Steve Schirripa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Schirripa
Steve Schirripa in 2014
Born	Steven Ralph Schirripa (1957-09-03) September 3, 1957 (age 67) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Brooklyn College
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Laura Lemos ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	2

Steven Ralph Schirripa (pronounced shih-RIP-uh; born September 3, 1957) is an American actor. He is well-known for his roles in popular TV shows. These include playing Bobby Bacala on The Sopranos, Leo Boykewich on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Detective Anthony Abetemarco on Blue Bloods. Steve Schirripa also lends his voice to the character Roberto in the Open Season movies.

Early Life and Education

Steve Schirripa was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York, on September 3, 1957. His father, Ralph Schirripa, was Italian-American, and his family came from a town called Riace in Southern Italy. His mother, Lorraine Schirripa, was of Jewish background. Steve grew up with four brothers and sisters in a family that didn't have a lot of money. He went to Lafayette High School and later graduated from Brooklyn College.

Acting Career

Getting Started in Show Business

Steve Schirripa first got involved in entertainment while working as an director at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He had small appearances in comedy shows. This led to a tiny role in the movie Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese. In the film, he played a customer at a bar. After this experience, Steve decided he wanted to become an actor.

Famous TV Roles

Steve had several small parts in movies like The Runner (1999) and Joe Dirt (2001). His big break came in 2000 with the TV show The Sopranos. He played Bobby Baccalieri, who was the brother-in-law of the main character, Tony Soprano. Steve played this role for five seasons. For the first two seasons, he even wore a special suit to make him look bigger for the part.

He has appeared in many other TV shows, including Angel, Star Trek: Enterprise, Law & Order, My Wife and Kids, and The King of Queens. He also appeared on game shows like Million Dollar Password and Pyramid.

From 2008 to 2012, Steve had a regular role in the ABC Family show The Secret Life of the American Teenager. He played Leo Boykewich, who was the dad of a character named Ben. In 2009, he was in the TV movie My Fake Fiancé with Melissa Joan Hart.

Since 2015, Steve Schirripa has played Detective Anthony Abetemarco on the CBS show Blue Bloods. He works with the assistant district attorney on the show.

Podcasts and Books

In 2020, Steve Schirripa started a podcast called Talking Sopranos with his fellow Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli. They talk about each episode of The Sopranos and share behind-the-scenes stories. The podcast became very popular. They also wrote a book together about the show, called Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos, which came out in 2021.

Steve has also written a series of books. These books often use a funny, exaggerated style related to Italian-American characters. Some of his books include A Goomba's Guide to Life and The Goomba Diet. He also co-wrote books for young readers about a character named Nicky Deuce. These books, Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family and Nicky Deuce: Home for the Holidays, were made into a Nickelodeon movie called Nicky Deuce in 2013. Many actors from The Sopranos also appeared in the movie.

Other Projects

In 2014, Steve Schirripa performed in a special play called Guys and Dolls at Carnegie Hall. He also started his own business, Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties Group, which sells organic vegan pasta sauces.

Personal Life

Steve Schirripa married Laura Lemos on April 22, 1989. They have two daughters named Bria and Ciara. Steve was raised Catholic, but he also feels a strong connection to his Jewish heritage from his mother's side.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Images for kids

• 

  Steve Schirripa in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Steve Schirripa para niños