Frank DiLeo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Frank Michael DiLeo (1947-10-23)October 23, 1947 Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2011(2011-08-24) (aged 63) North Lima, Ohio, U.S.[1] |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1967–2011 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2[3] |
Frank Michael DiLeo (October 23, 1947 – August 24, 2011) was an American music industry executive and actor, known for his portrayal of gangster Tuddy Cicero inMartin Scorsese'sGoodfellas. From 1984 to 1989, and again in 2009, he wasMichael Jackson's manager.[1]
Frank DiLeo graduated fromCentral Catholic High School. DiLeo began his career in the music industry in the late 1960s, shortly after high school, as arack jobber (distributingrecords to retail stores) in Pittsburgh. Following a number of brief, higher-profile jobs, he was hired as a promotion staffer inCleveland byCBS Records subsidiaryEpic Records in 1968.[4][5] He promoted albums byThe Hollies,Donovan andSly & the Family Stone to local radio stations, and was later promoted to the company's regional office inChicago.[6] Circa 1969 he was "headhunted" byRCA Records inNew York City, followed by a stint atBell Records. After a year with Bell he "retired" from the music business and moved back to Pittsburgh. His return to the music industry was prompted by an "electrical fire" that destroyed his Pittsburgh home, for which his insurance carrier reportedly refused to pay out.
In 1979, CBS Records presidentWalter Yetnikoff hired his friend DiLeo to work forEpic Records inNew York City as Vice President of National Promotion. Overseeing a staff of 65 people and a multi-million dollar budget, Frank helped guide Epic Records from a small $65 million company to a $250 million; during this period Epic outperformed its sister labelColumbia Records for two years running. Artists signed to Epic includedQuiet Riot,REO Speedwagon,Ozzy Osbourne,Gloria Estefan,Luther Vandross,Meat Loaf,Cyndi Lauper,Culture Club and above allMichael Jackson, among others. He was voted executive of the year for Epic Records, received over 80 gold and platinum awards, and was credited for taking Epic Records from the number fourteen label in the U.S. market to number two. In 1984, after the record-setting success of hisThriller album, Michael Jackson asked DiLeo to take over as his manager. DiLeo was the executive producer for the full-length movieMoonwalker,[7] wrote and executive produced three Pepsi-Cola commercials (including negotiating a landmark endorsement deal), and eight music videos including the Grammy winning video "Leave Me Alone". DiLeo managed Jackson'sBad World Tour, and the Jackson family'sVictory Tour. DiLeo managed Jackson until February 14, 1989, when Jackson accused DiLeo of tampering with money. DiLeo later partnered up with Jackson again in 2009 for Jackson'sThis Is It concert series.[8] The last time DiLeo saw Jackson was at theRonald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on June 25, 2009, when the singer was already dead. DiLeo toldDavid Gest: "I got to spend a few moments alone with him, I told him what I thought, before kissing him on the head and saying my last goodbye."[citation needed]
DiLeo is referenced inSheryl Crow's "The Na-Na Song", with the lines "Clarence Thomas organ grinder Frank DiLeo's dong / Maybe if I'd let him I'd have had a hit song."[citation needed] Crow and DiLeo were acquainted when Crow worked as a backup singer on Jackson's Bad World Tour. Dileo propositioned Crow and said he would ruin her career if she did not comply.[9] DiLeo also managed the careers ofTaylor Dayne,Jodeci,Laura Branigan, and Bon Jovi guitaristRichie Sambora, and had worked withPrince on several projects.[10]
DiLeo founded Dileo Entertainment Group, a company located inNashville, Tennessee. The company is focused on managing up-and-coming artists as well as establishing a publishing company in Nashville with partners Mark Lamica and Quincy Krashna, with whom also co-managed Michael Jackson and his comeback tour along with numerous projects including several plays. DiLeo also wrote a tell-all biography of his years in the music industry, of which Mark & Quincy have the transcripts and original copies.
In 1991, Youngstown, Ohio Mob Boss Joseph "Little Joey" Naples was killed outside a home he was having built in Beaver Township, Mahoning County. He was driving DiLeo's Ford Mustang Convertible. Naples was a member of the LaRocca LCN family in Pittsburgh. In 2011, DiLeo suffered a heart attack and was treated at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
He appeared in six major motion pictures. His film credits includeGoodfellas,Wayne's World andWayne's World 2.
Frank DiLeo died on August 24, 2011, in a care facility outside Youngstown, Ohio, after experiencing complications following heart surgery. He was 63 years old.[11][12][13]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Moonwalker | Jack | Segment: "Come Together" |
| 1990 | Goodfellas | Tuddy Cicero | |
| 1992 | Wayne's World | Frankie "Mr. Big" Sharp | |
| 1993 | Wayne's World 2 | Frankie "Mr. Big" Sharp | |
| 1995 | Kiss of Death | Big Junior's Friend | Final film role |
| 2009 | Michael Jackson: This Is It | Himself | Documentary |
| 2011 | Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon | Himself | Documentary |
| 2024 | The Greatest Night in Pop | Himself | Documentary |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Tribeca | Super | Episode: "The Loft" |
| 1994 | New York Undercover | Tommy T | Episode: "Mate" |
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