Lillo Brancato is an American actor. He gained notoriety in the early 1990s for his noteworthy performance in A Bronx Tale, which launched him into the glittering entertainment industry. However, as he battled personal demons, his life tragically changed, sending him down a dangerous path marked by drug addiction and a string of serious legal issues.
Who Is Lillo Brancato?
Lillo Brancato was born on August 30, 1976, in Bogotá, Colombia. He was raised by his Italian-American parents, Lillo Brancato Sr., a construction worker, and Domenica, an electrologist, in Yonkers, New York, after being adopted at the age of four months. Brancato attended Mount Saint Michael Academy for his studies. Vinny, his adoptive brother, is a Yonkers public worker who once briefly sought a career as a fashion model.
Lillo Brancato’s Career
Because of his remarkable likeness to Hollywood icon Robert De Niro, Brancato was found in Jones Beach in 1992 by a talent agent, which led to a dramatic turn in his life. Enormous admirer of De Niro, Brancato’s portrayal of the actor’s 1976 character in Taxi Driver helped him land a key part as De Niro’s kid in the film A Bronx Tale (1993), directed by De Niro himself, as “Calogero ‘C’ Anello.” This crime drama about a coming-of-age story had some financial success.
After that, he played “Pvt. Donnie Benitez” in the comedy Renaissance Man, released in 1994. Then, in Tony Scott’s action movie Crimson Tide (1995), he portrayed a radio operator. With almost $157 million in box office receipts, much over its $53 million budget, this film became a big success.
When Brancato was chosen to play “Matthew ‘Matt’ Bevilaqua” in the second season of the crime drama series The Sopranos in 2000, he landed his first significant main role. This TV show won multiple honours, including five Golden Globes and more than 20 Primetime Emmys, and is largely considered as one of the best TV shows of all time.
Brancato starred as “Weasel” in the romantic comedy Mambo Café and as “Pete” in the comedy-drama Blue Moon in the same year. Additionally, he started playing “Alberto ‘Lucky’ Fema” in the crime thriller series Falcone on CBS. In the near future, Brancato will be seen in the comedy “Made in Mexico as “Ochoa” and the crime drama Monsters of Mulberry Street as “Father Palladino.” Both projects are still in post-production.
Lillo Brancato’s Controversies
Shortly after starting his acting career in 1992, Brancato started abusing drugs and alcohol, which led to a problematic turn in his life. By his mid-20s, his addiction had progressed to include heroin and cocaine.
He was arrested in Yonkers, New York, on June 10, 2005 by the Yonkers Police Department, putting him in legal hot water. When he was first pulled over for a broken brake light and didn’t have the right paperwork for the car, he allowed the cops to check a cigarette box he had. When they found four bags of heroin inside, they were charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, class A misdemeanour.
Just six months later, on December 10, 2005, Brancato was arrested by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for his involvement in the murder of 28-year-old off-duty police officer, Daniel Enchautegui.
Brancato’s trial began on November 17, 2008, with him being charged with second-degree murder. On December 22, 2008, the jury ultimately convicted him guilty of first-degree attempted burglary but cleared of murder. He was sentenced on January 9, 2009, to ten years in jail.
Lillo Brancato’s Net Worth
According to sources, Brancato has an estimated net worth of $10,000.
