Dominic Chianese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dominic Chianese
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Chianese in 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 important characters in popular TV shows and movies. Many people know him as Corrado "Junior" Soprano in the HBO series The Sopranos. He also played Johnny Ola in the movie The Godfather Part II and Leander Whitlock in Boardwalk Empire.
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Early Life and Education
Dominic Chianese was born in the Bronx, a part of New York City, on February 24, 1931. His father worked as a bricklayer. His grandfather came to New York from Afragola, Italy, in 1904, giving the family Italian roots.
In 1948, Chianese graduated from the famous Bronx High School of Science. He later went to Brooklyn College, where he studied speech and theater. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1961.
Acting and Music Career
Starting on Stage
After college, Chianese spent about ten years acting in smaller theaters, known as off-Broadway shows. To improve his skills, he took his first professional acting class at HB Studio in Manhattan.
In 1965, he got his first role on a major stage in the Broadway show Oliver!. He continued to act in theaters across the country. During times when acting jobs were hard to find, he earned money by playing rhythm guitar and singing in restaurants. He also hosted open mic nights, where anyone could perform, at a famous club in New York.
Movies and Television
Chianese's first role on television was in the series East Side/West Side, a part he got with help from the actor George C. Scott. His big break in movies came in 1974. The famous director Francis Ford Coppola chose him to play the gangster Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II.
This role started a long film career. He often worked with the actor Al Pacino in movies like Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and ...And Justice For All (1979). Before becoming a famous actor, Chianese worked at a rehabilitation center. He taught guitar to women who were getting help to improve their lives.
The Sopranos and Later Roles
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Chianese's most famous role was playing Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the hit HBO show The Sopranos. The show, which ran from 1999 to 2007, was about a fictional crime family, and his character was a powerful and complicated leader. His performance was so good that he was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2000 and 2001.
From 2011 to 2013, Chianese appeared in another HBO series, Boardwalk Empire. He played Leander Whitlock, a retired lawyer with a lot of influence. In 2018, he co-wrote a book about his life called Twelve Angels: The Women Who Taught Me How to Act, Live, and Love.
More recently, he starred in a 2024 short comedy film called Breathe Truth. In the film, he plays an elderly actor trying out for a Shakespeare play for the first time.
A Career in Music
Besides acting, Chianese is also a talented singer with a tenor voice. In 2000, he released an album called Hits, where he sang both American and Italian songs.
He even sang on The Sopranos. In one famous scene, he performed the classic Italian song "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart"). In 2003, he released a second album, Ungrateful Heart, which included 16 classic songs from Naples, Italy. For many years, he also played in a mandolin group every week at a hotel in New York City.
Personal Life
In 2010, Dominic Chianese was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This award is given to American citizens who have done great things to help others.
Notable Roles
Over his long career, Chianese has played many memorable characters. Here are some of his most well-known roles:
- Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II (1974)
- Mr. Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- Carl Travers in ...And Justice for All (1979)
- Judge Paul Kaylin in Law & Order (1995–1997)
- Corrado "Junior" Soprano in The Sopranos (1999–2007)
- Stuart Zedeck in Damages (2010)
- Leander Whitlock in Boardwalk Empire (2011–2013)
- Judge Michael Marx in The Good Wife (2012–2015)
- Enzo in The Village (2019)
See also
In Spanish: Dominic Chianese para niños
