Actors - Lillo Brancato Jr.

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	Actors - Lillo Brancato Jr.

Lillo Brancato Jr. (August 19, 1976) is an American actor born in Bogotá, Colombia, most well-known for his breakout role of Calogero Anello in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, A Bronx Tale
. He also played a young mobster on The Sopranos
.

In December 2005, Brancato was charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role in a burglary in the Bronx in which an off-duty police officer, Daniel Enchautegui, was fatally shot.

Life and career

Brancato was adopted when he was four months old and raised in Yonkers, New York. Brancato was discovered while swimming at Jones Beach by a casting director who was searching for Robert DeNiro look-alikes, and who was impressed by Brancato's impersonation of Joe Pesci and DeNiro's character from "Taxi Driver", which won him the role of Calogero Anello.

His brother, Vincent Brancato, had a small part in A Bronx Tale as well, playing one of the boys who jumped on the back of the bus driven by Robert De Niro's character. This scene was filmed on City Island.

Brancato has also appeared in several season two episodes of The Sopranos as Matthew Bevilaqua, a young mobster who was eventually murdered. He also played a small part in Crimson Tide (1995) with Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman.

Drug possession arrest

On June 10, 2005, Brancato was arrested by police in Yonkers, New York, and charged with seventh-degree misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance. According to press reports, police pulled Brancato over for having a rear brake light out and found he had an expired registration and no other papers for the vehicle. He gave police permission to look in a cigarette box where they found four bags of heroin.

Second-degree murder arrest

On December 10, 2005, Brancato was arrested by the New York City Police Department on suspicion of the murder of off-duty police officer Daniel Enchautegui. Enchautegui confronted two burglars at an unoccupied house next door to his house in the Bronx after hearing glass break. While Enchautegui was waiting for backup, a gunfight erupted. Enchautegui was shot and brought to the hospital where he died. Police soon arrested Brancato and 48-year-old Steven Armento in the vicinity, both with multiple gunshot wounds and in critical condition. Armento, who is the father of Brancato's girlfriend, was arraigned on first-degree murder. Brancato was arraigned on second-degree murder.

Coincidentally, Enchautegui lived in the same building (located on Arnow Place in the Pelham Bay section of the borough) where actor Francis Capra once lived. Capra portrayed Calogero Anello at age 9, the character Brancato portrayed at age 17, in A Bronx Tale.

Officer Enchautegui had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 40th Precinct in the Bronx.

In an exclusive New York Post interview, Brancato apologized to Enchautegui's family for his actions. His apology was met with anger and was called worthy of an Academy Award by Enchautegui's sister.

Recently, Brancato told New York Magazine that he believes his life story would be film-worthy. However, the Policeman's Benevolent Association has vowed that Brancato should not be allowed to profit if a film is made about his life.

Filmography

Saturday Morning (2006)
Searching for Bobby D (2005)
Slingshot (2005)
Downtown: A Street Tale (2004)
The Real Deal (2002)
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
(2002)
NYPD Blue (2002)
In the Shadows (2001)
'R Xmas (2001)
Sticks (2001)
HRT (2001)
Mambo Cafe (2000)
Falcone (2000)
The Sopranos
(2000)
Blue Moon (2000)
Table One (2000)
The Florentine (1999)
Dead Man's Gun (1999)
Enemy of the State
(1998)
Provocateur (1998)
Firehouse (1997)
Crimson Tide (1995)
Renaissance Man
(1994)
A Bronx Tale
(1993)

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Lillo Brancato Jr. ]

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