Professional/singer Dominic Chianese (pronounced Key-a-NAY-see) gained widespread identification for his portrayal of Corrado “Uncle Junior” Soprano over the cable-television series The Sopranos beginning in 1999, but his profession dates back towards the 1950s. A second-generation Italian-American, he was created in to a category of stonemasons in the brand new York Town borough the Bronx. After graduating from the esteemed Bronx SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL of Research, he got into the family members bricklaying business, however in 1952, he got a component within the chorus of the touring firm of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, his initial professional performing and performing job. He came back to bricklaying following a year, however in the past due ’50s he started acting in summer months stock companies, ultimately obtaining his Actor’s Collateral credit card. He also returned to school, gaining a qualification from Brooklyn University at age 30. In the 1960s, while searching for performing parts, he also became a member of the folk music increase, playing an classical guitar and performing in Greenwich Community. He became an MC on the famed nightclub Gerde’s Folk Town in 1964, carrying on to seem there on / off into the past due ’70s. His performing parts steadily became more essential and included Broadway stints in Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo and David Mamet’s WATER Engine. He broke in to the films in 1972 with Fuzz, and since that time has appeared within a string of movies like the Godfather Component II (1974), Pet Day time Afternoon (1975), All of the President’s Males (1976), Fingertips (1978), … And Justice for many (1979), Q&A (1990), Out for Justice (1991), and THE NIGHT TIME We Under no circumstances Met (1993), in addition to making frequent visitor looks on network tv series. This designed for a regularly successful career like a personality actor, nonetheless it was his casting as Uncle Junior, the maturing Mafia patriarch who includes a contentious romantic relationship along with his Mob employer nephew Tony Soprano (performed by Adam Gandolfini) that produced him nationally well-known. On the ultimate episode of the 3rd season from the Sopranos in-may 2001, Chianese produced his national performing debut, presaging the discharge of his initial album, Strikes, in June. Ungrateful Center followed 2 yrs later.
Quick Facts
Full Name Dominic Chianese
Height 1.8 m
Profession Actor, Singer, Bricklayer, Guitarist
Education Brooklyn College, The Bronx High School of Science
Nationality American
Spouse Jane Pittson
Children Dominic Chianese Jr., Leah Espy Chianese, Rebbeca Scarpatti Chianese, Alexander John Gwozdz Chianese, Dominica Roskelly Chianese, Sarah Chianese
Awards Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Music Songs Core 'ngrato, Parla piu piano, Solamente Una Vez, Song a napoletano, True Love Still on My Mind, Passing of Time, State vicin' a me, Love Is Real, Typical New Yorker, Chitarra romana, Shady Grove, Feels Like Home, A vucchella, Santa lucia luntana, O marenariello, Piscatore 'e pusilleco, Dicitencello vuje, Mala femmena, Torna a surriento, Lu cardillo, For the Good Times, O sole mio, Maria, marí, Mamma, Santa Lucia, Interludio: Core 'ngrato, Amazing Grace, Ramona, Guantanamera
Albums Ungrateful heart, Hits
Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Movies The Godfather Part II, Unfaithful, Dog Day Afternoon, The Family, ...And Justice for All, Adrift in Manhattan, Mr. Popper's Penguins, All the President's Men, When Will I Be Loved, The Last New Yorker, Out for Justice, The Public Eye, Crimes of Fashion, Night Falls on Manhattan, Under Hellgate Bridge, King of the Corner, Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five, If Lucy Fell, A Time for Miracles, Q&A, Firepower, The Thomas Crown Affair, Just Laugh, The Mouse, Gotti
TV Shows Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos
Facts
Filmography
Awards
Salaries
Quotes
Trademarks
Pictures
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Fact
1
His son, Dominic Chianese Jr., also an actor, appeared in three installments of the final season of The Sopranos (1999), as a member of the competing Lupertazzi crime family.
2
Dominic has released two CD music albums. The first, entitled "Hits," in 2000, singing American and Italian standards. The second CD, released in 2003 by AOL Music, entitled "Ungrateful Heart," features 16 classic Neapolitan songs, including the title song, Salvatore Cardillo's sentimental classic "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart"), which Dominic performed on the third-season finale of The Sopranos.
3
2010 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
4
Son of a bricklayer/mason. After graduating from high school, Dominic worked with his father on construction jobs while attending night school, ultimately graduating from Brooklyn College in 1961 with a B.A. in Speech and Theater Studies.
Before being cast in The Godfather: Part II (1974), Chianese worked for the New York State Drug Abuse Control Commission as a recreational worker in a rehabilitation center. He taught guitar to women who were serving time for drug-related crimes.
7
As of 2012, Chianese still regularly performs music in New York City area venues, one of a declining group of nationally recognizable celebrities to do so. Woody Allen is the most notable of these celebrity performers, which, until recently also included Conrad Janis and Les Paul (d.2009). Chianese's typical sets have included mostly Italian favorites, complementary to his great tenor voice, songs similar to what might have been heard on The Sopranos (1999). While The Sopranos was still in production, Dominic was able to help one of his band mates get a guest spot, as a well-wisher to an ailing Tony Soprano. For many years, Chianese's most regular performing venue was restaurant/theater The West Bank, but over the last several years he's been been caught performing at other hot spots.
8
He has the distinction of being the only actor to appear in the greatest mobster movie series (as Johnny Ola in The Godfather: Part II (1974)) and the greatest mobster TV series as a series regular (as Uncle Junior on The Sopranos (1999)). Richard Bright and Vittorio Duse also appeared in both the Godfather series and "The Sopranos", although they aren't regular cast members of "The Sopranos".
9
Once sang "A Fool Such as I" at the Grand Ole Opry.
10
Italian-American.
11
Last name (Chianese) is pronounced Kee-en-ay-zay.
12
Graduated from the prestigious Bronx High School of Science.
13
Got his start in musical comedy, and still often appears as a cabaret singer performing standards, ballads and Italian folk songs.
Actor
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Umberto D.
2017
pre-production
Umberto D.
Active Adults
2016
completed
Bart
The Good Wife
2012-2015
TV Series
Judge Michael Marx
Boardwalk Empire
2011-2013
TV Series
Leander Cephas Whitlock
The Family
2013/I
Vinnie Caprese
Mr. Popper's Penguins
2011
Reader
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
2011
TV Series
Vic
Blue Bloods
2010
TV Series
Happy Jack
Damages
2010
TV Series
Stuart Zedeck
What About Sal?
2008
TV Short
Salvador Pucchini
The Last New Yorker
2007
Lenny Sugarman
The Sopranos
1999-2007
TV Series
Junior Soprano
Adrift in Manhattan
2007
Tomasso Pensara
Crimes of Fashion
2004
TV Movie
George
When Will I Be Loved
2004
Count Tommaso Lupo
King of the Corner
2004
Stan Marshak
Hope & Faith
2004
TV Series
Irv Miller
Unfaithful
2002
Frank Wilson
Under Hellgate Bridge
2000
Father Nichols
Cradle Will Rock
1999
Silvano - Papa
Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five
1998
Mickey (The Photographer)
Law & Order
1991-1997
TV Series
Judge Paul Kaylin / Dan Rubell
Cosby
1997
TV Series
Night Falls on Manhattan
1996
Judge Impelliteri
The Mouse
1996
Al the Trainer
Gotti
1996
TV Movie
Joe Armone
Love Is All There Is
1996
Italian Consul
If Lucy Fell
1996
Al
The Contenders
1993
Father of bride
The Night We Never Met
1993
Lion's Den Nosy Neighbor
The Public Eye
1992
Spoleto
Coconut Downs
1991
TV Movie
Nicky Fish
Out for Justice
1991
Mr. Madano
The Lost Capone
1990
TV Movie
Gabriel Capone
Q & A
1990
Larry Pesch / Vito / Lorenzo Franconi (as Dominick Chianese)
Second Sight
1989
Father Dominic
Tales from the Darkside
1986
TV Series
Correlli's Father
Spenser: For Hire
1986
TV Series
Mr. Bloomquist
Ryan's Hope
1980-1981
TV Series
Alexei Vartova / Uncle Ben the Consultant
Fort Apache the Bronx
1981
Corelli's Father
A Time for Miracles
1980
TV Movie
Promoter
...and justice for all.
1979
Carl Travers
Firepower
1979
Orlov
On the Yard
1978
Mendoza (uncredited)
Fingers
1978
Arthur Fox
The Godfather: A Novel for Television
1977
TV Mini-Series
Johnny Ola
Kojak
1976
TV Series
George Mallick
All the President's Men
1976
Eugenio R. Martinez
Dog Day Afternoon
1975
Father
The Godfather: Part II
1974
Johnny Ola
Fuzz
1972
Panhandler
East Side/West Side
1964
TV Series
Charley
Soundtrack
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Sopranos
2001-2002
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Thanks
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Downtown 81
1981
thanks
Self
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend
2013
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Annual 2011 Actors Fund Gala Awards
2011
TV Special
Himself
Just Laugh!
2010
Documentary
Himself
At the Table with...
2009
TV Series documentary
Himself
Mayne Street
2009
TV Series
Himself
Caiga quien caiga
2008
TV Series
Himself
Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies
2008
Documentary
Himself
The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet
2007
TV Series
Himself
The Music of 'The Sopranos'
2007
TV Short documentary
Himself
Live with Kelly and Michael
2006
TV Series
11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2005
TV Special
Himself
The Tony Danza Show
2004
TV Series
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
2004
TV Series
Himself
CMT: 40 Greatest Fashion Statements
2003
TV Movie documentary
Himself
9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2003
TV Special
Himself
8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2002
TV Special
Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
2001
TV Series
Himself
The Daily Show
2001
TV Series
Himself
Looking for Richard
1996
Documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
1992
Video
Johnny Ola
The Sopranos: A Sitdown
2007
TV Short documentary
Corrado 'Junior' Soprano
Won awards
Won awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
Award shared with
2012
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
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Quote
1
[on his role as Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano] About a week after my audition, one of the executive producers came in, kept me in a room for an hour and a half with different kinds of glasses. That helped me tremendously--subconsciously at first and then consciously. After the first couple of seasons I couldn't act without them. They were part of my makeup. Those glasses were my mask. We were doing Greek tragedy there. Behind the mask a lot of things come out that you wouldn't do.
2
[on the loss of Elaine Kaufman] She was like an older sister, someone I could confide in. She would introduce me to people. She would ask if I was working and try to help.
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