Steve Schirripa

Steve Schirripa

Schirripa in 2014
Born Steven Ralph Schirripa
(1957-09-03) September 3, 1957[1]
Bensonhurst, New York, US[1]
Other names Steve R. Schirripa
Occupation Actor, producer, author, comedian, voice actor
Years active 1995–present
Spouse(s) Laura Schirripa
Children 2

Steven Ralph "Steve" Schirripa[2] (/ʃᵻˈriːpə/, Italian pronunciation: [skirˈripa]; born September 3, 1957)[1][3] is an American actor, producer, author, and voice artist. He is best known for portraying Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos. Schirripa is a producer and host of two Investigation Discovery series Karma's A B*tch! and Nothing Personal. He was a regular cast member of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and the voice of Roberto in the Open Season franchise. Schirripa has also done commercials for Lamisil, Dick's Sporting Goods, and McDonalds.

Early life

Schirripa was born on September 3, 1957 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. His father Ralph was Italian American. His grandparents Ilario Schirripa and Maria Capacci are from Riace, Italy. His mother is of Jewish heritage.[4][5]

Career

Film and television work

While working in Las Vegas, Schirripa landed a role as an uncredited extra in the Martin Scorsese classic Casino. In the film, he portrayed a customer at the bar in the infamous scene when Joe Pesci's character angrily stabs a man with a pen. After this, Schirripa decided that he wanted to become an actor. He had several minor roles in movies, including The Runner (1999) and Joe Dirt. His breakthrough role was in The Sopranos (2000), playing Tony Soprano's dense but likable mobster brother-in-law Bobby Baccalieri for 5 seasons.

His many television appearances include Angel, Casino Cinema, Star Trek: Enterprise, Hollywood Squares, Joey, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, My Wife and Kids, Ed, Jeopardy!, George Lopez, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and The King of Queens.[6] Schirripa recently appeared on CBS's primetime game show Million Dollar Password. Furthering his game show enthusiasm, Schirripa appeared on the game show Pyramid helping contestant Scott Zinser win $10,000. He also made an uncredited appearance, along with fellow Soprano star Vincent Pastore, on the 6th Season episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force entitled "She Creature".

Schirripa was a frequent guest on the Don Imus radio program. In February 2007, he began to make appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, on Spike TV, siding with Team 3D as their cousin in their ongoing battle against The Latin American Xchange. On October 30, 2007, he appeared on, The Podge and Rodge Show. He is also currently doing spots as "Steve the Judgmental Bastard," on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and has recently taped several episodes of, The Gong Show with Dave Attell, as one of the celebrity judges.

From 2008 to 2012, Schirripa had a recurring in the ABC Family show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, as Leo Boykewick, Ben's dad.

In 2009, he made a cameo appearance alongside fellow Sopranos actor Frank Vincent in Stargate Atlantis episode "Vegas".[7] Recently, he was in My Fake Fiancé with Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence as the Monkey.

Schirripa was also the co-host on NBC's Today Show during its fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford, as Hoda Kotb was out. This occurred the week of July 17. He has appeared on the Tonight Show more than 40 times as a guest and as a correspondent. Schirripa hosted NBC's poker game show, Face the Ace, with the premiere episode airing on August 1, 2009.

In the fall of 2010, Schirripa had a guest star role in the digital comedy short film, "Lil DPC", from writer/director Michael Ratner, which also features Rapper Fat Joe and Blink 182's Mark Hoppus.

In 2011 and 2012, Schirripa hosted and narrated the television true-crime series Nothing Personal,[8] which premiered in the U.S. on Investigation Discovery and in the UK on History. The series featured an often humorous take on true stories and reenactments of murders-for-hire. In addition to hosting the hour-long programs, Schirripa was one of the program's executive producers. The programs were filmed on location around the United States and in Ontario, Canada. Subsequently, Schirripa hosted Karma's a B*tch!, also for Investigation Discovery (IDSC) titled This show dramatizes stories of people who seek revenge on someone they believe did them wrong. Recently, Schirripa has provided the voice for the lemon in McDonald's McCafe Strawberry Lemonade commercials. He has also guest-starred in the American version of Top Gear.

On May 27, 2013, Nickelodeon premiered Nicky Deuce, a Nickelodeon film starring Noah Munck, based on the book Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family by Steve Schirripa and Charles Fleming. Nicky Deuce also featured supporting roles filled by James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, and Vincent Curatola of The Sopranos fame.

Steve Schirripa played Sonny Rosselli in A Poet Long Ago, a short film written by Pete Hamill and directed by Bob Giraldi, which gained entry into a number of film festivals in 2013.

In 2014, Schirripa played Joey on the ABC series Black Box, did voice acting in an episode of American Dad! entitled "Stan Goes on the Pill", and played Vito in the silver screen adaptation Jersey Boys, directed by Clint Eastwood. He will play Father Ed in Chasing Yesterday, a film by Writer/Director Joseph Pernice, as well as be in the film Houses, by Writer/Director Jenner Furst, alongside Sopranos co-stars Michael Imperioli and John Ventimiglia. Schirripa was also the executive producer and host of Karma's a B*tch!, which aired its second season on Investigation Discovery.

Theatre

On April 3, 2014, Steve Schirripa gave a theatrical performance in a special production of Guys and Dolls alongside Nathan Lane, Patrick Wilson (American actor), and Megan Mullally at Carnegie Hall.[9]

Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties

In 2014, Steve Schirripa launched a line of organic, vegan pasta sauces under the business name of Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties Group. The company currently features three types of sauce: marinara, tomato basil, and arrabbiata. The sauces are available from Grace's Marketplace in Manhattan and Long Island, New York, on the company's website, and at local health food stores along with Whole Foods.

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 Steve Schirripa at Hollywood.com
  2. ↑ Schirripa's last name is usually pronounced as she-REE-pah in America, though the correct Italian pronunciation is actually skee-REE-pah.
  3. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KVVH-KLT
  4. ↑ Curtis, Lisa J. (2003-02-17). "BADA-BING! • The Brooklyn Paper". Brooklynpaper.com. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  5. ↑ A Goomba's Guide to Life - Charles Fleming, Steven R. Schirripa - Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  6. ↑ "The Sopranos: Final Season; Begins Sunday, April 8". Washington Post. 2007-04-06. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
  7. ↑ "Stargate Image Gallery". GateWorld. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  8. ↑ Femme Fatale (2011-02-17). "Nothing Personal". Investigation Discovery. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  9. ↑ CarnegieHall.org (2011-02-17). "Carnegie Hall". Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
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