Frank Joseph Pellegrino (May 19, 1944 – January 31, 2017) was an American actor and restaurateur.
Early life and education
Born in East Harlem on May 19, 1944, to father Frank, a truck driver, and mother, Ida (née Puccillo), a seamstress, Pellegrino graduated from Oceanside High School and Pace College (now Pace University).
Career
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 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.
Death
Pellegrino died from lung cancer on January 31, 2017, in Manhattan. He was 72.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1990
| Goodfellas
| Johnny Dio
|
|-
| 1993
| Manhattan Murder Mystery
| Policeman
|
|-
| 1993
| Mr. Wonderful
| Man In Elevator
|
|-
| 1994
| Angie
| Uncle Marty
|
|-
| 1994
| It Could Happen to You
| Water's Edge Maitre D'
|
|-
| 1995
| Tarantella
| Lou
|
|-
| 1997
| Silent Predator
| Frank Cardelli
|
|-
| 1997
| Cop Land
| The Mayor
|
|-
| 1998
| Celebrity
| Frankie
|
|-
| 1999
| Mickey Blue Eyes
| Sante
|
|-
| 1999
| 18 Shades of Dust
| Eddie Baggs
|
|-
| 2001
| Friends & Family
| Mr. Torcelli
|
|-
| 2001
| Knockaround Guys
| Joey Hook
|
|-
| 2003
| Happy End
| Bernie
|
|-
| 2005
| Searching for Bobby D
| John Argano Sr.
|
|-
| 2005
| Brooklyn Lobster
| Judge Astarita
|
|-
| 2005
| Carlito's Way: Rise to Power
| Crooning Wiseguy
| Video
|-
| 2006
| Artie Lange's Beer League
| Gina's Dad
|
|-
| 2012
| Delivering the Goods
| Mr. Quentin
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role
! Notes<!-- Rowspans allowed only for "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY -->
|-
| 1990
| Kojak: None So Blind
| Bamonte
| Television film
|-
| 1991
| Counterstrike
| Luca<!-- from Dialog. Pellegrino's Screen/End-Credit doesn't list a Character name. IMDb lists the WRONG "Frank Pellegrino(I)" (born 1957, IMDb ID=0671022) for this episode!! IGNORE imdb! -->
| Episode: "Going Home"
|-
| 1993
| Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage
| Johnny
| Television film
|-
| 1994–1995
| New York Undercover
| Detective Ricciarelli
| 16 episodes
|-
| 1995
| The City
| Joseph Soleito Sr.
| 7 episodes
|-
| 1995–1999
| Law & Order
| Tony / Mr. Contini
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1996
| On Seventh Avenue
| Romeo Vega, Attorney
| Television film
|-
| 1996
| Swift Justice
| Carruthers
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1996
| Gotti
| Carmine "Baby Carmine" Russo
| Television film
|-
| 1997
| F/X: The Series
| Vincent Capriccio
| Episode: "Unfinished Business"
|-
| 1998
| Rear Window
| Physical Therapist
| Television film
|-
| 1999–2004
| The Sopranos
| Frank Cubitoso
| 11 episodes
|-
| 2001
| Big Apple
| Howard Klein
| 5 episodes
|-
| 2002
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent
| Carl Pettijohn
| Episode: "Homo Homini Lupus"
|-
| 2015
| Odd Mom Out
| Ronaldo
| Episode: "Wheels Down"
|}