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Joseph R. Gannascoli

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Joseph R. Gannascoli
Gannascoli in 2011
Born (1959-02-15) February 15, 1959 (age 65)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, chef
Years active1991–present
Spouse
Diana Gannascoli
​
​
(m. 2005)​
Children1

Joseph R. Gannascoli (born February 15, 1959) is an American actor and chef. He is best known for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series The Sopranos.

Early life

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Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1980s, he attended St. John's University for two years, majoring in communications.

Career

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Gannascoli received his "big break" in acting from Benicio del Toro, whom he met on the set on Money for Nothing. After appearing in Ed Wood, Del Toro later cast Gannascoli in his directorial debut, Submission. He also introduced him to Sheila Jaffe and Georgianne Walken, who did casting work for the HBO TV series The Sopranos.

Gannascoli appeared in films including Mickey Blue Eyes and television shows including Law & Order before appearing on The Sopranos as a pastry shop patron named "Gino" in the season one episode "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti". He later secured a recurring role as the nephew of Richie Aprile, Vito Spatafore, in the season two episode "The Happy Wanderer". Along with Dan Grimaldi playing identical twins Patsy and Phillip "Philly Spoons" Parisi and Saundra Santiago playing identical twins Jeannie and Joannie Cusamano, it was one of the three times that the show used a single actor for separate roles. Prior to the start of Season 6, Gannascoli was promoted to series regular. Gannascoli brought the idea to the writers of making his character gay from a true story of the Gambino crime family, in a book called Murder Machine.[1]

Gannascoli later appeared in other films including Men in Black III. He stars in the 2015 movie An Act of War.

In 2019, he appeared on an episode of the cannabis-themed competition cooking show, Bong Appétit: Cook Off.[2] He appeared with Vincent Pastore on Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back on January 21, 2020.[3]

Gannascoli appeared in the pilot episode of Bring on the Dancing Horses with Kate Bosworth.

Novel

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In January 2006, Gannascoli published a crime novel called A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime.[4]

Culinary career

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Before beginning his acting career, Gannascoli had worked for decades in the food service industry, working at restaurants in New York City and New Orleans, and founding one in Brooklyn, which he sold his stake of in 1990 to pay off a gambling debt.[5]

Since around 2017, Gannascoli has offered catering services for small parties, often Sopranos-themed, doing most of the cooking himself.[6][5]

Filmography

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Film

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Years Title Role Notes
1993 Money for Nothing Charlie DiSalvio
1994 Ed Wood Security Guard
1995 Never Talk to Strangers Carnival Attendant
Submission Eddie Short
1996 Basquiat Guard at Hospital
The Funeral Rocco
1997 976-WISH Frankle Short
Blowfish Gino Calbrese
1998 Blunt Paramedic
1999 On the Run Burly Guy
Mickey Blue Eyes Jimmy, Gina's Doorman
2000 Two Family House Counter Guy
2004 The Kings of Brooklyn Trader the Hut
Never in Our Town Barber Short
2005 Meet the Mobsters Abner Hunnicutt
2006 Beer League Giusuppe Primavera
Dog's Life Manager Video
2008 College Road Trip Mr. Arcara
The Egg Ralph Short
2009 Reality Horror Night Himself
Situation Goat Short
2010 Corrado Frankie D'Onofrio
Circus Maximus Uncle Vic
2011 The Reunion David Bass
Delsin Himself
2012 Men in Black 3 New York Mets Fan #2
Desperate Endeavors Neil Bates
2013 Chasing Taste Murphy
Fratello Tony
Pray for Us Sinners Angelo Short
My Cross to Bear Danny's Boxing Trainer Short
2014 Rob the Mob Dom
Leaving Circadia Nat
Gilgamesh Senator Higgins
Other Plans Gus
2015 An Act of War Frank
2017 Crossed Lines Cop
Jason's Letter Principal (Pratt) Prattoli
2019 The Brawler John
Gabriella Carlo Short
2020 The One Frankie
2021 Last Call Charlie
Burn - Short
2022 White Hot Fury Charlie Short
King Lahiri Frabizio Vitelli

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Sopranos Bakery Customer Episode: "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti"
2000–06 The Sopranos Vito Spatafore Recurring Cast: Seasons 2-6
2004 Law & Order Artie Baldo Episode: "Everybody Loves Raimondo's"
2011 White Collar Salvatore Episode: "On the Fence"
2018 John the Thief Richard Moon Recurring Cast
2022–23 Bring on the Dancing Horses Sal Main Cast

Video Game

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Year Title Role
2006 The Sopranos: Road to Respect Vito Spatafore (voice)

References

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  1. ^ "Gay 'Sopranos' mobster finds a bit of fame". Today.com. April 10, 2006. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  2. ^ ViceTV.com (December 8, 2019). "Bong Appétit video: Legalize Marinara". ViceTV. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  3. ^ NJ.com, Joseph Rejent | NJ Advance Media for (January 8, 2020). "Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back free live stream: How to watch online without cable". nj. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime Archived 2023-03-21 at the Wayback Machine, Amazon.com, accessed June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Krawitz, Alan (August 7, 2021). "Former Sopranos Actor Holds Themed Parties As A Private Chef on Long Island". www.longislandpress.com.
  6. ^ “Joseph Gannascoli Sopranos Pasta Dinner Catering” Archived 2023-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, foodandwine.com, accessed February 9, 2023.
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