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Lillo Brancato of A Bronx Tale fame had it all, lost it all and is well on the road to redemption. The actor has landed his first major role since returning from an 8-year prison stint due to his involvement in a burglary that left an NYPD cop dead. 

Reports the New York Post:

After spending eight years behind bars for his role in a city cop-killing, the actor most famous for “A Bronx Tale” has landed a part in a boxing epic being filmed in Brooklyn and Staten Island, The Post has learned.

“Back in the Day’’ stars Alec Baldwin, Danny Glover and Mike Tyson and tells the story of a troubled kid from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who gets mentored by a local mobster while training to be a prizefighter.

Brancato, 38, called the Hollywood role a “blessing” and gave all the credit to producer and star William DeMeo for giving him a shot.

“I know a lot of people were nervous about hiring someone who had a tainted past,” DeMeo said. But “we didn’t care what other people think. I could tell deep down in my heart that he changed. I wanted to give him a second chance.”

Brancato’s role in the film is the cousin, Nicky Germano, of a boxer, Vito Germano, who is set fight its main character in a title bout. It turned out Demeo once beat out Brancato for a role, and they stayed in touch.

“I’ve seen my life flash before my eyes. And there was a strong possibility that I would never see daylight again from outside those prison walls,” Brancato told the Post. “And the fact that I have is truly a blessing. And every day, just being free, I’ve learned not to take anything for granted.”

Hip-Hop Wired recently spoke to Brancato and he proved to be an interesting, well spoken man working hard to make amends for his mistakes (he also talked about meeting Tupac). Peep HHW’s interviews below.