Richard Aiello (September 21, 1955 – July 26, 2021) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing Officer Long in the Spike Lee films Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever.
Career Aiello worked as a nightclub bouncer, bartender and club manager, and later pursued his acting career.
Aiello guest-starred in television programs including Diagnosis: Murder, L.A. Law, 21 Jump Street, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Early Edition, The Sopranos, Walker, Texas Ranger and 18 Wheels of Justice. He also appeared and co-starred in films such as Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Clockers as NYCPD patrol officers, One Good Cop as an NYCPD detective, She Hate Me, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, The Don's Analyst, Me and the Kid, Hollywood Confidential, Sex and the City, A Brooklyn State of Mind, 29th Street and Silent Madness. Aiello also co-starred in the short-lived American crime drama television series Dellaventura, playing Teddy Naples. He retired in 2016, last appearing in the film Nobody's Perfect.
Personal life Aiello was the son of actor Danny Aiello. Aiello died of pancreatic cancer at St. Anthony Community Hospital (WMCHealth) in Warwick, New York, on July 26, 2021, at the age of 65.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1984Silent MadnessMichael1984The TerminatorBouncer1989Do the Right ThingOfficer Long1989Harlem NightsMan #11990DowntownMickey Witlin1990The CloserBilly Grant1991One Good CopKnudson1991SwitchWiseguy at Duke's1991Jungle FeverOfficer Long199129th StreetJimmy Vitello1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with MeCliff Howard1993Me and the KidAgent Pasetta1994MinotaurMink1994EndangeredSheriff Shirley1995ClockersCop #21998A Brooklyn State of MindNicky Vetrino2000Other VoicesMink2001One Eyed KingTerry / Voice over2004She Hate MeRocco Bonasera2004Jimmy Whispers Returns to Mulberry StreetBobby Bars2005RemedyTom2005Brooklyn LobsterTommy C.2007The GentlemanCooper Russo2008Sex and the CityAngry Driver2012Destination FameMr. Perry2014Twin Peaks: The Missing PiecesCliff Howard2014Reach MeMaitre D'2016Nobody's PerfectDr. Drummond
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1989Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical MurderParker NewtonTelevision film1989The Preppie MurderPoliceman198921 Jump StreetLennyEpisode: "Say It Ain't So, Pete"1990K-9000WaiterTelevision film1990Parker KaneBartender1990Knights of the Kitchen TableBarry1991L.A. LawMichael MaceinaEpisode: "Badfellas"1992The Fifth CornerOvid GiorganoEpisode: "Home"1992Tales from the CryptMartyEpisode: "This'll Kill Ya"1992Angel StreetGianni AmericaEpisode: "Death of a Car Salesman"1993RenegadeJohnny BendettiEpisode: "The Rabbit and the Fox"1994, 1996Diagnosis: MurderEddie Romero / Daniel Strega2 episodes1994, 2001Walker, Texas RangerChachi / Anthony2 episodes1995MarkerHit manEpisode: "Factor X"1995Brothers' DestinyYale PreacherTelevision film1995, 1996Strange LuckFrankie2 episodes1996NYPD BlueJoe CarlinEpisode: "A Tushful of Dollars"1996High IncidentAlEpisode: "52 Car Pick-Up"1997Hollywood ConfidentialJoey Di RosaTelevision film1997The Don's AnalystFrankie Leoni1997–1998DellaventuraTeddy Naples14 episodes1998CluelessJason2 episodes2000Early EditionKnucklesEpisode: "Everybody Goes to Rick's"200118 Wheels of JusticeEddie 'The Horse' FerengaEpisode: "Amore... Omerta"2001V.I.P.DolmanEpisode: "Amazon Val"2002100 Centre StreetWilliam MonteleoneEpisode: "Justice Delayed"2002CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationBoxing RefereeEpisode: "Fight Night"2003Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCraig FultonEpisode: "Choice"2006, 2008Law & Order: Criminal IntentThug Boyfriend / Mac McGregor2 episodes2007The SopranosRay-Ray D'Abaldo2010Ugly BettyBouncer #1Episode: "London Calling"
References
External links
Rotten Tomatoes profile