Wasted Talent: From the Film Classic A Bronx Tale to a Prison Cell & Parole… A Closer Look at Actor Lillo Brancato


Lillo Brancato better known for his role as Calogero in A Bronx Tale got his big break in “93” when he was discovered at Jones Beach State Park by a casting agent looking to recruit talent for an upcoming film written by and starring actor Chazz Palminteri. A Bronx Tale was a film based partial on Palminteri’s childhood and was Robert DeNiro’s debut as a director. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which Lillo seized, took him from ambiguity and propelled him into instant celebrity status. In the film, Lillo impressed audiences with his performance and his colleagues with his natural ability to act with very little previous experience.
The Mob and Their Dealings With Certain Famous Celebrities


Hollywood is known as the cinema of the world. It’s home to some of the most famous celebrities and iconic landmarks in the nation. Millions flock each year to explore this world renowned city and it’s breathtaking attractions. However, among those millions are icons of a different breed. They don’t walk down the red carpet or pose for the paparazzi, but their reputations certainly precede their presence. Mobsters are like the dark stars of Hollywood and when big name celebrities acknowledge their notoriety their prestige goes through the roof. Nevertheless, what happens when celebrities are extorted or terrorized by these underworld figures, what happens when their caught at the wrong place at the wrong time or end up on a mobster’s shit list? Listed below are 5 celebrities who crossed paths with the mob and while the encounters were at times, harmless for others it left a lasting impression.
Investigation Discovery Turns Up the Heat This Summer with Five All-New Series


Investigation Discovery (ID), America’s leading mystery and suspense network, announced today the premiere of five sensational new series and the return of two sophomore series just in time for viewers to enjoy the lazy days of summer. The number one cable network for women, ID’s electrifying mid-summer programming slate kicks off with the premiere of MURDER BY NUMBERS (Wednesday, July 12 at 10/9c), a suspenseful new series that follows police on a wild investigation into one shocking crime with multiple victims. Next on ID’s summer docket is GONE (Monday, July 24 at 9/8c), featuring true stories of individuals who disappear without a trace, leaving their loved ones a trail of secrets they must uncover to discover the missing persons’ whereabouts.
Selwyn Raab Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires – NewzBreaker Book Review


The basis of my understanding about mob life originated with Selwyn Raab. Growing up I originally like watching documentaries where he gave commentary to particular mob events or life. When I read his book Five Families: The Rise, Decline and Resurgence of Americas Most Powerful Mafia Families I have to admit I was pretty impressed. The way Raab recounted the history of the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Colombo and Bonanno family in such massive detail the reader is given a full understanding of what the mob truly represents… from Raab’s point of view at least. The positives about this book is its knowledge. It’s extremely informative! Everything you will ever want to know about the mob from its roots back in Sicily to its takeover in New York is included. Raab gives you the complete back story of all the headlines and all the documentaries about the American mob.
The Mafia Chronicles: Jimmy Hoffa On Trial


Every July, the same two mob-related questions pop up:
Who killed Jimmy Hoffa?
Where is he buried?
Though there is plenty of speculation, no one has uncovered the definitive answer to either question.
A lot of people you come across on a day-to-day basis know the basics of the Hoffa saga, that he was a corrupt, mobbed-up ex-Teamsters head who disappeared in the summer of 1975, presumably killed by underworld figures.
After serving time in prison, and already into his early 60s, Hoffa was trying to regain power in the union when he vanished.
For 40-plus years the national running joke has been that Hoffa’s remains were buried in Giants Stadium in New Jersey just west of New York City.
From time to time, you’ll still hear late-night comedians joke about that, even though the stadium was demolished seven years ago, and nothing ever turned up.
Investigation Discovery Marks 40th Anniversary of Capture of New York’s Most Infamous Serial Murderer in SON OF SAM: THE HUNT FOR A KILLER


New York City was in panic for more than a year in the late ‘70s while a serial killer armed with a .44 caliber gun taunted law enforcement, toyed with the media and played a fatal game of cat and mouse with its residents. Now, on the 40th anniversary of the capture of David Berkowitz, Investigation Discovery (ID) premieres the documentary special SON OF SAM: THE HUNT FOR A KILLER, tracing the parallel stories of a serial killer’s unsuspecting victims and the dedicated detectives who worked tirelessly to capture the madman who left six young people dead, seven wounded, and a city in chaos. Through a combination of first-person testimony and rich archival footage, SON OF SAM: THE HUNT FOR A KILLER delivers a compelling suspense thriller tracking the investigative moves of the NYPD and New York media in their hunt for a suspect, while providing a platform for the survivors and victim’s families. The two-hour special event, SON OF SAM: THE HUNT FOR A KILLER, premieres Saturday, August 5 from 9-11/8-10c on the #1 true crime network, Investigation Discovery, with additional content available on ID’s TV Everywhere app, ID GO.
The Kennedy’s, JFK Assassination, Frank Sinatra and The Mob




No other president in history has embodied the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the American people like John F. Kennedy. His death was the end of a legacy that once held such a promising future. In the years following his death, conspiracy theories and controversy still remain. Eventually, The Warren Committee ultimately concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy. Despite this conclusion, conspiracy theorist note other affiliations as responsible for JFK’s death.
But what other syndicate could’ve been responsible for the assassination of JFK? Who demonstrated the most animosity towards Kennedy tenure? Why would anybody order the death of such a beloved U.S. President? In order to answer these questions, one must examine who the Kennedy family really was. The family story begins with Joseph P. Kennedy, the father. Joseph, who was also referred to as Joe, was a successful commodity investor who made the bulk of his fortune on Wall Street.
The Dead Speak to Coroner Graham Hetrick: True – Crime Network Investigation Discovery’s Hit Forensic Series The Coroner: I Speak For The Dead Returns


Season Two Premieres on Monday, July 17 at 10/9c
They say that death is in the details, and coroner Graham Hetrick knows this to be true. In Investigation Discovery’s THE CORONER: I SPEAK FOR THE DEAD, Hetrick shares the most compelling homicide cases from his 26 years as the Coroner of Dauphin County, Pa. It’s Hetrick’s job to administer the medical legal death investigation process, enabling homicide detectives to fully reveal the story of how and why someone died. Through complex forensic analysis, he and his team uncover the secrets that every body holds, providing information crucial to solving homicide cases and giving a voice to those who can no longer speak. Hetrick returns with more clues to unravel in the 10-episode second season of THE CORONER: I SPEAK FOR THE DEAD, premiering Monday, July 17 at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery.