Career
He portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone, in Donnie Brasco, and real-life Lucchese crime family mobster Francesco Manzo, in Goodfellas. lieutenant was at the Copacabana Nightclub where he first met Francis Ford Coppola and Louis DiGiamo, leading to his film debut in The Godfather but in a very small role. He also co-wrote his own book in 2005 named Shut Up And Eat! Lip was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania but grew up in The Bronx near John Gotti"s boyhood home.
He earned the nickname "Lip" in 1938 as he was very persuasive and could out-talk anyone.
Lip also served in the United States army in years 1951 and 1953 while stationed in Germany. He worked at the Copacabana, starting in 1961, as maître d’ and supervisor, and met famous people like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Lip died January 4, 2013 at a hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey at age 82.