Daniel Louis Aiello, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including Once Upon a Time in America, Ruby, The Godfather: Part II, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Léon: The Professional, Two Days in the Valley, and Dinner Rush. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the 1989 Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. Aiello was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1990 for his portrayal of Sal, the pizzeria owner.

Aiello was born in Manhattan and moved to the South Bronx when he was seven, the son of Italian American parents Daniel Louis Aiello, Sr., a laborer, and Frances, a seamstress who was a native of Naples, Italy. He attended James Monroe High School.

At sixteen years old, Aiello lied about his age in order to enlist in the U.S. Army. After serving for three years, he returned to NYC and did various jobs in order to support himself and later his family. Aiello also once served as a union representative for Greyhound bus workers, and was a night club bouncer.

Although his characters are often crass, vulgar, and violent, Aiello has also portrayed sensitive, kindly men with an earthy sense of humor, for example his roles in Jacob's Ladder and Once Around.

Aiello played the title character in the video for Madonna's song "Papa Don't Preach". Aiello has released several albums of big band music. On the Family Guy episode Sibling Rivalry (Family Guy), Peter pretends that his penis is Danny Aiello.