'Sopranos' Star, East Rockaway Resident: 'It Made My Life, Actually'

EAST ROCKAWAY, NY — Actor Joseph Gannascoli is known for his role as Vito Spadafore on HBO's acclaimed series "The Sopranos."

These days, Gannascoli is keeping busy with his first love-- cooking.

But the longtime resident of East Rockaway embraces his celebrity past.

"It kind of made my life, actually," Gannascoli told Patch. "It opened so many doors for me."

As for his part as a mobster in Tony Soprano's "family," he said growing up in Brooklyn, "I knew all those guys, so that wasn't really a challenge for me."

Neither was it a challenge working in the culinary industry, as Gannascoli was a chef for many years at restaurants in New Orleans, Boston and Los Angeles, while he was exploring the acting bug.

"Now I do private chef parties," he said.

Those parties could be an ultimate Sopranos-themed event for fans. It's usually a 10-hour day that involves preparing and cooking.

"I tell my story. I do Q and A and take pictures with everyone," Gannascoli said. "It's a really unique time."

Hardcore devotees will note that Gannascoli made his debut in season one of "The Sopranos" as a baker, before joining as Vito the following season. He's one of only three people who portrayed two different characters during the show's run.

As "The Sopranos" became a cultural touchstone, even though each episode would repeat frequently on HBO, it was must-see "pay" TV.

"We emptied restaurants at 8 o'clock on a Sunday," he recalled. "Nine o'clock you couldn't call someone.

One reason it was appointment television was thanks to the late James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano.

"You really can't picture anybody else in that role," he said. "He was just tremendously talented."

Watch the full Patch Weekly Spotlight interview with Joseph Gannascoli below.