What is Lillo Brancato Jr.'s Net Worth?
Lillo Brancato Jr. is a Colombian-born American actor with a net worth of $10,000. He is recognized for his performances in films like A Bronx Tale, Renaissance Man, Sticks, and In the Shadows. Brancato also played Matthew Bevilaqua in the second season of HBO's The Sopranos. In late 2005, he was arrested for the murder of a police officer during a botched burglary but was ultimately found guilty only of attempted burglary. He spent about five years in prison before being released on parole in late 2013.
Early Life and Education
Lillo Brancato Jr. was born on August 30, 1976, in Bogotá, Colombia. He was adopted at four months old by Italian-American parents Lillo and Domenica, who raised him in Yonkers, New York. He has an adoptive brother named Vinny. Brancato attended Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx.
Film Career
Brancato's acting career began serendipitously when a talent scout noticed his resemblance to a young Robert De Niro while swimming at Jones Beach in 1992. This led to his first major role in De Niro's directorial debut, A Bronx Tale (1993), in which he played Calogero 'C' Anello. He next appeared in Penny Marshall's 1994 comedy Renaissance Man, followed by a role in Tony Scott's action thriller Crimson Tide (1995). His career continued with roles in films like Provocateur (1997), The Florentine (1999), Blue Moon (2000) with Rita Moreno, and several others, including Mambo Café and Table One. In 2001, he appeared in Sticks, 'R Xmas, and In the Shadows. In 2002, Brancato played a mobster in Eddie Murphy's sci-fi comedy The Adventures of Pluto Nash. His other film credits include Downtown: A Street Tale (2004) and Slingshot (2005).
After being released from prison in 2013, Brancato's notable return to the big screen came in the 2016 boxing drama Back in the Day featuring Michael Madsen and Alec Baldwin. He also appeared in films such as Dead on Arrival, Revenge of the Dragon, King of Newark 2, The Fearless Two, and 5th Borough. In 2021, he had roles in Whack the Don and Made in Mexico.
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Television Career
Brancato's TV debut was in a 1999 episode of Showtime's Dead Man’s Gun. His most prominent TV role was as Matthew Bevilaqua in the second season of HBO's The Sopranos. He also appeared as a mobster in an episode of CBS's Falcone and in NYPD Blue.
Legal Troubles
Brancato's career took a downturn due to his struggles with addiction. By his mid-20s, he was addicted to cocaine and heroin. In June 2005, Brancato was arrested in Yonkers, NY, for possessing heroin, resulting in a Class A misdemeanor charge. In December of the same year, he was arrested in the Bronx for the murder of off-duty police officer Daniel Enchautegui during an attempted burglary. The situation escalated into a fatal gunfight. Brancato's accomplice, Steven Armento, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Brancato was charged with second-degree murder but was found not guilty; however, he was convicted of attempted first-degree burglary and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He struggled with drug abuse while incarcerated and was released on parole in late 2013 after nearly five years in prison.
