Dominic Chianese

Dominic Chianese (; ; born February 24, 1931) is an American actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos (1999–2007), Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, and Leander Whitlock in Boardwalk Empire (2011–2013).

Early life Chianese was born in the Bronx borough of New York City on February 24, 1931. His father was a bricklayer. His paternal grandfather was Italian and left Afragola for New York in 1904. Chianese graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1948. He first attended Champlain College in Plattsburgh, New York, but the university was closed due to the start of the Korean War. He later graduated from Brooklyn College in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in speech and theater.

Career After a decade of attending college and appearing in off-Broadway theater, Chianese attended his first professional acting class at HB Studio in Manhattan with renowned teacher Walt Witcover. His first Broadway show was Oliver! in 1965. He has continued to perform on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater. To supplement income during the periods where he struggled to find roles, he played rhythm guitar and sang in taverns and restaurants while hosting open mic nights at Gerdes Folk City in Greenwich Village.

Chianese's first television role came when George C. Scott recommended him for the series East Side/West Side. In 1974, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola cast him as Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, beginning a film career that would see him appear several times alongside Al Pacino in films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975)...And Justice for All (1979), and Looking for Richard (1996). He also co-starred with Pacino onstage. Before being cast in The Godfather Part II, he worked for the Drug Commission of New York as a recreational worker in rehab, where he gave guitar lessons to women who were serving time for drug crimes.

Chianese's most prominent acting role was as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO hit show The Sopranos, where he played a central role in the DiMeo crime family. For the performance, Chianese was nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

In terms of singing, Chianese is a tenor. He released an album titled Hits in 2000, featuring him singing American and Italian songs. He performed Salvatore Cardillo's sentimental classic "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart") on the third-season finale of The Sopranos, "Army of One." In 2003, along with AOL Music, he released a second album titled Ungrateful Heart, which features 16 classic Neapolitan songs. In the 2000s, he played in a mandolin quartet every week at the Hotel Edison.

Chianese appeared as a guest actor on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire for three seasons as Leander Whitlock, a retired lawyer and power broker. In December 2018, he and co-author Matthew Sargent published his biography Twelve Angels: The Women Who Taught Me How to Act, Live, and Love.

Most recently, he starred in the short film Breathe Truth (2024), a comedy directed by Thomas Vallely, screenplay by Rebecca Scarpati, about an elderly actor auditioning to perform in a Shakespeare play for the first time.

Personal life Chianese has two ex-wives and six children.

In 2010, Chianese received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1972 Fuzz Panhandler 1974 The Godfather Part II Johnny Ola 1975 Dog Day Afternoon Mr. Wortzik 1976 All the President's Men Eugenio R. Martínez 1978 Fingers Arthur Fox On the Yard Mendoza Uncredited 1979 Firepower Orlov ...And Justice for All Carl Travers 1981 Fort Apache, the Bronx Mr. Corelli 1989 Second Sight Father Dominic 1990 Q&A Larry Pesch / Vito / Lorenzo Franconi 1991 Out for Justice Mr. Madano 1992 The Public Eye Spoleto 1993 Rivalen des Glücks – The Contenders Father of the bride The Night We Never Met Nosy Neighbor 1996 If Lucy Fell Al Love Is All There Is Italian Consul The Mouse Al the Trainer Looking for Richard Himself Documentary 1997 Night Falls on Manhattan Judge Impelliteri 1998 Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five Mickey 1999 Cradle Will Rock Silvano 2002 Unfaithful Frank Wilson 2004 When Will I Be Loved Count Tommaso Lupo King of the Corner Stan Marshak 2007 The Last New Yorker Lenny Sugarman Adrift in Manhattan Tommaso Pensara 2011 Mr. Popper's Penguins Reader 2013 The Family Vinnie Caprese 2017 Active Adults Bart 2024 Breathe Truth Dominic

Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 East Side/West Side Charley Episode: "The Street" 1976 Kojak George Mallick Episode: "A Hair-Trigger Away" 1980 A Time for Miracles Promoter Television movie 1981 Ryan's Hope Alexei Vartova 40 episodes 1986 Tales from the Darkside Correlli's father Episode: "A Choice of Dreams" 1990 The Lost Capone Gabriel Capone Television movie 1991 Law & Order Dan Rubell Episode: "Sonata for Solo Organ" 1995–1997 Law & Order Judge Paul Kaylin 2 episodes 1996 Gotti Joe Armone Television movie 1997 Cosby Episode: "Lucas Raymondicus" 1999–2007 The Sopranos Corrado 'Junior' Soprano 55 episodesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2000)Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2000–01)Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2001–03, 2005, 2007) 2004 Hope & Faith Irv Miller Episode: "Trade Show" Crimes of Fashion George Television movie 2010 Damages Stuart Zedeck 7 episodes Blue Bloods Jack 'Happy Jack' Vintano Episode: "Officer Down" 2011 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Vic 2 episodes 2011–2013 Boardwalk Empire Leander Cephas Whitlock 12 episodesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2012) 2012–2015 The Good Wife Judge Michael Marx 5 episodes 2019 The Village Enzo Main cast Inspector Montalbano John Zuck Episode: "Un diario del '43"Chianese's voice is dubbed by Gianni Giuliano