Joseph R. Gannascoli
Encyclopedia
Joseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor
and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore
on the HBO series, The Sopranos
.
.
In the 1980s he attended St. John's University
for two years, majoring in communication
s.
and opened a restaurant, Soup As Art Restaurant in Brooklyn. He has worked in New Orleans, Los Angeles and New York, though he dabbled in acting.
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 would appear in other films, such as Blowfish
, Mickey Blue Eyes
and 976-Wish before appearing on The Sopranos as a pastry shop patron named "Gino" in the season one episode "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti". He is later introduced formally 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, it was one of the two times that the show used a single actor for separate roles. Prior to the start of Season 6, Gannascoli was promoted to series regular.
In January 2006 Gannascoli published a crime novel called A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime.
Gannascoli markets a line of pasta sauces and other foods called "Sauce Boss", and a line of cigars called Cugine.
He was a member of The National Italian American Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC.
He also helped provide culinary skills to many restaurants in dyker heights Brooklyn, roughly on 13th avenue.
. He registered a blood-alcohol level of .111 according The St. Petersburg Times. He posted a $500 bond and was released later that day.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual...
on the HBO series, The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
.
Early life
Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
In the 1980s he attended St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
for two years, majoring in communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
s.
Career
Gannascoli's interests then turned to cooking. He learned culinary artCulinary art
Culinary art is the art of preparing and cooking foods. The word "culinary" is defined as something related to, or connected with, cooking. A culinarion is a person working in the culinary arts. A culinarian working in restaurants is commonly known as a cook or a chef. Culinary artists are...
and opened a restaurant, Soup As Art Restaurant in Brooklyn. He has worked in New Orleans, Los Angeles and New York, though he dabbled in acting.
Gannascoli received his “big break” in acting from Benicio del Toro
Benicio del Toro
Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez is a Puerto Rican and Spanish actor and film producer. He won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award for his role as Javier Rodríguez in Traffic . He is also known for his roles as Fred Fenster in The Usual...
, whom he met on the set on Money for Nothing
Money for Nothing (film)
Money for Nothing is a 1993 comedy/crime film directed by Ramón Menéndez. It is based on the life of Joey Coyle, an unemployed longshoreman in Philadelphia who, in February 1981, found $1.2 million in the middle of the street after it had fallen out of the back of an armored car. The screenplay,...
. After appearing in Ed Wood
Ed Wood (film)
Ed Wood is a 1994 American comedy-drama biopic directed and produced by Tim Burton, and starring Johnny Depp as cult filmmaker Edward D. Wood, Jr. The film concerns the period in Wood's life when he made his best-known films as well as his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau...
, Del Toro later cast Gannascoli in his directorial debut, Submission. He also introduced him to Sheila Jaffe and Georgianne Walken
Georgianne Walken
Georgianne Leigh Walken is an American casting director.Walken, along with casting partner Sheila Jaffe as Walken/Jaffe, has been the casting director for more than 80 television shows and movies since 1990, including The Sopranos and Entourage.Walken also had minor acting roles in a 2006 episode...
, who did casting work for the HBO TV series The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
.
Gannascoli would appear in other films, such as Blowfish
Blowfish
The blowfish, or Tetraodontidae, is a fish in the Tetraodontidae family.Blowfish may also refer to:* The Blowfish, a satirical newspaper at Brandeis University* Blowfish , encryption algorithm...
, Mickey Blue Eyes
Mickey Blue Eyes
Mickey Blue Eyes is a 1999 film directed by Kelly Makin. Hugh Grant stars as Michael Felgate, an English auctioneer living in New York City who becomes entangled in his soon-to-be father in-law's mafia connections...
and 976-Wish before appearing on The Sopranos as a pastry shop patron named "Gino" in the season one episode "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti". He is later introduced formally as the nephew of Richie Aprile
Richie Aprile
Richard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr...
, Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual...
, in the season two episode "The Happy Wanderer
The Happy Wanderer
"The Happy Wanderer" is a popular song by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller written shortly after World War II. It is often mistaken for a German folk song, but it is actually an original composition...
". Along with Dan Grimaldi
Dan Grimaldi
Daniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
playing identical twins Patsy and Phillip "Philly Spoons" Parisi, it was one of the two times that the show used a single actor for separate roles. Prior to the start of Season 6, Gannascoli was promoted to series regular.
In January 2006 Gannascoli published a crime novel called A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime.
Gannascoli markets a line of pasta sauces and other foods called "Sauce Boss", and a line of cigars called Cugine.
He was a member of The National Italian American Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC.
He also helped provide culinary skills to many restaurants in dyker heights Brooklyn, roughly on 13th avenue.
Personal life
Gannascoli is married to Diana Gannascoli, with whom he has a daughter, Viviana, born June 18, 2010.Legal troubles
In the early morning hours of Friday, June 18, 2010, Gannascoli was arrested on a DUI charge by in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. He registered a blood-alcohol level of .111 according The St. Petersburg Times. He posted a $500 bond and was released later that day.