Occupation Actor, restaurateur | Years active 1989–2015 | |
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Full Name Frank Joseph Pellegrino Born May 19, 1944 ( 1944-05-19 ) East Harlem, New York, U.S. Died 31 January 2017, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, United States Spouse Josephine Pellegrino (m. 1968–2017) Books Rao's Cookbook: Over 100 Years of Italian Home Cooking Children Frank Pellegino Jr., Angela Pellegrino Movies Goodfellas, Mickey Blue Eyes, Cop Land, Food of the Gods II, It Could Happen to You Similar Vincent Pastore, Johnny Dio, Carla Pellegrino, Kelly Makin, Damian Lee | ||
Frank Joseph Pellegrino (May 19, 1944 – January 31, 2017) was an American actor and restaurateur.
Born in East Harlem, Pellegrino has often acted in law and gangster-themed film and television productions. He was a member of an early 1960s singing group called the Holidaes. Notable acting roles include Johnny Dio in Goodfellas, assorted appearances on Dick Wolf's Law & Order, and FBI Chief Frank Cubitoso on HBO's The Sopranos.
Pellegrino was a co-owner of the restaurant Rao's in New York City. Books written by Pellegrino include Rao's Cookbook, Rao's Recipes from the Neighborhood and Rao's on the Grill. He also produced the CD An Evening at Rao's, featuring music from Rao's jukebox.
Pellegrino appeared in the 'Pantaleone's' episode of Kitchen Nightmares, along with Gordon Ramsay.
Pellegrino died from lung cancer on January 31, 2017 in Manhattan. He was 72.
