Before breaking into a film & television acting career in the early 1970s, Aiello served in the United States Army, as President of the New York Local 1202 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and a bouncer at the legendary NYC comedy club, The Improv. Aiello appeared in numerous motion pictures, including The Godfather Part II, The Front, Once Upon a Time in America, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Harlem Nights. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Salvatore “Sal” Frangione in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. Multi-talented, Aiello also appeared on Broadway several times, recorded numerous albums featuring a big band, and published an autobiography before his passing.