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Dominic Chianese

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Dominic Chianese
Chianese in November 2011
Born (1931-02-24) February 24, 1931 (age 93)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • musician
Years active1952–present

Dominic Chianese (/kiːəˈneɪsiː/; kee-ə-NAY-see; born February 24, 1931) is an American actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Junior Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos (1999–2007), Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II (1974), and Leander Whitlock in Boardwalk Empire (2011–2013).

Early life

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Chianese was born in the Bronx borough of New York City on February 24, 1931. His father was a bricklayer.[1] His paternal grandfather was Italian and left Afragola for New York in 1904.[2] Chianese graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1948.[3][4] He first attended Champlain College in Plattsburgh, New York, but the university was closed due to the start of the Korean War. He later graduated from Brooklyn College in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in speech and theater.[5][6]

Career

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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. His first Broadway show was Oliver! in 1965. He has continued to perform on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theatre. To supplement income during the periods where he struggled to find roles, he played rhythm guitar and sang in taverns and restaurants while hosting open mic nights at Gerdes Folk City in Greenwich Village.[7]

Chianese's first television role came when George C. Scott recommended him for the series East Side/West Side. In 1974, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola cast him as Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, beginning a film career that would see him appear several times alongside Al Pacino in films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975), ...And Justice For All (1979), and Looking for Richard (1996). He also co-starred with Pacino onstage. Before being cast in The Godfather Part II, he worked for the Drug Commission of New York as a recreational worker in rehab, where he gave guitar lessons to women who were serving time for drug crimes.[citation needed]

In terms of singing, Chianese is a tenor.[8] He released an album titled Hits in 2000, featuring him singing American and Italian songs.[9] He performed Salvatore Cardillo's sentimental classic "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart") on the third season finale of The Sopranos, "Army of One." In 2003, along with AOL Music, he released a second album titled Ungrateful Heart, which features 16 classic Neapolitan songs. In the 2000s, he played in a mandolin quartet every week at the Hotel Edison.[10]

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, he and co-author Matthew Sargent published his biography Twelve Angels: The Women Who Taught Me How to Act, Live, and Love.[11]

Personal life

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In 2010, Chianese received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "Dominic Chianese Biography (1934?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Chianese, Dominic Fordham Research Commons
  3. ^ "Jon Favreau & E.L. Doctorow At Bronx Science Gala". Bronx.com. April 25, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  4. ^ "Bronx High School Of Science Celebrates 75 Years With Gala". Looktothestars.org. March 29, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  5. ^ "Dominic Chianese - SouthJersey.com". www.southjersey.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "Dominic Chianese". Edge Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "News: "Dominic Chianese Scores A Hit With 'Hits'"". BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). September 18, 2001. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  9. ^ "Country Beat: Alecia Elliott, Dominic Chianese, Chet Atkins ..." MTV. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Angell, Roger. "This Old Man". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  11. ^ "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.
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