Chuck Zito
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ' | |
| Born | March 1, 1953 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | United States |
| Occupation | actor, amateur boxer, martial artist, celebrity bodyguard, stuntman |
| 'Website chuckzito.com |
|
Chuck Zito (born Charles Zito Jr. on March 1, 1953) is an actor, amateur boxer, martial artist, celebrity bodyguard, stuntman and former president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels.[1]
Chuck Zito grew up in The Bronx and New Rochelle, New York, the son of Italian-American parents Charles Zito and Gloria Frangione Zito.
He began boxing when he was a teenager, following in his father's footsteps. He competed in several amateur boxing matches, with mixed results. In 1973, Zito competed in his first Golden Gloves competition, winning his first two matches but losing his third.
Chuck Zito now hosts a radio show called Chuck Zito's View on Sirius Satellite Radio on Howard 101.
Contents |
[edit] Hells Angels
The same year, Zito married his high-school girlfriend Kathy and adopted her daughter, Lisa, and dropped out of high school. He worked at a series of manual jobs, and also purchased his first motorcycle. Soon after, along with several of his friends, Zito established the small New Rochelle Motorcycle Club. The club eventually merged with the larger Ching-a-Ling Nomads.
In 1979, Zito left the Ching-a-Lings to join the New York chapter of the Hells Angels. This caused a simmering dispute with his wife to boil over. Kathy left him and quickly filed for divorce. Some months later, the two reconciled. Although they continue to live together they have never remarried.
On April 16, 2007 Chuck said on his radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio Howard 100 that he was no longer a member of the Hells Angels.
[edit] Bodyguard career
While attending a motorcycle show in 1980, Zito met one of the bodyguards for actor Robert Conrad. This experience inspired him to start his own bodyguard service, naming it Charlie's Angels Bodyguard Service, a reference to his Hells Angels affiliation. His bodyguard business developed slowly, until he was hired by Liza Minnelli. She recommended his services to her celebrity friends, and he quickly started making contacts throughout Hollywood. Some of those celebrities include Liza Minnelli, Sean Penn, Charlie Sheen, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Charles Bronson, Sylvester Stallone, and boxer Arturo Gatti.[2]
[edit] Prison
In 1985, Zito was indicted for drug trafficking, while working for Jon Bon Jovi in Japan; the charge was that he made a telephone call to somebody who was selling methamphetamine. He served five years in prison from 1985 to 1990.[3][4]
[edit] Acting career
After his release from prison, in 1990, Zito returned to work as a bodyguard and as a stuntman. His stunt roles started to evolve into small speaking parts. His acting career reached new heights in 1998, when he was offered a role in the HBO series Oz. On that show, he is a key Italian inmate named Chucky Pancamo who is one of the most physically intimidating inmates on the show. Because of his motorcycle experience, Zito initially auditioned as a member of the Bikers gang but Oz creator Tom Fontana felt he'd be a better fit with the Italians.
In 1999, Zito made several appearances on the professional wrestling television show WCW Monday Nitro, portraying a supposed alliance with Hulk Hogan.
In 2002, Chuck Zito co-authored the autobiographical Street Justice (ISBN 978-0312320218). In 2003, Zito played a gangster again in the independent film This Thing of Ours.
[edit] Trivia
- In 1998, actor Jean-Claude Van Damme and his former bodyguard Chuck Zito were involved in a fist-fight at a New York strip-tease bar called Scores. The event became notorious in the news and a scandal for Van Damme.
- Every year Zito attends the Hacienda Harley Davidson Kickstart Party located in Scottsdale, AZ which is also frequented by other celebrities.
- Zito is currently involved in production of a spin-off of the highly successful television show, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," which he has tentatively named, "Straight Eye for the Queer Guy" ["Entertainment Tonight," April 23, 2007]. Zito will discuss and examine the lives of seemingly happily married men who have "come out of the closet" and become involved with gay men.
[edit] References
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi (March 25, 2003). Chuck Zito: Friend of the Game. MaxBoxing. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
- ^ Philip Carlo. Interview with Chuck Zito. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ "A Stuntman Is Ready For a Leap to Stardom", New York Times, August 23, 1998. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
- ^ "Former prison inmate Chuck Zito is one tough actor", Kansas City Star, February 6, 2003, p. E10. Archived from [{{{url}}} the original] on 2007-11-01.
[edit] Further reading
- Zito, Chuck (2003). Street Justice. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0312320218.
