Actors - Dominic Chianese

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	Actors - Dominic Chianese

Dominic Chianese (born September 2, 1934) in Bronx, New York, is an Italian-American actor and performer. One of his most famous roles is that of Soprano family patriarch Uncle "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos
, a role that netted him two Emmy Award nominations.

Chianese worked as a bricklayer with his father and attended night school during the 1950s, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Speech and Theater from Brooklyn College in 1961. His earliest stage work occurred in 1952 with a Gilbert and Sullivan repertory company of singers, actors and musicians called The American Savoyards, under the direction of Dorothy Raedler.

After a decade of doing theatre, both in college and off broadway shows, Chianese attended his first professional acting class at HB Studios, with renowned teacher Walt Witcover in Manhattan. Acting became Chianese's passion, along with musical theater. His first Broadway show was Oliver in 1965. Since then he has worked at regional, off Broadway and on Broadway all through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. To supplement income in the 'dry' periods, he sang and played rhythm guitar in saloons and restaurants. Chianese's first television credit was due to George C. Scott recommending him for his acclaimed series East Side, West Side. In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola cast him as "Johnny Ola" in The Godfather, Part II, which set a movie career in motion, culminating with several movies (and plays) with Al Pacino.

Before getting the call for Godfather II, Chianese was working for the Drug Commission of New York State as a recreational worker in a rehab center. He was teaching guitar to women who were serving time for drug-related crimes.

Chianese is a talented musician, having released a CD (fittingly titled "Hits") in 2000, where he sings American and Italian songs. He even performed Salvatore Cardillo's sentimental classic Core 'ngrato ("Ungrateful Heart"), on the third-season finale of The Sopranos.

His manager is Brian Liebman, who is also the manager of soap opera star Mark Consuelos.

Filmography

The Last New Yorker (2006) .... Lenny Sugarman,
Crimes of Fashion (2004) (TV) .... George ... aka Boss Girl,
King of the Corner (2004) .... Stan Marshack,
When Will I Be Loved (2004) .... Count Tommaso Lupo,
Unfaithful (2002) .... Frank Wilson,
Cradle Will Rock
(1999) .... Silvano - Papa,
"The Sopranos" (1999) TV Series .... Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano,
Went to Coney Island on a Mission From God... Be Back by Five (1998) .... Mickey (The Photographer),
Night Falls on Manhattan (1997) .... Judge Impelliteri,
The Mouse (1996) .... Al the Trainer,
Gotti (1996) (TV) .... Joe Armone,
Love Is All There Is (1996) .... Italian Consul,
If Lucy Fell (1996) .... Al,
The Night We Never Met (1993) .... Lion's Den Neighbor,
Rivalen des Glücks - The Contenders (1993) .... Father of bride ... aka The Contenders,
The Public Eye (1992) .... Spoleto,
Out for Justice (1991) .... Mr. Madano,
The Lost Capone (1990) (TV) .... Gabriel Capone,
Q & A (1990) (as Dominick Chianese) .... Larry Pesch aka Vito/Lorenzo Franconi,
Second Sight (1989) .... Father Dominic,
Ryan's Hope (1975) TV Series .... Alexei Vartova #1 (1981),
Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) .... Corelli's father,
A Time for Miracles (1980) (TV) .... Promoter,
...And Justice for All
(1979) .... Carl Travers,
Firepower (1979) .... Orlov,
On the Yard (1978) .... Mendoza,
Fingers (1978) .... Arthur Fox,
All the President's Men (1976) .... Eugenio R. Martinez,
Dog Day Afternoon
(1975) .... Mr. Wortzik,
The Godfather: Part II (1974) .... Johnny Ola
Fuzz (1972) .... Panhandler,

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