Chuck Zito
Chuck Zito | |
---|---|
Born | Charles Carmine Zito Jr. March 1, 1953 New York City, U.S. |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1982–present |
Spouse(s) | Kathy (?–?; divorced) |
Charles Carmine Zito Jr. (born March 1, 1953) is an American actor who is the former president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels.[1]
Early life
Zito was born in the Bronx, New York City, the second of three children of Charles Zito Sr. and Gloria Frangione.[2] He was raised in the Bronx and New Rochelle.[3] The son of a professional welterweight boxer, Zito was taught at an early age how to fight and defend himself.[4] His father boxed under the ring name Al LaBarba and fought in 228 professional matches.[5] At the age of seventeen, Zito dropped out of New Rochelle High School and married his high school sweetheart, Kathy. His involvement with the Hells Angels motorcycle club eventually led to their divorce.[6] Zito became a refrigerator mechanic.[7] He also worked as a bouncer at Café Central on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.[5][7]
Boxing and martial arts
Zito was an amateur boxer for several years.
Reflecting on his boxing career in 2003, Zito said: "I tried to follow in my father's footsteps... but didn’t have the desire and willpower to train 100 percent for the fight game. I didn't take it serious enough... When I found out I was fighting I'd go to the gym like two days before the fight. I never trained. I never got out and did my roadwork. I had so many distractions in my life, growing up at the same time. I think I could have been champion if I stuck with boxing."[1] He further stated in a 2006 interview: "I got married young, at 17, and I had other things on my mind, but I wish I had gone pro, I would have been a good fighter".[10] Zito began studying martial arts at the age of 18 and earned black belts in six different disciplines, including jujutsu.[5][7] He claims to have broken his nose nine times and his hands eight times.[5]
The combat sports reporter Thomas Gerbasi wrote that Zito "has achieved celebrity status in the fight game" as "a fixture at fights in and around the New York Tri-State area", remarking that "to the fighters, he's one of the guys".
In 2003, Zito began his career as a broadcaster with a role as a
Hells Angels
A motorcycle enthusiast, Zito established the New Rochelle Motorcycle Club in 1974, which merged with the
According to prosecutors, one membership requirement of the Hells Angels' New York City chapter was that prospective members must kill or attempt to kill a target selected by the club as part of an initiation process. Zito allegedly earned his membership in the club by attempting to murder Robert Giangarra, a
On May 2, 1985, 133 Hells Angels members and associates were arrested on racketeering and drug trafficking charges after a series of law enforcement raids in fourteen cities across the United States. The indictments were the culmination of Operation Roughrider, a three-year FBI investigation into the club.[24] Fifteen of the arrests took place in the New York metropolitan area, where the New York City chapter headquarters on Manhattan's Lower East Side was raided, and at least one Uzi submachine gun and an undetermined quantity of drugs were seized.[25][26] A warrant was issued for Zito's arrest on charges of selling 15.8 ounces (450 g) of methamphetamine in New York state in November 1984.[27] Working as bodyguards for Bon Jovi on tour in Japan, Zito and fellow Hells Angels member Herbert Reynolds Kittel surrendered to the United States Embassy in Tokyo on July 22, 1985, after they were the subject of a nationwide dragnet by Japanese police at the request of the FBI. On October 14, 1985, the Tokyo High Court approved an extradition request by U.S. authorities.[28] After detaining the pair in a Tokyo prison for four months, the Japanese Ministry of Justice released Zito and Kittel into the custody of U.S. Justice Department officials in Tokyo on October 26, 1985.[29] Zito pleaded guilty to one felony drug count in late 1986 and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. His sentence was reduced to seven years' in 1988,[20] and he ultimately served six years at nineteen different federal prisons.[22] He was released from prison in 1991.[8] On the stigma of being a Hells Angel, he has said: "I never did a drug in my life. It's ridiculous to judge a group on the actions of a few".[7]
Zito was questioned by police over the shooting of a motorist who cut into a Hells Angels procession the day before the funeral of Lamont "Monte" Mathias, a member of the Hell's Henchmen Motorcycle Club who was killed during a biker war with the
On February 23, 2002, Zito was present at the Hellraiser Ball, a tattoo and motorcycle trade exposition in Plainview, New York, sponsored by the Long Island chapter of the Hells Angels, which was ambushed by dozens of members of the rival Pagan's Motorcycle Club, resulting in one biker being killed and at least ten injured.[31] A Hells Angel was charged with second-degree murder and 73 Pagan members were indicted on federal racketeering charges in the aftermath of the incident.[32] Zito attended the funeral of Gambino crime family boss John Gotti in Queens on June 14, 2002. He declined to comment when he was approached by reporters after the wake.[33] According to Justice Department, the Hells Angels in New York have been criminally linked to the Gambino family.[34]
In 2004, Zito left the Hells Angels, after 25 years of membership in the club, to focus on his acting career.[35] He resigned from the club in "good standing", an option reportedly extended only to the Hells Angels' most respected members.[7]
Hollywood
Following in his father's footsteps, Zito became an amateur boxer and fought in New York Golden Gloves while working manual labor. In 1979, after assisting the bodyguards of actor Robert Conrad at a motorcycle convention at the New York Coliseum, Zito began his own bodyguard agency, Charlie's Angels Bodyguard Service.[5] Zito initially provided protection for actress Lorna Luft and later was hired by her half-sister Liza Minnelli.[36] The actress recommended Zito's service to her plethora of celebrity acquaintances, allowing Zito to quickly develop contacts throughout Hollywood. His other clients included Muhammad Ali,[1] Charles Bronson,[5] Michael Jackson,[5] Sean Penn,[8] Chita Rivera,[5] Eric Roberts,[5] Mickey Rourke,[5] Charlie Sheen,[7] and Sylvester Stallone.[5] Zito's brother-in-law was a policeman, which allowed him to hire moonlighting police officers to bodyguard celebrities at public events which required additional manpower, such as award shows.[5]
In 1979, Zito and 18 other members of the New York City Hells Angels chapter were hired to appear in the film Dead Ringer, starring
In 1997, Zito allegedly knocked gossip columnist A. J. Benza unconscious at the Scores strip club in Manhattan after Benza attributed a false rumor to him in his column in the Daily News.[5] Zito is purported to have punched Jean-Claude Van Damme, who had previously been a bodyguarding client of his, in another incident at Scores on February 5, 1998.[38] Recounting the incident in his autobiography, Zito claims that he suffered a broken hand as a result of striking Van Damme numerous times after Van Damme had told a bouncer at the club that Zito had "no heart" and the bouncer relayed Van Damme's comments to Zito.[39] He reportedly stood over a prone Van Damme shouting: "This ain't the movies! This is the street, and I own the street!".[37] He later added: "If I knew it would have gotten me so much positive publicity, I would have knocked him out 10 years earlier."[37] Zito is also reputed to have delivered two open-handed slaps to the face of actor Gary Busey in a similar incident.[7]
Zito appeared on the January 11, 1999 edition of
In 2010, Zito filed a $5 million lawsuit against the cable network
Personal life
Zito has a daughter, Lisa, with his ex-wife Kathy.[6] His daughter became an entertainment lawyer for Condé Nast in Manhattan.[8][37] In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks of 2001, Zito violated a protective order that prohibited him from contacting Kathy when he made a phone call to his wife and daughter in Manhattan.[7] In 2002, he pleaded guilty to violating an order of protection. When given a choice by Westchester County Supreme Court Justice Daniel Angiolillo of a year of violence education classes or 15 days in county jail, Zito chose the latter, telling the judge: "...if I'm in a room with a bunch of guys bragging about how they beat their wives, I'm gonna smack someone."[7] He served twelve days in jail.[44] In 2005, he announced that he and Kathy had stopped trying to reconcile after 30 years of marriage and numerous attempts at reconciling. At the time, Zito had not spoken to his daughter Lisa in five years and therefore had never met his two grandchildren.[42]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | 1990: The Bronx Warriors | Outlaw Biker | |
1991 | Neon City | Bus Attacker | |
1993 | Nowhere to Run | Prisoner | |
New York Cop | Mafia Leader | ||
Carlito's Way | Club Bouncer | ||
Love, Cheat & Steal | Jake | ||
1994 | Jimmy Hollywood | Gangster | |
Bad Blood | "Toots" | ||
Sensation | The Bartender | ||
Love is a Gun | Cop | ||
1995 | Red Line | Dick | |
1996 | The Juror | Frankie | |
Heaven's Prisoners | Tony | ||
The Funeral | Zito | ||
Squanderers | Jerry | ||
1998 | Gia | Biker | |
Scar City | Guard | ||
No Code of Conduct | Guard | ||
1999 | Black & White | Chuck | |
Me and Will | Biker | ||
Man on the Moon | Tony Clifton / Biker | ||
2000 | Table One | The Chef | |
2001 | Street Justice | The Host | |
2003 | This Thing of Ours | DeGrazio Soldier | |
2004 | Brooklyn Bound | Anthony | |
Coalition | Vinnie | ||
2005 | Remedy | Captain Sallie | |
Searching for Bobby D | Freddy "Knuckles" | ||
The Signs of the Cross | Tony Esposito | ||
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power | "Buck" | ||
Tinsel Town | Rubenstein | ||
2009 | Under New Management | Don DeRossi | |
2010 | 13 | Ted | |
2011 | The Grasslands | Matty | |
2013 | Homefront | Danny "Danny T" Turrie | |
2014 | Collection | Joe | |
2015 | The Martial Arts Kid | Frank | |
Street Level | Carmine | ||
2016 | Saturday in the Park | Danny "Danny V" | |
Female Fight Club | Zeke | ||
2017 | Cops and Robbers | Randy | |
Blood Circus | Dominick | ||
2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | FDA Special Agent | |
Black Wake | Sheriff Williams | ||
Vault
|
Joey Bruno | post-production | |
Guitars and Guns | Marco | post-production | |
Treasure Hunter: Legend of the White Witch | Jorge | post-production | |
Dinosaur | Frank LaCarver | post-production | |
2019 | Street Justice | Unknown | pre-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | New York Undercover | Unknown | Episode: "Hubris" |
1998-2003 | Oz | Chucky "The Enforcer" Pancamo | 45 episodes |
2000 | V.I.P. | Mikey | 2 episodes |
2006 | The Young and the Restless | Rudy | 2 episodes |
Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Major Case Squad Detective | Episode: "Tru Love" | |
2007 | Entourage
|
Himself | Episode: "Malibooty" |
Days of Our Lives | Harry Jenks | 1 episode | |
2010 | How to Make It in America | Deli Man | Episode: "Crisp" |
2012 | Sons of Anarchy | Frankie "Diamonds" | 8 episodes |
2018 | Paper Empire | "Big D" Espozito | |
Jersey: The Series | "Big Al" |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Thomas Gerbasi (March 25, 2003). "Chuck Zito: Friend of the Game". MaxBoxing. Archived from the original on May 20, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
- ISBN 978-0-312-32021-8. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ The Daily Voice (March 1, 2016) Archived January 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-0-312-32021-8. Archived from the originalon May 30, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Muscling into the action: Hells Angel, ex-boxer Chuck Zito hopes to be an ex-bodyguard sometime soon Denis Hamill, New York Daily News (December 14, 1997) Archived December 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ISBN 9780312320218. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Who the heck is... Chuck Zito? New York Daily News (December 5, 2004) Archived December 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h i A Stuntman Is Ready For a Leap to Stardom The New York Times (August 23, 1998) Archived December 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Opening GG Bell Tonight Jack Smith, New York Daily News (January 30, 1973) Archived January 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Amy Green (July 24, 2006). "Gatti, Angels, Oz and Chuck Zito". The Sweet Science. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ A Refrigeration Expert, of Course New York Daily News (January 31, 1973)
- ^ Vasquez Outlasts White In 118 Open Jack Smith, New York Daily News (February 20, 1973)
- ^ Taglianetti, Miller Win GG Bouts New York Daily News (February 23, 1973)
- ^ Glovers Hit Canarsie Monday Night Jack Smith, New York Daily News (February 4, 1978)
- ^ “Smashed”: Boxing Changed Mickey Rourke’s Face Forever Anna Fletcher, eightieskids.com (April 4, 2022) Archived January 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gatti wife says 'I'm innocent' of boxing champ's murder NJ.com (July 16, 2009) Archived January 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Affliction: Day of Reckoning Review John Shubert, Bleacher Report (January 25, 2009) Archived January 6, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Affliction’s Hits and Misses Loretta Hunt, Sherdog (January 26, 2009) Archived January 6, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 9780312320218. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
- ^ a b c The Baddest Dude On The Tube The Smoking Gun (November 24, 2000) Archived December 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Hell's Angels motorcycle gang expands territory in Illinois Mark Kiesling, The Times of Northwest Indiana (December 13, 1994) Archived November 1, 2022, at archive.today
- ^ a b Street Justice by Chuck Zito with Joe Layden Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2002). Archived 2020-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ United States of America v. 77 East 3rd Street, New York, New York Google Scholar (September 14, 1994) Archived August 7, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 133 Hells Angels seized in 14 cities Chicago Tribune (May 3, 1985) Archived September 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 100 Hells Angel members are arrested in drug sweep Leslie Maitland Werner, The New York Times (May 3, 1985) Archived April 25, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ FBI “Full Steam” On Hells Angels Crackdown Scott Williams, Associated Press (May 3, 1985) Archived September 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Japan to Extradite Two Hells Angels in Narcotics Case Los Angeles Times (October 14, 1985) Archived April 29, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Japan to grant extradition of Hells Angels United Press International (October 14, 1985) Archived July 30, 2023, at archive.today
- ^ Americans Wanted in New York Extradited to U.S. Associated Press (October 26, 1985) Archived December 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cops Arrest Hell's Angels After Chase Ray Quintanilla, Chicago Tribune (December 12, 1994) Archived November 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Biker killed in gang fight at Hellraiser Ball Rupert Cornwell, The Independent (25 February 2002) Archived September 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pagan Bikers Indicted in Brawl Frank Eltman, Associated Press (March 13, 2002) Archived January 26, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Curious and the Police Abound at a Wake for Gotti Alan Feuer, The New York Times (June 14, 2002) Archived December 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs USA Overview p. 13 United States Department of Justice (May 1991) Archived May 26, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Chuck Zito: Inside the life of a New York tough guy grinbergnews.com (January 26, 2018) Archived July 30, 2023, at archive.today
- ^ "A Stuntman Is Ready For a Leap to Stardom". New York Times. August 23, 1998. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
- ^ a b c d Forever flexing his rep: Chuck Zito of HBO's 'Oz,' a former prison inmate, is one tough actor Denis Hamill, New York Daily News (January 5, 2003) Archived December 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Did a Sons of Anarchy Star Beat up Jean-Claude Van Damme in Yonkers? Tom Schreck, Westchester Magazine (March 23, 2017). Archived 2022-09-04 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Zito & Layden 2003, pp. 270–273.
- ^ A Look At Hulk Hogan's Cars Throughout The Years hotcars.com (March 4, 2020) Archived January 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Monday Nitro – January 11, 1999: The First Of His Kind Thomas Hall, KBWrestlingReviews.com (June 4, 2014) Archived January 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b His Palm Does the Talking HowardStern.com (October 7, 2005) Archived December 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Ex-Hells Angel: 'Sons of Anarchy' Was MY Idea!". TMZ.com. 2010-06-15. Archived from the original on 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
- ^ The Outlaw Biker Legacy of Violence Thomas Barker (2018)