Dominic Chianese

Dominic Chianese Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: February 24, 1931

Age: 93 years old

Birth Place: Bronx, New York City, New York

After nearly a half century as a working actor with credits on Broadway and TV as well as in features, Dominic Chianese finally achieved prominence as the embittered and ambitious would-be don Corrado 'Junior' Soprano, the uncle to mob boss Tony, on HBO's popular series "The Sopranos" (1999-2006).

The Bronx native began acting onstage in 1952 amassing credits in musicals and plays in regional theaters and on and off-Broadway, mostly in character parts. Chianese didn't start appearing in films until the 70s beginning with a small role as a panhandler in "Fuzz" (1972). He cites Al Pacino, with whom he has acted in four films, as "a very big influence on my life," and also worked on three films with director Sidney Lumet. Between appearing in such blockbusters as "The Godfather, Part II" (1974), "All the President's Men" (1976) and "Fort Apache, The Bronx" (1981), the actor squeezed in gigs as a singer and soap opera actor (on ABC's "Ryan's Hope"), often living the life of a struggling player. As he aged into character parts, he began to work with slightly more frequency, either playing figures of authority (i.e., judges on episodes of NBC's "Law & Order") or more likely, gangsters (e.g., the 1996 HBO biopic "Gotti"). It was in part because he had had so much experience essaying the latter that writer-producer David Chase hired him for what became his late-in-life breakthrough. Donning large prop glasses, the bald Chianese cut a fascinating figure as Junior Soprano. Jealous of his nephew's rise to power but shrewd enough not to cross him, Junior, in the actor's capable performance, sometimes came off as somewhat foolish. But underneath lay a petty man who demanded payment for any and all offenses. Walking the fine line of drama and comedy in each script, he etched a brilliant portrait of a relatively simple man with large ambitions. At an age when many of his contemporaries might consider retiring, Chianese became a familiar face and one that has a name. Loving the recognition, he reported to People (September 13, 1999), "A construction crew in Times Square stopped working and said, 'There's Uncle Junior!' Before only people in theater knew who I was." He also received back-to-back Emmy nominations in 2000 and 2001 for his efforts in the series' second and third seasons. As a result of his late-life success, Chianese also appeared in the occasional big screen outing, including "Unfaithful" (2002) and, as an Italian count whose purchased the sexual services of Neve Campbell, writer-director James Toback's "When Will I Be Loved?" (2004). The actor has also released two albums of traditional, popular and original Italian and American songs, the 2001 disc Hits and the 2003 follow-up Ungrateful Heart.

Credits

Shooting the Sopranos

Actor
Show
2023

The VillageStream

Actor
Enzo Napolitano
Series
2019

The Village: Extras

Actor
Show
2019

Active Adults

Actor
Bart
Movie
2017

Mr. Popper's PenguinsStream

Actor
Reader
Movie
2011
47%

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Happy Jack
Series
2010

Boardwalk EmpireStream

Actor
Leander Whitlock
Series
2010
92%

Boardwalk EmpireStream

Guest Star
Leander Whitlock
Series
2010
92%

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Judge Michael Marx
Series
2009
93%

Adrift in Manhattan

Actor
Tommaso Pensara
Movie
2007

The Last New Yorker

Actor
Lenny Sugarman
Movie
2006

Crimes of Fashion

Actor
George
Movie
2004

When Will I Be Loved

Actor
Count Tommaso Lupo
Movie
2004

Hope & Faith

Guest Star
Show
2003

UnfaithfulStream

Actor
Wilson
Movie
2002
50%

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

The SopranosStream

Actor
Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano
Series
1999
92%

The Sopranos FREE

Actor
Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano
Show
1999

The Sopranos (With Audio Commentary)

Actor
Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano
Show
1999

Under Hellgate Bridge

Actor
Father Nichols
Movie
1999

The Mouse

Actor
Al the Trainer
Movie
1997

Went to Coney Island on a Mission From God ... Be Back by Five

Actor
Mickey (The Photographer)
Movie
1997

CosbyStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Public Eye

Actor
Spoleto
Movie
1992

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Q & AStream

Actor
Larry Pesch/Lorenzo Franconi
Movie
1990
88%

Firepower

Actor
Orlov
Movie
1979

...And Justice for AllStream

Actor
Carl Travers
Movie
1979
82%

All the President's MenStream

Actor
Eugenio R. Martinez
Movie
1976
94%

The Godfather Part IIStream

Actor
Johnny Ola
Movie
1974
96%

KojakStream

Guest Star
George Mallick
Series
1973

East Side West Side

Guest Star
Series
1963

News aboutDominic Chianese