00:00Danny Aiello, the New York actor best known for his Oscar-nominated turn in Do the Right Thing
00:04and his role opposite Cher in Moonstruck, has died. He was 86.
00:09His rep told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor died Thursday night after a brief illness.
00:13Aiello didn't start acting until he was 35.
00:16His credits include The Godfather Part II, The Front, Fort Apache, The Bronx,
00:20The Purple Rose of Cairo, 29th Street, Ruby, The Pickle, and The Cemetery Club.
00:25And after singing Fly Me to the Moon in the 1991 film Once Around,
00:29he wound up releasing a handful of jazz albums, including 2004's I Just Wanted to Hear the Words.
00:35The album made it to No. 9 on the Billboard Jazz Chart.
00:37I can't even hear myself thinking!
00:40Stars have been taking to social media to remember Aiello.
00:43Do the Right Thing director Spike Lee remembered Aiello with a handful of Instagram posts.
00:47He wrote,
00:48I'm heartbroken. Just found out my brother Danny Aiello made his transition last night.
00:53Danny, we made cinema history together with Do the Right Thing. May you rest in paradise.
00:57And Chera took to Twitter to pay tribute to her late co-star.
01:01She wrote,
01:01Goodbye, dear Danny Aiello. Danny was a great actor, but a genius comedic actor.
01:06We laughed so much making Moonstruck.
01:08It was one of the happiest times in my life, and he was a part of that happy time.
01:11The moon is a little like love.
01:14Will you marry me?
01:16I will marry you. I will be your wife.
01:18For much more on Danny Aiello's life and career and more stars who are paying tribute,
01:23go to THR.com.
01:24Until next time, for The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Tiffany Taylor.
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