Sandy Cohen Biography

Sandy Cohen is a television producer and the wife of the late actor Danny Aiello who is a former Greyhound bus employee best known for his Oscar-nominated role in the classic 1989 Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing where he played the role of Salvatore “Sal” Fragione, the owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn.

Sandy Cohen Husband

Sandy was married to actor Danny Aiello for 64 years before his death on December 12, 2019. The couple met in New York City when Aiello was only 16 and Sandy was 15 at the time. Within a year the pair were married.

“He was very macho. He was the kind of guy most mothers would not want their daughters to be seen with. But he was so cute and so sweet. He still is.” Sandy once said.

Sandy Cohen Children

Sandy and her husband have four children together; sons Rick, Danny III and Jaime and daughter Stacy. Danny III was a stuntman who doubled for his dad in Do the Right Thing and a stunt coordinator on FX’s Rescue Me. He died in 2010 after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 53.

Who is Danny Aiello

Danny Aiello (Daniel Louis Aiello Jr.) was an American Oscar-nominated actor best known for movies including Do the Right Thing and Moonstruck. He was born to Italian parents, his father was a laborer but he left and Daniel started working at age 9 selling newspapers, working in a grocery store and bowling alley, shining shoes and loading trucks. He joined a street gang in his teenage years and he claimed to have engaged in burglary and safe-cracking. He dropped out of high school before graduating, got married in 1955 and joined the Army where he served for three years.

He later worked several factory jobs, landing as baggage man at Greyhound. He rose to become president of the transit union. He quit his job when Greyhound accused him of starting a wildcat strike and the union leaders agreed.

He broke into Hollywood in 1973 with a role in the baseball film ‘Bang the Drum Slowly’. Shortly after, he played Tony Rosato in The Godfather: Part II, where he said the famous line, “Michael Corleone says hello!”

He received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the classic 1989 Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. In the movie, he played the character of Salvatore “Sal” Fragione, the owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn.

Danny Aiello Death

According to TMZ Danny died on December 12, 2019 at a medical facility in New Jersey. He was in the facility being treated for a sudden illness and had suffered an infection related to his treatment.

His family confirmed his death through a statement that read; “It is with profound sorrow to report that Danny Aiello, beloved husband, father, grandfather, actor and musician passed away last night after a brief illness. The family asks for privacy at this time. Service arrangements will be announced at a later date.”

Danny Aiello Cause of Death

According to TMZ Danny was being treated for a sudden illness and had suffered an infection related to his treatment.