Dominic Chianese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dominic Chianese
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Dominic Chianese in November 2011
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| Born | February 24, 1931 New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1952–present |
Dominic Chianese (born February 24, 1931) is an American actor, singer, and musician. He is famous for playing Uncle Junior in the TV show The Sopranos. He also appeared in the movie The Godfather Part II as Johnny Ola and in Boardwalk Empire as Leander Whitlock.
Early life
Dominic Chianese was born in the Bronx, New York. His father worked as a bricklayer. His grandfather came to the United States from Naples in 1904 and settled in the Bronx. Dominic finished high school at the Bronx High School of Science in 1948.
Career
After college, Dominic spent ten years acting in smaller plays not on Broadway. He then took his first professional acting class. His first big show on Broadway was Oliver! in 1965. He has continued to act in plays both on and off Broadway. To earn money when acting jobs were hard to find, he played the rhythm guitar and sang in restaurants. He also hosted open mic nights where people could perform.
Dominic's first TV role came in 1964. A famous actor, George C. Scott, suggested him for a show called East Side/West Side. In 1974, the director Francis Ford Coppola chose him to play Johnny Ola in the movie The Godfather Part II. This started his film career. He often acted alongside Al Pacino in movies like Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and ...And Justice For All (1979). They also performed together on stage.
Dominic is a tenor singer, which means he has a high male singing voice. In 2000, he released an album called Hits. It featured him singing both American and Italian songs. He sang a classic Italian song called "Core 'ngrato" on the TV show The Sopranos. In 2003, he released another album, Ungrateful Heart, with 16 classic Neapolitan songs. He also played the mandolin in a quartet every week.
His most well-known acting role was as Corrado "Junior" Soprano in the popular HBO show The Sopranos. In the show, he played a leader in a fictional family drama. Dominic was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his acting in the show.
Dominic also appeared in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire for three seasons. He played a retired lawyer named Leander Whitlock. In 2018, he published his biography, Twelve Angels: The Women Who Taught Me How to Act, Live, and Love. His most recent film is a short comedy from 2024 called Breathe Truth.
Personal life
In 2010, Dominic Chianese received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This award recognizes people who have done great things for others.
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 | |
| 2024 | Breathe Truth | Dominic |
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) | |
| 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 | N/A | 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 |
See also
In Spanish: Dominic Chianese para niños
