Net Worth Ranker
What Is Chazz Palminteri’s Net Worth?
Chazz Palminteri, an accomplished American actor, producer, screenwriter, and playwright, has cultivated a substantial career in the entertainment industry. As of 2025, Chazz Palminteri’s net worth is estimated to be $16 million. This figure reflects his decades-long involvement in numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects across film, television, and theater.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri, professionally known as Chazz Palminteri, was born on May 15, 1952, in the Bronx, New York City. He grew up in a close-knit Italian-American family, with his mother, Rose, working as a homemaker and his father, Lorenzo, driving a bus. His Sicilian heritage played a significant role in his upbringing, as his grandparents immigrated from Agrigento, Sicily, in 1910.
A pivotal moment in Palminteri’s childhood occurred when he witnessed a mob killing outside his apartment. This event later inspired his autobiographical one-man show, “A Bronx Tale.” During his early career, Palminteri juggled acting in off-Broadway plays with working as a bouncer to make ends meet. He secured minor roles in films such as “Home Free All” and “The Last Dragon,” and made appearances in television shows including “Hill Street Blues,” “Matlock,” “Dallas,” and “Wiseguy.” These early roles provided valuable experience, but it was his one-man show that truly launched his career.
Breakthrough with “A Bronx Tale” and Subsequent Film Career
In 1989, Palminteri debuted his autobiographical one-man show, “A Bronx Tale,” at Theatre West in Los Angeles. The show’s success led to a two-month run at Playhouse 91, garnering significant attention. This theatrical triumph paved the way for his collaboration with Robert De Niro in 1993, who adapted “A Bronx Tale” into a feature film. De Niro directed the film, while Palminteri wrote the screenplay and co-starred. “A Bronx Tale” was a commercial and critical success, marking a significant turning point in Palminteri’s career, although specific box office revenues are not detailed here.
Following “A Bronx Tale,” Palminteri continued to build his filmography with memorable roles. In Woody Allen’s 1994 crime comedy “Bullets Over Broadway,” he played mob henchman Cheech, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Another notable role came in 1995, when he portrayed Special Agent Dave Kujan in the mystery thriller “The Usual Suspects.” Throughout the 1990s, Palminteri appeared in various films, including the thrillers “Jade,” “Diabolique,” and “Mulholland Falls,” as well as comedies like “The Perez Family,” “A Night at the Roxbury,” and “Analyze This.” He also starred in and wrote “Faithful” alongside Cher and voiced Smokey in “Stuart Little.” Details regarding his specific salary for each of these films are not publicly available.
In the 2000s, Palminteri continued to work steadily in film, with credits including “Down to Earth,” “One Eyed King,” “Poolhall Junkies,” “One Last Ride,” “In the Mix,” “Running Scared,” and “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.” He also directed the Christmas-themed drama “Noel,” featuring Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz, Paul Walker, and Alan Arkin. Palminteri provided voice acting for animated films such as “Hoodwinked!” and “Arthur and the Minimoys.” Other notable film credits include “Yonkers Joe,” “Jolene,” “The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure,” and “Mighty Fine,” as well as crime films like “Once Upon a Time in Queens,” “Legend,” and “Vault.” Specific financial details from these projects, such as box office performance and Palminteri’s individual earnings, are not available.
Television Career and Recurring Roles
Palminteri’s television career began in 1990 with an appearance on the CBS sitcom “Sydney.” He returned to television in the late 1990s with a starring role in the HBO movie “Excellent Cadavers” opposite F. Murray Abraham. In 2001, he portrayed real-life crime boss Paul Castellano in the television movie “Boss of Bosses.” Following this, he appeared in episodes of “Dr. Vegas” and the short-lived 2005 remake of “Kojak.” The financial terms of these roles are not publicly disclosed.
The 2010s brought some of Palminteri’s most memorable television roles. He had a recurring role as Frank Rizzoli Sr. on the crime drama “Rizzoli & Isles” and played Shorty on the ABC sitcom “Modern Family.” Palminteri’s other television credits include appearances on “Blue Bloods,” “Kevin Can Wait,” and “Godfather of Harlem,” where he portrays crime boss Joe Bonanno. The exact remuneration for these television roles has not been made public, but they contributed to his overall income and fame.
Personal Life and Business Interests
In 1992, Palminteri married Gianna Ranaudo, and they have two children. The family resides in Bedford, Westchester County, New York. Palminteri identifies as a devout Roman Catholic and is a fan of the New York Yankees. In 2011, Palminteri opened a restaurant called Chazz: A Bronx Original in Baltimore, Maryland, offering coal-fired pizza and Italian cuisine. The restaurant closed in 2015. He later opened Chazz Palminteri Ristorante Italiano on Second Avenue in New York City. Details about the financial performance of these restaurants are not publicly accessible. The success from his career has led to Chazz Palminteri’s net worth to be valued at $16 million.
