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Dominic ChianeseAmerican television, stage and film actor
Date of Birth: 24.02.1931
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Dominic Chianese
- Early Life and Education
- Early Career
- Stage and Film Career
- Music Career
- Family
Biography of Dominic Chianese
Dominic Chianese (born on February 24, 1931 or September 11, 1931) is an American television, theater, and film actor. He is best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano in the HBO television series "The Sopranos."
Early Life and Education
Chianese was born in the Bronx, New York. His father was a bricklayer. He attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. In the 1950s, he worked as a bricklayer alongside his father while attending evening school. In 1961, he graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor's degree in speech and theater.
Early Career
Chianese's first experience in performing was in 1952 with the Gilbert and Sullivan performance company "The American Savoyards," under the direction of Dorothy Redler. After a decade of working in university and off-Broadway theaters, Chianese decided to pursue formal acting training. He enrolled in the "HB Studio" theater school in Manhattan, where one of his teachers was renowned acting coach Walt Whitaker.
Stage and Film Career
Chianese made his Broadway debut in 1965 in the musical "Oliver!" He went on to perform in several other Broadway and off-Broadway productions. During periods of unemployment, he supported himself by playing the guitar and singing in taverns and restaurants.
Chianese transitioned to television when George C. Scott recommended him for a role in the series "East Side, West Side." In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola cast Chianese as Johnny Ola in the film "The Godfather, Part II." This role launched Chianese's career, and he subsequently appeared in several films alongside Al Pacino.
Music Career
In addition to his acting career, Chianese is also a musician. He released an album called "Hits" in 2000, where he performs American and Italian songs accompanied by his guitar.
Family
Chianese's son, Dominic Chianese Jr., followed in his father's footsteps and also appeared in the television series "The Sopranos," portraying a member of the fictional Lupertazzi crime family.
