the National Italian American Foundation, presented by President Clinton. He serves as national spokesperson for the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, supporting research and awareness of thalassemia.