List of Sicilian Americans
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==Artists, writers, and musicians==
*[[Henry Armetta]], ([[Palermo]], [[Sicily]], [[July 4]], [[1888]] - [[San Diego]], [[California]], [[October 21]], [[1945]]) was a movie character actor who appeared in at least 150 films, starting in silents as early as 1915 to a movie released in 1946, after his death. In 1938 he played in "Everybody Sing" with [[Judy Garland]], [[Allan Jones]], and [[Fanny Brice]]. In 1941, he was hilarious as the father of an Italian family shopping for beds in "The Big Store" with the [[Marx Brothers]] and [[Tony Martin (entertainer)|Tony Martin]]. He appeared in at least 24 films in 1934 alone, sometimes uncredited.
*[[Armand Assante]] was born on [[October 4]], [[1949]] in [[New York City, New York]] to an [[Italian people|Sicilian]] father and an [[Irish people|Irish]] mother. Assante is an accomplished [[character actor]], with his big break coming in 1974 in "The Lords of Flatbush". His sometimes sinister look has made him a popular choice for movies and TV.
*[[Joseph Barbera]], born '''Joseph Roland Barbera''' ([[March 24]], [[1911]] – [[December 18]] [[2006]]), is an [[animator]], [[cartoon artist]], [[storyboard]] artist, [[television director|director]], [[television producer|producer]] and co-founder, together with [[William Hanna]] of [[Hanna-Barbera]] (now known as [[Cartoon Network Studios]]). The studio produced well-known cartoons such as ''[[The Huckleberry Hound Show]]'', ''[[The Flintstones]]'', ''[[The Jetsons]]'', and ''[[Scooby-Doo]]''.
*[[Sonny Bono]], born '''Salvatore Phillip Bono''' ([[February 16]], [[1935]] – [[January 5]], [[1998]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[record producer]], [[singer]], [[actor]] and [[politician]] whose career spanned over three decades.
*[[Argentina Brunetti]], ([[August 31]], [[1907]] — [[December 20]], [[2005]]) was an [[actress]] and [[writer]]. She followed [[Mimi Aguglia]], her famous mother's footsteps in the [[theater]]. She began her movie debut in the [[Frank Capra]] classic ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' ([[1946 in film|1946]]), as Mrs. Martini. Throughout her varied career she has also written and performed in daily [[radio]] shows, became a member of the '[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]', writing numerous articles on Hollywood personalities, authored books, written music and acted in over 57 television programs and 68 movies in which she mainly played multi-ethnic roles. She hosted a weekly weblog on the Internet, called ''Argentina Brunetti's Hollywood Stories'', which her son plans to continue running, and has written a biographical novel called ''In Sicilian Company''.
*[[Frank Capra]], ([[May 18]], [[1897]] – [[September 3]], [[1991]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[film director]] and a major creative force behind a number of highly popular films.Born '''Francesco Rosario Capra''' in [[Bisacquino]], [[Sicily]], Capra moved with his family to America in 1903, settling in [[Los Angeles, California]].
*[[Richard S. Castellano]], ([[September 4]], [[1933]] – [[December 10]], [[1988]]). The actor became famous as [[Pete Clemenza]] in [[The Godfather]].
* [[Gary Chester]] (October 27, 1924 - August 17, 1987) (born '''Cesario Gurciullo''' in Saracusa, Italy) was one of the twentieth century's busiest studio drummers. Gary is counted as one of the greats when it comes to studio session drummers.<ref>{{cite news | "When talking about the great studio drummers, Gary Chester deserves a place near the top of the list." | title ="The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums" 2nd edition [http://www.molehillgroup.com/new_page_23.htm] | accessdate = 2007-11-19 }}</ref> His work appears on thousands of tracks, including hundreds of hit records from the '50s, '60s and '70s. He claimed to have logged some 15,000 studio sessions over three decades. He is on the short list of 20th Century Drummers' Hall of Fame.<ref>[http://www.rhythmweb.com/drummers.htm 20th century drummersa hall of fame<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*[[Iron Eyes Cody]], ([[April 3]], [[1904]] – [[January 4]], [[1999]]) was an [[actor]] born in [[Kaplan, Louisiana]]. He was born '''Espera DeCorti''', the son of [[Sicilians|Sicilian]] immigrants '''Francesca Salpietra''' and '''Antonio DeCorti'''. He was not born a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], but he claimed to be part [[Cherokee]] and part [[Cree]]. Cody and his wife '''Bertha Parker''' adopted children that were Native American. Cody began his acting career at the age of 12 and continued to work until the time of his death. In 1996, the ''[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]]'' exposed his true heritage, but Cody denied it.
*[[Dan Cortese]], (born [[September 14]], [[1967]] near [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]) is an [[actor]]. Born in the [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] suburb of [[Sewickley, Pennsylvania]], Cortese first came to prominence as host of ''[[MTV Sports]]'' from 1992 to 1993. He has had starring roles in the 1993 remake of ''[[Route 66 (TV)|Route 66]]'', ''[[Traps]]'', ''[[Melrose Place]]'', ''[[The Single Guy]]'', ''[[Veronica's Closet]]'', and ''[[Ball & Chain]]''.
*[[Alan Dale]], ([[July 9]], [[1926]]-[[April 20]], [[2002]]) was a singer of [[traditional pop music|traditional popular]] and [[rock'n'roll]] music. He was born '''Aldo Sigismondi''' in the [[Brooklyn]] borough of [[New York, New York|New York]], [[New York]]. His father, '''Aristide Sigismondi,''' immigrated to the [[United States]] from [[Abruzzi]], [[Italy]] in [[1904]] at the age of 21, and became a [[comedy|comedian]] in [[Italian language]] theater, with a [[radio]] program of his own. His mother, '''Agata "Kate" Sigismondi,''' was born in [[Messina]], [[Sicily]], and was 15 years younger than Aristide.
*[[Arturo Di Modica]] is a [[New York City]] artist, born in [[Sicily]], best known for his sculpture ''[[Charging Bull]]'' (also known as the "Wall Street Bull"), which he installed without permission in front of the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in December 1989. The piece is now on loan to the [[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] who have placed it in nearby [[Bowling Green (New York City)|Bowling Green]] park. Di Modica now lives in [[New York City]].
*[[Ben Gazzara]], (born '''Biagio Anthony Gazzara''' on [[August 28]], [[1930]], in [[New York City]]), is an [[actor]] in [[television]] and [[motion pictures]]. Born to [[Sicily|Sicilian]] immigrants, '''Antonio Gazzara''' and '''Angela Consumano''', Gazzara grew up on New York's tough [[Lower East Side, Manhattan|Lower East Side]]. He found relief from his bleak surroundings in joining a theater company at a very young age. Years later, he said that the discovery of his love for acting saved him from the crime that was all around him during his teenage years.
*[[Lino Graglia]] is the [[Dalton Cross]] Professor of Law at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] specializing in [[antitrust]] litigation. He obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] from the [[City College of New York]] in 1952, and an [[LLB]] from [[Columbia University]] in 1954. He worked in the [[United States Department of Justice]] during the administration of President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. Graglia is an outspoken [[Catholic]] [[Conservatism|conservative]] of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] background. He is a well known critic of [[affirmative action]] and [[racial quotas]].
*[[Frankie Laine]], born '''Frank Paul LoVecchio''' on [[March 30]], [[1913]], is an influential [[United States|American]] singer. Frankie's parents emigrated from [[Monreale]], [[Sicily]] to Chicago's "Little Italy". At 17 he sang before a crowd of 5,000 at The Merry Garden Ballroom to such enthusiastic applause that he ended up performing five encores on his first night. But success as a singer was another 17 years away. Frankie Laine's 70-plus year career spanned most of the [[20th century]] and has continued into the 21st. Laine was a key figure in the golden age of [[popular music]], and remains, quite possibly the greatest singer of all time. On [[June 12]], [[1996]], he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 27th Annual Songwriters’ Hall of Fame awards ceremony at the New York Sheraton.
*[[Cyndi Lauper]], (born [[June 22]], [[1953]]), '''Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper''', better known as '''Cyndi Lauper''', is a singer whose melodic voice and wild costumes have come to epitomize the [[1980s]], the decade in which she first came to fame. She was born in [[Queens]], [[New York]] to [[Swiss German]]-[[United States|American]] Fred Lauper and [[Sicily|Sicilian]] [[Italian-American]] Catrine Dominique.
*[[Patti LuPone]], (born [[April 21]], [[1949]] in [[Northport, New York]]) is an American singer and actress of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] descent.<ref>[http://moxieblog.typepad.com/moxieblog/2006/07/god_thats_good.html]"Let me just say how awesome it is to see Patti Lupone - THE Patti LuPone - live. I was reminded of the story I once heard about how, when Madonna wanted to rehearse on a stage where Patti Lupone was rehearsing, Patti taped a note on the door saying, "Only one Sicilian Diva allowed on the stage at a time." That's why I love her, true story or not. She brings those balls to her Sweeney character."</ref> She is a graduate of [[Northport High School]]. An important player in contemporary American [[musical theater]], she has performed on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in works by [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], [[Stephen Sondheim]] and others. She won a [[Tony Award]] for ''[[Evita (musical)|Evita]]'' in 1980.
*[[Leo Martello]], ([[1931]]-[[2000]]) was an author, lecturer, [[gay rights|gay civil rights]] activist, and an early voice in the American [[Neopaganism|Neopagan]] movement. He drew heavily on his [[Sicily|Sicilian]] heritage, teaching the [[Strega Tradition]] which was named after the Italian word for Witch. As a founder of the [[Witches Anti-Defamation League]] (later the [[Alternative Religions Education Network]]) he was known for his lively and sometimes confrontational style. For example, in his books he tried to popularize the "Witches' Curse" which was "I wish you on yourself". He was profiled in [[Margot Adler]]'s ''[[Drawing Down the Moon]]''.
*[[Natalie Merchant]], (born [[October 26]], [[1963]] in [[Jamestown, New York|Jamestown]], [[New York]], [[United States|USA]]) is a versatile [[musician]]. Merchant co-founded and fronted the successful band [[10,000 Maniacs]] in [[1981]], but left the band in 1993 for a solo career. Her father's original Italian name was '''Mercante''' but was americanized into '''Merchant'''. Her mother's side is Irish.
*[[Sal Mineo]], born '''Salvatore Mineo, Jr.''' ([[January 10]], [[1939]] - [[February 12]], [[1976]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] and [[theater director]], famous for his [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-nominated performance opposite [[James Dean]] in the film ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]''.Mineo, born in [[The Bronx]], [[New York, New York|New York City]] as the son of a [[Sicily|Sicilian]] coffin maker, was enrolled by his mother in dancing and acting school at an early age.
*[[Al Pacino]], born '''Alfredo James Pacino''' (born [[April 25]], [[1940]] in [[The Bronx]], [[New York City|New York]], [[USA]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[film]] [[actor]].Pacino is the son of Salvatore Pacino (who was born in [[Italy]]) and Rose Gerard (the daughter of an [[Italy|Italian]]-born father and a [[New York]]-born mother of [[Italian people|Italian]] descent). His parents divorced while Pacino was still a child. His grandparents originate from [[Corleone]], [[Sicily]].
*[[Louis Prima]] was born into a musical family of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] descent in [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]]. He studied [[violin]] for several years as a child. His older brother [[Leon Prima]] was a well regarded local bandleader. Prima was proud of his heritage, and made a point of letting the audience know at every performance that he was [[Italian-American]] and from New Orleans. His singing and playing showed that he absorbed many of the same influences as his fellow Crescent City musician, [[Louis Armstrong]], particularly in his hoarse voice and [[scat singing]].
*[[Mario Puzo]], ([[October 15]], [[1920]] – [[July 2]], [[1999]]) was an American author known for his fictional books about the [[Mafia]]. Puzo was born into a family of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] immigrants living in the "[[Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan|Hell's Kitchen]]" neighborhood of [[New York City]]. Many of his books draw heavily on this Sicilian heritage.
*[[Leah Remini]], (born [[June 15]], [[1970]] in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]) is an [[actor|actress]]. She is best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan on the sitcom ''[[The King of Queens]]''. Her father '''George Remini''', owner of an asbestos company, originates from [[Sicily]]. Her mother '''Vicki Marshall''', a high school principal, is [[Jewish]].
*[[Pete Rugolo]], (born [[December 25]], [[1915]]) is a Sicilian-born composer and arranger. He was born in [[Patti]], [[Sicily]], but his parents emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settled in [[Santa Rosa]], [[California]]. He started his musical career playing the [[baritone]], like his father, but he quickly branched out into other instruments, notably the [[French horn]] and the piano. He is most famous for his writing for the [[Stan Kenton]] Orchestra, although he led a long and successful career as a [[composer]] and [[arranger]] based in Los Angeles for many years. He has written for [[the Four Freshmen]] (for whom he was musical director) and many others.
*[[Martin Scorsese]],</b> (pronounced as Scor-SEH-see) (born [[November 17]], [[1942]] in [[Queens, New York]], [[United States|USA]]) is a multi-[[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nominated [[film director]]. Martin Scorsese came from a working class [[Italian-American]] family, hailing from the Sicilian town of [[Polizzi Generosa]]; his father '''Luciano Charles Scorsese''' (1912-1993) was a pants presser in New York's garment district. He struggled to earn enough money to attend university, but has shown enormous gratitude to his parents for helping him realize his dreams. His parents were the subject of Scorsese's documentary ''[[Italianamerican]]'' and made numerous cameo appearances in his films before their deaths. For years, his mother worked as the official caterer for all of Scorsese's films and his father helped in the wardrobe department.
*[[Gia Scala]], born '''Giovanna Scoglio''' in [[Liverpool, England]], to an aristocratic [[Sicily|Sicilian]] father, '''Pietro Scoglio''', and an [[Ireland|Irish]] mother, '''Eileen Sullivan'''. Raised from infancy in [[Sicily]], she moved to the [[United States]] at age fourteen where she studied and worked in [[New York City]]. She studied acting and in 1954 was signed to a contract by [[Universal Studios]] in [[Hollywood]]. She received wide recognition for her performance of "Anna" in the 1961 film, ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]''. She ended her life with a drug overdose in 1972.Gia Scala is interred in the [[Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City|Holy Cross Cemetery]] in [[Culver City, California]].
*[[Anthony Scarpa]], musician
*[[Vincent Schiavelli]], ([[November 10]], [[1948]] - [[December 26]], [[2005]]) is a noted character actor known for his work in film and on [[television]]. He was born into a Sicilian-American family in [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]], [[New York]]. He studied acting through the Theater Program at [[New York University]] and began working on the stage in the 1960s. Having a respected Sicilian chef for a grandfather rubbed off on Vincent Schiavelli, as he is also the author of a number of cookbooks and food articles for magazines and newspapers. He received a [[James Beard Foundation]] Journalism Award in 2001 and has been nominated on a number of other occasions. He succumbed to [[lung cancer]] at age 57, passing away at his home in [[Polizzi Generosa]], [[Italy]], the town in Sicily where his grandfather emigrated from and which he wrote about in his 2002 book, ''Many Beautiful Things: Stories and Recipes from Polizzi Generosa'' (ISBN 0-7432-1528-1).
*[[Frank Sinatra]], born '''Francis Albert Sinatra''' ([[December 12]], [[1915]] – [[May 14]], [[1998]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[singer]] who is considered one of the finest vocalists of all time, renowned for his impeccable phrasing and timing. Many critics place him alongside [[Bing Crosby]], [[Elvis Presley]], and [[The Beatles]] as the most important popular music figures of the [[20th century]]. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:iyg9kett7q7b~T1] Sinatra launched a second career as a dramatic [[film]] [[actor]], and became admired for a screen persona distinctly tougher than his smooth singing style. Sinatra also had a larger-than-life presence in the public eye, and as "The Chairman of the Board" became an American [[icon]], known for his brash, sometimes swaggering attitude, as embodied by his [[signature song]] "[[My Way (song)|My Way]]". He was born in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]] as the only child of a quiet [[Sicily|Sicilian]] fireman father, '''Anthony Martin Sinatra''' (1894-1969). Anthony had emigrated to the United States in 1895. His mother, '''Natalie Della Gavarante''' (1896-1977), was a talented, tempestuous [[Ligurian]], who worked as a part-time abortionist. She was known was "Dolly", and emigrated in 1897.
*[[Tony Sirico]], (born [[July 29]], [[1942]] in [[Brooklyn, New York]]) is an actor who is most famous for his role as [[Paulie Walnuts]] on the [[HBO]] [[television|TV]] series, ''[[The Sopranos]]''. Prior to becoming an actor, Sirico spent some time in jail for holding up a number of night clubs in the late 1960s and early 1970s. While in prison, he became interested in acting from watching a theater group that came to perform. When he got out of jail, Sirico played gangsters in a number of films.
*[[Sylvester Stallone]], born '''Sylvester Enzio Stallone''' ([[July 6]], [[1946]] in [[New York City]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[film]] [[actor]], [[film director|director]], [[film producer|producer]], and [[screenwriter]]. He is often referred to by his [[nickname]], "Sly". He achieved his greatest [[Legend (person)|successes]] in a number of [[action film]]s, notably the ''[[Rocky]]'' and ''[[Rambo]]'' series. He was born to Frank Stallone Sr. (a beautician who was an immigrant from [[Castellammare del Golfo]], [[Sicily]]) and Jacqueline "Jackie" Labofish, an [[United States|American]] astrologer of 1/4 [[Russia]]n [[Jewish]] descent.
*[[Tommy Tallarico]], born '''Thomas V. Tallarico''' (born [[February 18]], [[1968]]) is an accomplished [[United States|American]] [[video game music]] [[composer]].
*[[Johnny Thunders]], born '''John Anthony Genzale, Jr.''' ([[July 15]], [[1952]] - [[April 23]], [[1991]]), was a [[rock and roll]] [[guitar]]ist and singer, first with the [[New York Dolls]], the proto-punk [[glam]] rockers of the early [[1970s|'70s]]. During the late '70s, he was a familiar figure on the [[New York City|New York]] punk scene, both with [[The Heartbreakers]] and as a solo artist. His guitar work was highly influential in [[punk rock]] music.
*[[Aida Turturro]], (born [[September 25]], [[1962]]) is an actress who is most well-known for playing [[Janice Soprano]], sister of [[New Jersey]] mob boss, [[Tony Soprano]], on the [[HBO]], [[television|TV]] series, ''[[The Sopranos]]'', a role which netted her an [[Emmy Award]] nomination.
*[[John Turturro]], (born [[February 28]], [[1957]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[actor]].He has appeared in over sixty movies, and is well known for his ability to effortlessly change both his demeanour and physique. Turturro was born in [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]], [[New York]] to an [[Sicily|Sicilian]] [[Catholic]] family. He completed his [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] at the [[Yale University|Yale]] School of [[Drama]]. He worked as an [[Extra (actor)|extra]] in ''[[Raging Bull]]'' ([[1980 in film|1980]]).
*[[Steven Tyler]], born '''Steven Victor Tallarico''' ([[March 26]], [[1948]]), frontman for legendary rock band [[Aerosmith]].
*[[Frank Vincent]], (born '''Frank Vincent Gattuso''' on [[4 August]], [[1939]]) is an [[Italian-American]] [[actor]].He was born in [[North Adams, Massachusetts]], but was raised in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]]. His father was also called Frank. His mother was Mary (nee Ricci). Frank has two brothers: Nick and Jimmy. Frank's father was one of six children, all born in the USA to Sicilian immigrants: '''Niccolo Gattuso''' and '''Francesca di Peri'''. He was spotted by [[Martin Scorsese]] in a low-budget gangster movie called ''Death Collector''. Scorcese was impressed and hired Vincent to star in [[Raging Bull]]. [[Joe Pesci]] co-starred with Vincent in ''The Death Collector'' and the two were re-united in several other movies; another familiar co-star of Vincent is [[Robert De Niro]].
*[[Emanuele Viscuso]], (born [[December 24]], [[1952]] in [[Palermo]] ), is the creator of the Sicilian Film Festival, a showcase of Sicilian directors and movies founded in Miami on 2006. Viscuso lives in [[Miami]], in [[Milano]] and in [[Castelbuono]], [[Sicily]]. Besides his work as president of this festival, Viscuso is a musician, a sculptor, a writer and a designer. His most famous piece is the 45 feet large sculpture "Wave-bridge on the imaginary" at the Milan Malpensa international airport. His design is mostly expressed with his world famous trompe l'oeil wall paper collection. Emanuele Viscuso has taken part to the Esperia* STS-120/10A Mission, lauched on October 23rd 2007 from the NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, in Florida as delegate in Florida of Accademia Italiana della Cucina, a Cultural Institution of the Italian Republic. The City of Miami Beach, where he resides since November 2000, recognized his cultural involvement in the community with the "Key to the City" on October 17th 2007.
*[[Guy Williams]], ([[14 January]], [[1924]] - [[May 7]], [[1989]]), born '''Armando Joseph Catalano''' in [[New York City]], the son of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] immigrants. He was an [[United States|American]] actor who played [[swashbuckler|swashbuckling]] action heroes in the 1950s and 1960s. An accomplished [[fencing|fencer]], his most famous role was [[Zorro]] in two [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney]] movies and [[Zorro (TV series)|television series]] of that name (1957-1959). Nearly a half-century later, ''Zorro'' is still being aired all over [[South America]], from [[Argentina]] to [[Venezuela]], in some places twice daily. ''Zorro'' continues to be the most popular U.S. series ever to have appeared on South American television.
*[[Frank Zappa]], born '''Frank Vincent Zappa''' ([[December 21]], [[1940]] – [[December 4]], [[1993]]) was a [[composer]], [[guitarist]], [[singer]] and [[satirist]]. In his 33-year musical career, Zappa proved to be one of the most prolific musicians ever, releasing over 60 albums during his life. His father, '''Francis Zappa''' was born in [[Alcamo]], [[Sicily]]. His mother '''Rose Marie Colimore''' was of half [[Italian people|Italian]], 1/4 [[Sicily|Sicilian]] and 1/4 [[French people|French]] descent.
*[[Philip Zimbardo]], (born [[March 23]], [[1933]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[psychology|psychologist]], best-known for his [[Stanford prison experiment]] and bestselling introductions to psychology. Zimbardo was born to [[Sicily|Sicilian]] parents, '''George Zimbardo''' and '''Margaret Bisicchia''' and grew up in [[New York City]], in the South [[Bronx]].
==Athletes==
*[[Charles Atlas]], ([[1892]]–[[1972]]), born '''Angelo Siciliano''' in [[Italy]], he moved to [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]] at a young age. Initially a small, weak child, Siciliano worked hard to tone his muscles, using a variety of weights. Contemplating the strength of a tiger in a zoo, he conceived the idea of working muscle against muscle, rather than working out with weights. Using this system, later dubbed ''[[Dynamic tension]]'', he acquired a physique that earned him the nickname "Charles Atlas", after the mythical [[Atlas (mythology)|Atlas]], the [[Titan (mythology)|Titan]] who held up the heavens. He later filed for and received trademark status for the name. He soon took the role of [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] in the [[Coney Island]] [[Circus (performing art)|Circus]] [[Side show|Side]]. His company, Charles Atlas, Ltd. (1929-and continuing today) markets a fitness program for the "97-pound weakling", a registered trademark.
*[[Dom DiMaggio]], born '''Dominic Paul DiMaggio''' (born [[February 12]], [[1917]] in [[San Francisco, California]]) is a former [[center fielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played his entire career for the [[Boston Red Sox]] (1940-42, 1946-53). His small stature (standing five feet nine inches) and eyeglasses earned him the nickname "The Little Professor". He is the brother of outfielders [[Joe DiMaggio]] and [[Vince DiMaggio]]. DiMaggio was a teammate and close friend of Ted Williams, [[Bobby Doerr]], and [[Johnny Pesky]]. Their friendship was chronicled in [[David Halberstam]]'s book ''The Teammates''. Dom DiMaggio was inducted to the [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]] in [[1995 in sports|1995]].
*[[Joe DiMaggio]], born '''Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, Jr.''' ([[November 25]], [[1914]] – [[March 8]], [[1999]]), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an [[Italian American]] [[center fielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played his entire career (1936-1951) for the [[New York Yankees]]. The eighth of nine children, DiMaggio was born in a two-room house in [[Martinez, California]] to [[Sicily|Sicilian]] immigrants; delivered by a [[midwife]]. His mother, Rosalia, named him "Giuseppe" for his father; "Paolo" was in honor of [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]], Giuseppe's favorite saint. The family moved to [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] when Joe was one year old.
*[[Vince DiMaggio]], '''Vincent Paul DiMaggio''' ([[September 6]], [[1912]] - [[October 3]], [[1986]]) was a [[Major League Baseball]] [[center fielder]] and right-handed batter who played in the [[National League]] for the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Bees]] (1937-38), [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1939-40), [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1940-46) and [[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]] (1946). The older brother of [[Joe DiMaggio|Joe]] and [[Dom DiMaggio|Dom]], DiMaggio was born in [[Martinez, California]].
*[[Johnny Dundee]], (b. [[November 22]], [[1893]], d. [[April 22]], [[1965]]) was a [[featherweight]] and [[junior lightweight]] [[boxing|boxer]] who fought from [[1910]] until [[1932]]. Dundee was born '''Giuseppe Carrora''' in [[Sciacca]], [[Sicily]], but was raised in the [[United States]]. Although today he is almost completely forgotten, Dundee was highly regarded by many old time boxing experts. [[Ring Magazine]] founder and editor, [[Nat Fleischer]], rated Dundee in the top five of his list of greatest featherweights of all time.
*[[Mike Piazza]], born '''Michael Joseph Piazza''' ([[September 4]], [[1968]] in [[Norristown, Pennsylvania|Norristown]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[USA]]) is a [[United States|U.S.]] [[Major League Baseball]] player. He is generally recognized as the top-hitting [[catcher]] of all time. He is a ten time [[All-Star Game|All-Star]]. On [[May 5]], [[2004]], Piazza surpassed [[Carlton Fisk]] for most [[home run]]s by a catcher with the 352nd of his career. Mike grew up for the first few years of his life in a small house in Phoenixville, [[Pennsylvania]]. The house was barely big enough to have Mike's entire family inside. His family consisted of his two parents, Vince and Veronica Piazza, and his brothers Vince Jr., Danny, Tony and Tommy.
*[[Gene Sarazen]], (also known as '''Gene Saraceni''') ([[February 27]], [[1902]] – [[May 13]], [[1999]]) is one of the few [[golf]]ers to win all the [[Major Championships]] in his career, including
**1922 [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
**1922 [[PGA Championship]]
**1923 [[PGA Championship]]
**1932 [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
**1932 [[The Open Championship|British Open]]
**1933 [[PGA Championship]]
**1935 [[The Masters]]
Winner of 39 [[Professional Golfers Association of America|PGA]] Tournaments, Gene Sarazen was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Sarazen invented the modern [[sand wedge]] in 1930. Sarazen hit "The shot heard 'round the world" in the 1935 Masters. It was a final round 225-yard 4-wood on the par-5 15th hole that went in, giving him a very rare double eagle 2 on the hole. It led to him later winning the tournament in a playoff. For many years after his retirement, Sarazen was a familiar figure as an honorary starter at the Masters.
==Jazz artists==
* [[Sharkey Bonano]] ([[April 9]], [[1904]] – [[March 27]], [[1972]]) was born with the name '''Joseph Gustaf Bonano''' in the Milenburg neighborhood of [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], by the shores of [[Lake Pontchartrain]]. He sometimes billed himself as '''Sharkey Banana''' or '''Sharkey Bananas'''.
* [[Chick Corea]], born '''Armando Anthony Corea''' ([[June 12]], [[1941]]).
* [[Eddie Costa]] (1930-1962) is a [[jazz]] [[pianist]] based in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]].
* [[Steve Gadd]], ([[April 9]], [[1945]], [[Rochester, New York]])
* [[Jimmy Giuffre]], born '''James Peter Giuffre''' ([[Dallas, Texas]], [[1921]]).
* [[Scott La Faro]], born '''Rocco Scott LaFaro''' ([[April 3]], [[1936]], [[Newark, New Jersey]] - [[July 6]], [[1961]], [[Flint]], [[New York]]). Not of Sicilian descent, family originated from Calabria.
* [[Papa Jack Laine]], born '''George Vital Laine''' aka ''Papa Jack'' ([[September 21]], [[1873]] - [[June 1]], [[1966]]).
* [[Eddie Lang]], ([[October 25]], [[1902]] – [[March 26]], [[1933]]), born '''Salvatore Massaro''', the son of an [[Italian-American]] instrument maker in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]].
* [[Nick LaRocca]], born '''Dominic James La Rocca''' ([[New Orleans, Louisiana]], [[April 11]] [[1889]] - [[New Orleans]], [[February 22]] [[1961]]).
* [[Joe Lovano]], born '''Joseph Salvatore Lovano''' ([[29 December]] [[1952]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]]).
* [[Chuck Mangione]], born [[November 29]], [[1940]]. Also brother Gaspare "Gap", a musician and Uncle Gerlando "Jerre", an Author.
* [[Wingy Manone]], born '''Joseph Matthews Mannone''' (sic), ([[13 February]], [[1900]], [[New Orleans]] - [[July 9]], [[1982]].
* [[Charlie Mariano]] (b.1923)
* [[Joe Marsala]] (1907-1978)
* [[Pat Martino]], born '''Pat Azzara''' ([[August 25]], [[1944]]) in South [[Philadelphia]].
* [[Joe Morello]], born [[July 17]], [[1929]] in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]].
* [[Joe Pass]], born '''Joseph Anthony Passalaqua''', [[January 13]], [[1929]], [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]], [[New Jersey]] - [[May 23]], [[1994]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]].
* [[John Patitucci]], born [[1959]] in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]].
* [[Art Pepper]], (1925-82) (Sicilian mother)
* [[Louis Prima]] ([[December 7]], [[1910]]- [[August 24]], [[1978]]). Prima was born into a musical family of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] descent in [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]]. Prima was proud of his heritage, and made a point of letting the audience know at every performance that he was [[Italian-American]] and from New Orleans.
* [[Leon Roppolo]], ([[March 16]], [[1902]] – [[October 5]], [[1943]]). '''Leon Joseph Roppolo''' ([[nickname]]d "Rap") was born in [[Lutcher, Louisiana]], upriver from [[New Orleans]].
* [[Frank Rosolino]], ([[August 20]] [[1926]], [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]] - [[November 26]] [[1978]], [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]).
* [[Tony Scott (musician)|Tony Scott]], (b.1921)
* [[John Serry]] (originally '''Serrapica''') was born in [[New York City]] and is half Sicilian and half Campanese.
* [[Joe Venuti]], born '''Giuseppe Venuti''', ([[September 16]], [[1903]] – [[August 14]], [[1978]]). Venuti was born aboard a ship as his parents emigrated from [[Sicily]].
* [[George Wallington]], born '''Giacinto Figlia''', [[October 27]], [[1923]], [[Palermo]], [[Sicily]] - [[Cape Coral]], [[Miami]], [[February 15]], [[1993]]).
* [[Agrippino & Michele Manteo]], [[Grammichele, Catania]], [[Famous Sicilian Marionette Family]].
==Politicians==
Anthony M. Aprile (1932-2002) Mayor of Monee, Illinois 1962-1974
*[[Vincent R. Impellitteri]], ([[February 4]], [[1900]] – [[January 29]], [[1987]]) was appointed Acting [[Mayor of New York City]] upon the resignation of then Mayor [[William O'Dwyer]], on [[September 1]], [[1950]]. He served from 1950 to 1953. Impellitteri moved with his family to the [[United States]] from [[Sicily]] as an infant in [[1901]]. Trivia: Impellitteri believed his name to be too difficult to spell by most people. When running for mayor he tried to persuade a [[judge]] to allow voters to simply write "Impy" on their ballots. The judge refused the request.
*The families of 6 members of the [[United States Congress]] emigrated from Sicily:
**[[Daniel Frisa]] was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1995 to 1997.
**[[Nick Lampson]] His family emigrated from the region of [[Salemi]], [[Trapani]].
**[[Frank LoBiondo]] His family emigrated from the region of [[Belmonte Mezzagno]], [[Palermo]].
**[[Donald A. Manzullo]] City not known.
**[[Frank Pallone]] City not known.
**[[Vito Fossella]] Representative from New York
==Others==
*[[Joe Causi]] is a famous disc jokey from [[New York]]. Coined the terms "Forget About it!" and "How you doing?" Host of Mix 102.7. Released a hit CD and a CD of classic dance songs.
* [[Lucky Luciano]], considered to be the father of the American Mafia.
*[[Frank Lentini]], born '''Francesco A. Lentini''' ([[1889]] - [[1966]]) was born in [[Siracusa]], [[Sicily]] into a large family. He was born with three longer legs, two sets of genitals and one rudimentary foot on his third leg. His primary legs also grew into different lengths. At the age of nine, Lentini moved to the [[United States]] and entered the sideshow business.
*[[Ferdinand Pecora]], ([[January 6]], [[1882]] – [[December 7]], [[1971]]). Ferdinand Pecora was born in [[Nicosia]], [[Sicily]], the son of '''Louis Pecora''' and '''Rosa Messina''' who emigrated to the United States and [[New York City]] with his parents. He earned a [[law degree]] from the [[New York Law School]] and eventually worked as an assistant [[district attorney]]. He led Senate hearings into the causes of the [[Wall Street Crash of 1929]] that launched a major reform of the American financial system. Pecora personally undertook many of the interrogations during the hearings, including high profile [[Wall Street]] personalities such as [[Richard Whitney]], president of the [[New York Stock Exchange]] and [[investment bank]]ers [[Thomas W. Lamont]], [[Otto Hermann Kahn|Otto H. Kahn]], [[Albert H. Wiggin]], and [[Charles E. Mitchell]]. Pecora's high-profile work led to the hearings being called the [[Pecora Commission]] and it put him on the [[June 12]], [[1933]] cover of [[Time magazine]].
*[[Roger Podactor]], born '''Rogero Podactorini''' in [[Knoxville, TN]] (born [[December 9]], [[1953]]), is the GM of the [[Miami Dolphins]].
*[[Mark Ronchetti]] is a newscaster on [[Portland, Oregon]]'s [[KOIN]] [[TV]] station, which is an affiliate of [[CBS]]. Ronchetti is [[Italian American]] of [[Sicily|Sicilian]] descent.
*[[Anthony T. Rossi]], ([[1900-1993]], was born as '''Antonio Talamo Rossi''' in [[Messina]], [[Sicily]]. He had the equivalent of a high school education. He emigrated to the [[United States]] when he was 21 years old and educated himself to the point that he became an expert mathematician and mechanical engineer. He founded [[Tropicana Products]], a producer of [[orange juice]] founded in 1947 in [[Bradenton, Florida]] in the [[United States]] which grew from 50 employees to over 8,000 in 2004, expanding into multiple product lines and became one of the world's largest producers and marketers of [[citrus]] juice.
*[[Antonin Scalia]], (born [[March 11]], [[1936]]) (Sometimes known by the nickname "'''Nino'''") has been a [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] Associate Justice since [[1986]]. He is widely considered the leading [[originalist]] voice on the Court and one of the most outspoken defenders of [[textualism]].Antonin Scalia was born in [[Trenton, New Jersey]] to his mother, Catherine, and his father, S. Eugene. His mother was born in the [[United States]]; his father, a professor of romance languages, emigrated from [[Sicily]] at age 15. When Scalia was five years old, his family moved to [[Queens]], [[New York City]], [[New York]], during which time his father worked at [[Brooklyn College]].
*[[Jack Valenti]], ([[September 5]], [[1921]] - [[April 26]], [[2007]]), was "special assistant" to [[Lyndon Johnson]]'s White House. In [[1966]], he resigned and became the president of the [[Motion Picture Association of America]]. During his tenure there, he was generally regarded as one of the most influential pro-[[copyright]] [[lobbyist]]s in the world. His salary in 2004 was reported to be $1.35 million, which made him the seventh-highest paid Washington trade group chief, according to the [[National Journal]].
==See also==
* [[:Category:Sicilian-Americans]]
* [[:Category:Sicilian-American jazz musicians]]
* [[:Category:Sicilian-American mobsters]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.nndb.com/ancestry/956/000052800/ Americans of Sicilian ancestry]
* [http://www.niaf.org/research/report_108thcongress.asp The listing of the Italian ancestry of the 108th U.S. Congress]
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[[Category:Lists of Italian Americans| ]]
[[Category:Sicilian-Americans| ]]