Born in Buffalo, New York, Polizzi was a longtime Los Angeles underworld strong-arm figure who first began working as a bartender in San Bernardino upon his arrival in California. Polizzi was also employed as a debt collector and bookie. He was known to frequent the clubs and restaurants along Highland and Waterman Avenues and maintained a residence in San Bernardino for many years. He was married to the daughter of fellow L.A. mobster Gaspare Matranga. He was allegedly made a member of the Los Angeles crime family in 1953. Polizzi was suspected by authorities to be the hitman in the murder of Mickey Cohen lawyer, associate and political fixer Samuel Rummel who was killed in front of his own home. Polizzi was also a suspected in a couple of other murders in Los Angeles.