Italian-American actor Chazz Palminteri, best known for starring in “A Bronx Tale”, grew up in an Italian-American home in the Bronx, New York. He was born Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri on May 15, 1952. Palminteri has very fond memories of his upbringing in the Belmont section of the Bronx. Growing up in a tough area gave him the life lessons that would later prove very useful to his career. Beyond film and TV, he is involved in other endeavours that showcase his business-savvy and compassion for others.

His family was originally from Menfi in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. A love for his Sicilian heritage and classic Italian restaurants inspired him later in life to get into the food and beverage businesses. Palminteri partnered with the owners of Empire Steak House to open his famed ‘Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant,’ located at the Cambria Hotel on West 46th Street. The upscale restaurant features the finest meat, seafood and pasta dishes, as well as antipasto and traditional Italian desserts.