A Bronx Tale remains a coming-of-age story with teeth, over 30 years after its release.
The 1993 crime drama centered around Calogero, who is just 9 years old as the film kicks off. Growing up in the Bronx, Calogero (Francis Capra) observes his father Lorenzo (Robert De Niro in his directorial debut), a blue-collar local bus driver, while also admiring the life of local gangster Sonny (Chazz Palminteri).
As Calogero grows up (then played by Lillo Brancato Jr.), he finds himself caught between the two worlds. It’s further complicated when he falls in love with Jane, a Black girl living in his neighborhood who also finds herself enmeshed in the tension between Italian American and African American residents of the area.
The film, an adaptation of Palminteri’s 1989 play of the same name, has seen many lives in the 32 years since its release. Here’s what the film’s stars are up to.
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Robert De Niro as Lorenzo
Savoy Pictures; Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
Robert De Niro delivers a powerful performance in the film, which saw him on double duty as actor and director. His character Lorenzo is a family man who wants what is best for his son and envisions him going down an honest and decent path like his own.
The Oscar-winning actor has appeared in dozens of acclaimed films in the years since, including Meet the Parents (2000), Stardust (2007), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), The Irishman (2019) and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). He also led the cast of the 2025 Netflix limited series Zero Day and is set to return for the fourth installment of the Meet the Parents franchise, Focker In-Law.
In 2023, De Niro welcomed his seventh child, daughter Gia, at age 79 with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. He also has six other children, three daughters and two sons, from previous relationships.
Chazz Palminteri as Sonny
Savoy Pictures; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty for Mercury Studios
Chazz Palminteri has taken the story of his life and turned it into A Bronx Tale for both stage and screen. The film, in particular, opened doors that allowed the actor to appear in other projects.
The actor enjoyed success in Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995) and Diabolique (1996), as well as comedic roles in films like Analyze This (1999) and Down to Earth (2001).
Palminteri also stepped into directing, first with an episode of Oz in 1991, then the television film Women vs. Men (2002) and feature film Noel (2004). He continues to act and direct to this day, as well as hosting his podcast, The Chazz Palminteri Show.
Francis Capra as Young Calogero
Savoy Pictures; Daniel Boczarski/Getty for Hulu
Francis Capra continued to enjoy success after playing the sweet younger version of Calogero. He appeared in Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995), SLC Punk! (1999),
The actor went on to play Eli ‘Weevil’ Navarro, a friend and teenage biker gang leader in Veronica Mars. Capra returned as Navarro in the movie and fourth season revivals.
Other notable TV appearances for the star, 42, include Friday Night Lights, Sons of Anarchy, Bones and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Lillo Brancato Jr. as Teen Calogero
Savoy Pictures; Theo Wargo/Getty
Lillo Brancato Jr. had a promising career ahead of him, but faced difficulties grappling with success at 17. De Niro tried to serve as a mentor and take Brancato under his wing, giving him some fatherly advice.
“Early on in my career I spoke to Bob and Chazz about how profound changes would occur in my life,” Brancato told PEOPLE in 2017. “They said once this movie goes out, you will have people around you who will expose you to dangerous things and you have to be careful.”
But Brancato “shrugged off” the advice, and in the years that followed, his drug use escalated and resulted in cocaine and heroin addictions.
After a difficult path that included an 8-year jail sentence from 2007 to 2015, Brancato has found peace in sobriety and continues to act.
Taral Hicks as Jane
Savoy Pictures; Bobby Bank/Getty
Taral Hicks shined in A Bronx Tale, so much so that some fans are surprised to learn it was her first role.
After the film’s success, she continued to act. Hicks appeared in Just Cause (1995), The Preacher’s Wife (1996) and Belly (1998).
Hicks also performed as an R&B singer, releasing several singles between 1996 and 1998.
Later, she returned to film with The Salon (2005), Forbidden Fruits (2006), and more. She also co-starred in the musical stage play for Tyler Perry’s Aunt Bam’s Place.
Katherine Narducci as Rosina
Savoy Pictures; Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty
Katherine Narducci ended up with her role as Rosina, Calogero’s mom, in A Bronx Tale by accident. She was bringing her 9-year-old son to the casting call for him to audition when she caught the filmmakers’ attention.
Narducci has kept busy in both television and film, most notably recurring on The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007.
Most recently, Narducci has appeared on TV in a 2022 episode of Euphoria and on film in 2025’s The Alto Knights.
Joe Pesci as Carmine
Savoy Pictures; Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Known for playing tough guys, Pesci was coming off an iconic role as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas when he appeared in A Bronx Tale.
After the film, Pesci continued to add legendary films to his roster, having been in Casino (1995), Gone Fishin (1997) and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).
The New Jersey native semi-retired from acting in 1999. However, he has since appeared in The Irishman and 2023’s Day of the Fight and on the Peacock comedy series Bupkis.
Pesci shares one daughter, Tiffany, with his ex-wife, Claudia Haro.
