Hollywood is basically a graveyard for long-term relationships. You see it every week: the "conscious uncoupling" posts, the legal filings, the messy split over who gets the Malibu estate. But then you have Chazz Palminteri and wife Gianna Ranaudo, who have been married since June 1992. That’s over three decades. In "actor years," that’s practically a century.
What makes them different? Honestly, it might be that they didn't meet at a flashy red carpet or a curated industry party. They met at church.
The "Spark" That Started at St. Charles
It was 1990. Chazz was in Los Angeles, still grinding away. He hadn't quite hit that massive A Bronx Tale level of fame yet, though things were starting to move. Gianna Ranaudo, a Jersey girl 14 years his junior, had just moved to L.A. to chase her own acting dreams. She’d studied at the William Esper Studio and had already done some hosting for the Travel Channel.
The story goes that Gianna saw him first at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood. She was there praying for a specific acting role. She noticed Chazz, but let’s be real—you don’t exactly "pick up" a guy while you're both finishing the Rosary. There was a look, a "sparkle" as Chazz calls it, but no words were exchanged.
Three days later, fate (or just a really small Hollywood circle) stepped in.
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Chazz was at a nightclub for a cast party for the movie Oscar, which he was filming with Sylvester Stallone. Gianna happened to be at the same club for a different cast party. As Chazz walked through the door, Gianna was walking out. They literally ran right into each other.
The Famous "Door Test"
If you’ve seen A Bronx Tale, you know about the door test. It’s the scene where Sonny tells young C it’s all about whether the girl reaches over to unlock the car door for you. Chazz actually used a version of this in real life. He’s admitted in interviews that Gianna passed "every test" he threw her way.
But it wasn't just about car locks. It was about shared values. Both are devout Catholics. Both come from tight-knit East Coast families—him from the Bronx, her from Hazlet, New Jersey. That shared "Old School" foundation is probably why they're still together while other couples are on their third divorce.
Gianna Ranaudo: More Than a "Wife"
It’s easy to get overshadowed when your husband is an Academy Award nominee who wrote one of the most iconic New York stories ever. But Gianna is a performer in her own right. She appeared in A Bronx Tale (1993) and the 1998 film Hurlyburly. She also produced the 2013 movie A Fish Story.
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In recent years, she’s become a massive part of the family business. If you follow Chazz on social media or listen to The Chazz Palminteri Show, you’ll see Gianna everywhere. She’s often behind the scenes making sure the "Child of the Bronx" brand stays on track.
Raising the Next Generation: Dante and Gabriella
The couple has two children who are also following the "thespian" path.
- Dante Lorenzo Palminteri: Born in 1995. He’s a musician and actor who has been carving out a name for himself in the indie pop scene.
- Gabriella Rose Palminteri: Born in 2001. She’s also an actress and singer, often appearing alongside her father at events.
The Palminteris live in Bedford, Westchester County. They’ve managed to raise their kids away from the toxic bubble of Los Angeles, which is likely another reason the family unit has stayed so solid. Chazz often credits his parents for showing him how to be a good husband, but he credits Gianna for keeping him grounded once the fame actually hit.
Why Chazz Palminteri and Wife Gianna Still Matter in 2026
In an era where celebrity life is lived through filtered Instagram reels, the Palminteris feel... authentic. There’s no manufactured drama. They talk about making sauce, going to church, and supporting their kids' careers.
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One of the most interesting things about their relationship is how they handle the age gap. When they met, he was 38 and she was 24. While that might raise eyebrows in some modern contexts, they’ve always described it as a meeting of equals who happened to be at different life stages. Thirty-four years of marriage tends to prove the doubters wrong.
Practical Lessons from a 30-Year Marriage
If you're looking for the "secret sauce" to their longevity, it basically boils down to three things:
- Shared Roots: They never lost their New York/New Jersey identities. They didn't "go Hollywood."
- Mutual Respect for the Craft: Because Gianna was an actor and producer, she understands the weird hours and the ego-bruising nature of the business.
- Privacy: You don't see them in the tabloids. They show up for the work, then they go home to Bedford.
Moving Forward with the Palminteris
If you want to see the couple's chemistry for yourself, the best place is actually Chazz’s podcast. He often shares anecdotes about their life together that don't make it into the glossy magazines. You can also catch Gianna’s influence in his later work, where themes of family and loyalty—the very things that define their marriage—take center stage.
To dive deeper into the world they've built, check out Chazz’s official site or his YouTube channel, where he frequently discusses the "rules of life" that he and Gianna have lived by since that chance meeting in North Hollywood.