Dominic Chianese
Dominic Chianese | |
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![]() Chianese in 2011 | |
Born | New York City, U.S. | February 24, 1931
Education | Bronx High School of Science |
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, musician |
Years active | 1952–present |
Dominic Chianese (Italian pronunciation: [kjaˈneːze; -eːse]; born February 24, 1931) is an American actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos (1999–2007), Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II (1974), and Leander in Boardwalk Empire (2011–2013).
Early life
Chianese was born in the Bronx, New York. His father was a bricklayer.[1] His paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from Naples in 1904 and settled in the Bronx. Chianese graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1948.[2][3]
Career
After a decade of attending college and appearing in off-Broadway theatre, Chianese attended his first professional acting class at HB Studio in Manhattan, with renowned teacher Walt Witcover. Drama and musical theater became Chianese's passion. His first Broadway show was Oliver! in 1965. He has continued to perform in Broadway theatre, Off Broadway, and regional theatre. To supplement income in the dry periods, he played rhythm guitar and sang in taverns and restaurants, and also served as the master of ceremonies at the open microphone night at Gerdes Folk City in Greenwich Village.[4] Chianese's first television credit occurred when George C. Scott recommended him for a role in the acclaimed series East Side/West Side. In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola cast Chianese as Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, which sparked a film career, culminating in several films (and plays) with Al Pacino.
Before being cast in The Godfather Part II, Chianese worked for the Drug Commission of New York State as a recreational worker in a rehabilitation center. He taught guitar to women who were serving time for drug-related crimes.
In 2010, Chianese received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
Chianese has appeared in four movies with Al Pacino:
- The Godfather Part II (1974) – as Johnny Ola
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – as Sonny's Father
- ...And Justice For All (1979) – as Carl Travers
- Looking for Richard (1996) – as Himself
Chianese is an accomplished tenor[5] and musician. He released a CD titled Hits in 2000, on which he sings American and Italian songs, that he recorded in Nashville.[6] He performed Salvatore Cardillo's sentimental classic "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart"), on the third-season finale of The Sopranos (episode 3.13, "Army of One"). In 2003, Chianese, along with AOL Music, released a second CD titled Ungrateful Heart, which features 16 classic Neapolitan songs. In the 2000s he played in a mandolin quartet weekly at the Hotel Edison, New York City.[7]
Chianese appeared as a guest actor on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire for three seasons as Leander Whitlock, a retired lawyer and power broker.
In December 2018, Chianese and co-author Matthew Sargent published a biography of Chianese, titled Twelve Angels: The Women Who Taught Me How to Act, Live, and Love.[8]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | Fuzz | Panhandler | |
1974 | The Godfather Part II | Johnny Ola | |
1975 | Dog Day Afternoon | Mr. Wortzik | |
1976 | All the President's Men | Eugenio R. Martínez | |
1978 | Fingers | Arthur Fox | |
1978 | On the Yard | Mendoza | Uncredited |
1979 | Firepower | Orlov | |
1979 | ...And Justice for All | Carl Travers | |
1981 | Fort Apache, the Bronx | Mr. Corelli | |
1989 | Second Sight | Father Dominic | |
1990 | Q&A | Larry Pesch / Vito / Lorenzo Franconi | |
1991 | Out for Justice | Mr. Madano | |
1992 | The Public Eye | Spoleto | |
1993 | Rivalen des Glücks – The Contenders | Father of the bride | |
1993 | The Night We Never Met | Nosy Neighbor | |
1996 | If Lucy Fell | Al | |
1996 | Love Is All There Is | Italian Consul | |
1996 | The Mouse | Al the Trainer | |
1996 | Looking for Richard | Himself | Documentary |
1997 | Night Falls on Manhattan | Judge Impelliteri | |
1998 | Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five | Mickey | |
1999 | Cradle Will Rock | Silvano | |
2002 | Unfaithful | Frank Wilson | |
2004 | When Will I Be Loved | Count Tommaso Lupo | |
2004 | King of the Corner | Stan Marshak | |
2007 | The Last New Yorker | Lenny Sugarman | |
2007 | Adrift in Manhattan | Tommaso Pensara | |
2011 | Mr. Popper's Penguins | Reader | |
2013 | The Family | Vinnie Caprese | |
2017 | Active Adults | Bart |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964 | East Side/West Side | Charley | Episode: "The Street" |
1976 | Kojak | George Mallick | Episode: "A Hair-Trigger Away" |
1980 | A Time for Miracles | Promoter | Television movie |
1981 | Ryan's Hope | Alexei Vartova | 40 episodes |
1986 | Tales from the Darkside | Correlli's father | Episode: "A Choice of Dreams" |
1989 | L.A. Law | Dr. Peter Lacker (uncredited) | Episode: "I'm in the Nude for Love" |
1990 | The Lost Capone | Gabriel Capone | Television movie |
1991 | Law & Order | Dan Rubell | Episode: "Sonata for Solo Organ" |
1995–1997 | Law & Order | Judge Paul Kaylin | 2 episodes |
1996 | Gotti | Joe Armone | Television movie |
1997 | Cosby | — | Episode: "Lucas Raymondicus" |
1999– 2007 |
The Sopranos | Corrado 'Junior' Soprano | 55 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2000) Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2000–01) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2001–03, 2005, 2007) |
2004 | Hope & Faith | Irv Miller | Episode: "Trade Show" |
2004 | Crimes of Fashion | George | Television movie |
2010 | Damages | Stuart Zedeck | 7 episodes |
2010 | Blue Bloods | Jack 'Happy Jack' Vintano | Episode: "Officer Down" |
2011 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Vic | 2 episodes |
2011–2013 | Boardwalk Empire | Leander Cephas Whitlock | 12 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2012) |
2012–2015 | The Good Wife | Judge Michael Marx | 5 episodes |
2019 | The Village | Enzo | Main cast |
2019 | Inspector Montalbano | John Zuck | Episode: "Un diario del '43" Chianese's voice is dubbed by Gianni Giuliano |
References
- ^ "Dominic Chianese Biography (1934?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Jon Favreau & E.L. Doctorow At Bronx Science Gala". Bronx.com. April 25, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "Bronx High School Of Science Celebrates 75 Years With Gala". Looktothestars.org. March 29, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "Musicians Recall Dylan's First Big Gig and 25 Years of Music History at Gerde's Folk City". Bedfordandbowery.com. September 29, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "News: "Dominic Chianese Scores A Hit With 'Hits'"". BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). September 18, 2001. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ^ "Country Beat: Alecia Elliott, Dominic Chianese, Chet Atkins ..." MTV. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Angell, Roger. "This Old Man". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ "Twelve Angels | Book by Dominic Chianese, Matthew Sargent | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster". Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
External links
- Dominic Chianese at IMDb
- Dominic Chianese at the Internet Broadway Database
- A conversation with Dominic Chianese, The Sopranos' Uncle Junior in Lavery, David; Howard, Douglas L.; Levinson, Paul (eds.) (July 29, 2011). The Essential Sopranos Reader. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 339–362. ISBN 978-0-8131-3012-5.
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has generic name (help) - Dominic Chianese - Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male stage actors
- Male actors from New York City
- 1931 births
- Living people
- American tenors
- Singers from New York City
- Brooklyn College alumni
- Rhythm guitarists
- American humanitarians
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- People from the Bronx
- American people of Italian descent
- Activists from New York (state)
- Guitarists from New York City
- American male guitarists
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century American male musicians
- The Bronx High School of Science alumni
- American mandolinists