Joseph R. Gannascoli
Gannascoli (born February 15, 1959) is an American actor and chef. He is best known for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series The Sopranos.
Joseph R. Gannascoli

Nightscream · Luigi Novi · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Joseph R.
- Born
- 15 February 1959
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
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Gannascoli (born February 15, 1959) is an American actor and chef. He is best known for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series The Sopranos.
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Joseph R. Gannascoli (born 1959) is an American actor and cook. The actor was born in Brooklyn. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q1367775 · wikipedia · Joseph R. Gannascoli
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Joseph R. Gannascoli • Born — 15 February 1959 • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York, U.S. • Occupation — * Actor • chef • author • Children — 1 • Years Active — 1991–present
Early life
Early life
Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1980s, he attended St. John's University for two years, majoring in communications.
Career
Career
Gannascoli received his "big break" in acting from Benicio del Toro, whom he met on the set on Money for Nothing. After appearing in Ed Wood, Del Toro later cast Gannascoli in his directorial debut, Submission. He also introduced him to Sheila Jaffe and Georgianne Walken, who did casting work for the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Gannascoli appeared in films including Mickey Blue Eyes and television shows including Law & Order before appearing on The Sopranos as a pastry shop patron named "Gino" in the season one episode "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti". He later secured a recurring role as Vito Spatafore, the nephew of Richie Aprile, in the season two episode "The Happy Wanderer". Along with Dan Grimaldi playing identical twins Patsy and Phillip "Philly Spoons" Parisi and Saundra Santiago playing identical twins Jeannie and Joannie Cusamano, it was one of the three times that the show used a single actor for separate roles. Prior to the start of Season 6, Gannascoli was promoted to series regular. Gannascoli brought the idea to the writers of making his character gay from a true story of the Gambino crime family, in a book called Murder Machine. Gannascoli's other film roles include Men in Black III and the 2015 movie An Act of War. In 2019, he appeared on an episode of the cannabis-themed competition cooking show, Bong Appétit: Cook Off. He appeared with Vincent Pastore on Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back on January 21, 2020. Gannascoli appeared in the pilot episode of Bring on the Dancing Horses with Kate Bosworth.
Novel
Novel
In January 2006, Gannascoli published a crime novel called A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1999 — The Sopranos — Gino — Episode: "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti" • 2000–06 — The Sopranos — Vito Spatafore — 38 episodes • 2004 — Law & Order — Artie Baldo — Episode: "Everybody Loves Raimondo's" • 2011 — White Collar — Salvatore — Episode: "On the Fence" • 2018 — John the Thief — Richard Moon — Recurring Cast • 2020 — Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back — Himself — Episode: "Caneda's White Rooster"; as diners, alongside Vincent Pastore • 2022–23 — Bring on the Dancing Horses — Sal — Main Cast
Video Game
Video Game
• Year — Title — Role • 2006 — The Sopranos: Road to Respect — Vito Spatafore (voice)

The June 7, 2011 production of "On the Fence", the ninth episode of the third season of the American TV series White Collar at 10 Downing, a restaurant in Manhattan's West Village. Visible at center right in the red and black track suit is actor Joseph Gannascoli. Photographed by Luigi Novi. This photo is not in the public domain. It may, however, be used, modified and published for any purpose,
Nightscream · Luigi Novi

The June 7, 2011 production of "On the Fence", the ninth episode of the third season of the American TV series White Collar at 10 Downing, a restaurant in Manhattan's West Village. In the center of the of the photo, wearing the red and black track suit is actor Joseph Gannascoli. Photographed by Luigi Novi. This photo is not in the public domain. It may, however, be used, modified and published
Nightscream · Luigi Novi
Film
• Years — Title — Role — Notes • 1993 — Money for Nothing — Charlie DiSalvio • 1994 — Ed Wood — Security Guard • 1995 — Never Talk to Strangers — Carnival Attendant • Submission — Eddie — Short • 1996 — Basquiat — Guard at Hospital • The Funeral — Rocco • 1997 — 976-WISH — Frankle — Short • Blowfish — Gino Calbrese • 1998 — Blunt — Paramedic • 1999 — On the Run — Burly Guy • Mickey Blue Eyes — Jimmy, Gina's Doorman • 2000 — Two Family House — Counter Guy • 2004 — The Kings of Brooklyn — Trader the Hut • Never in Our Town — Barber — Short • 2005 — Meet the Mobsters — Abner Hunnicutt • 2006 — Beer League — Giusuppe Primavera • Dog's Life — Manager — Video • 2008 — College Road Trip — Mr. Arcara • The Egg — Ralph — Short • 2009 — Reality Horror Night — Himself • Situation — Goat — Short • 2010 — Corrado — Frankie D'Onofrio • Circus Maximus — Uncle Vic • 2011 — The Reunion — David Bass • Delsin — Himself • 2012 — Men in Black 3 — New York Mets Fan #2 • Desperate Endeavors — Neil Bates • 2013 — Chasing Taste — Murphy • Fratello — Tony • Pray for Us Sinners — Angelo — Short • My Cross to Bear — Danny's Boxing Trainer — Short • 2014 — Rob the Mob — Dom • Leaving Circadia — Nat • Gilgamesh — Senator Higgins • Other Plans — Gus • 2015 — An Act of War — Frank • 2017 — Crossed Lines — Cop • Jason's Letter — Principal (Pratt) Prattoli • 2019 — The Brawler — John • Gabriella — Carlo — Short • 2020 — The One — Frankie • 2021 — Last Call — Charlie • Burn — - — Short • 2022 — White Hot Fury — Charlie — Short • King Lahiri — Frabizio Vitelli
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Rowe, Douglass J. "‘The Sopranos’ sparks debate". The Daily Illini, April 26, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2025
- 2.Associated Press. Gay 'Sopranos' mobster finds a bit of fame. Today.com. April 10, 2006.
- 3.Bong Appétit video: Legalize Marinara. ViceTV. December 8, 2019.
- 4.Rejent, Joseph. Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back free live stream: How to watch online without cable. nj. January 8, 2020.
- 5.Todoruk, Jordan. Kate Bosworth Is a New Kind of Western Hero in This Underrated TV Series. Collider. January 4, 2024.
- 6.Gannascoli, Joseph R. A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime. Publishers Weekly. 2006.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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