Following in his dad’s footsteps, Zito became an amateur fighter and fought in New York Gold Gloves while working manual labor. In 1980, after helping the bodyguards of actor Robert Conrad at a bike custom, Zito started his own bodyguard agency. Named Charlie’s Angels Bodyguard Services, Zito initially supplied protection for celebrity Lorna Luft and after was hired by her half sister Liza Minnelli. The performer urged Zito’s service to her plethora of star acquaintances, enabling Zito to rapidly develop contacts throughout Hollywood. Parlaying his link, Zito started a job as a stuntman working on movies including Year of the Dragon, Hudson Hawk, and The Rock. Over time Zito has switched with stunt work and playing with credits for stunt work in movies like Fifteen Minutes and playing parts in the movie This Thing of Ours. In 2003, Zito released his autobiography, Street Justice, coauthored with Joe Layden. In 2006, Zito enlarged into radio with all the show Chuck Zito’s Perspective on Howard Stern’s Sirius Satellite Radio station. In 2010, Zito filed a $5 million suit from the cable network FX, alleging that he’d a development meeting together in 2006, where he tossed the notion of an outlaw bike group. He alleges that FX blew him away and then stole his thought, which became the FX show Sons of Anarchy. He also appeared in SOA originator Kurt Sutter’s Discovery Channel documentary series, Outlaw Empires.
Actor, Bodyguard, Martial Artist, Radio personality, Voice Actor, Stunt Performer
Nationality
United States of America
Parents
Charles Zito, Sr., Gloria Frangione
Nicknames
Charles Zito Jr. , Charles Zito , Charles "Chuck" Zito, Jr.
Movies
Carlito's Way, This Thing of Ours, Reach Me, The Juror, Love, Cheat & Steal, Brooklyn Bound, Nowhere to Run, Love Is A Gun, Man on the Moon, 13, Squanderers, Ghosts of Goldfield, Under New Management, Remedy, Sensation, Coalition, The Signs of the Cross
TV Shows
Oz
Star Sign
Pisces
#
Fact
1
He and Luis Guzmán are the only actors to appear in both Carlito's Way (1993) and its prequel, Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005).
2
Originally auditioned to be a biker on the series, Oz (1997), however creator Tom Fontana felt he'd be a better fit with the Italians.
3
Attends all UFC events.
4
Italian-American
5
Bodyguard for Joan Rivers.
6
Has a Black Belt in Karate.
7
Was present at Lennox Lewis/Mike Tyson press conference brawl (2002).
8
Former bodyguard for Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mickey Rourke and Sylvester Stallone.
9
25 year member of the Hells Angels, leaving the club in 2004.