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He was a contender for the role of Tony Soprano in the HBO television series The Sopranos, [3] but was ultimately cast as Jackie Aprile, a recurring character in the show's first season. Rispoli reunited with Sopranos co-star James Gandolfini in the 2009 thriller The Taking of Pelham 123 .
May 4, 2020 · Before going with James Gandolfini, 'The Sopranos' producers and HBO took a long look at Michael Rispoli. And Rispoli was friends with Gandolfini.
- Eric Schaal
- Author
Giacomo Michael "Jackie" Aprile is played by Michael Rispoli. He was born in 1955, and rose through the ranks of the DiMeo Crime Family with his older brother Richie and close friend Tony Soprano. Jackie was the brother of Liz La Cerva, and the uncle of Adriana La Cerva.
- Editor And Critic
- Steven Van Zandt. The other component of the final three contenders was Steven Van Zandt, who, at this point, had no professional acting experience. Prior to The Sopranos, Van Zandt was best known for playing guitar in Bruce Springsteen’s band.
- Michael Rispoli. One of the final three contenders to play Tony Soprano was Michael Rispoli. In an episode of the podcast Talking Sopranos, hosted by co-stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, Rispoli opened up about the auditioning experience.
- John Ventimiglia. An actor who didn’t end up playing Tony but still landed a role on The Sopranos is John Ventimiglia. He auditioned for both Tony Soprano and Paulie Walnuts, and while he wasn’t quite right for either of those characters, the producers evidently liked him as he ended up being cast as Artie Bucco.
- Ray Liotta. Ray Liotta, famous for his central role as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, is widely understood to have been offered the role of Tony in The Sopranos.
Jan 9, 2016 · He narrowed it down to three choices: the James Gandolfini you know and love, Michael Rispoli, who later became Jackie Aprile, Sr., and Steven Van Zandt, the longtime guitarist for Bruce...
- Kayla Cobb
Jan 10, 2024 · At least three other actors who auditioned for Tony wound up appearing on the series. John Ventimiglia, who played restaurant owner Artie Bucco; and Michael Rispoli, who played Jackie Aprile....
Michael Vincent Rispoli (born November 27, 1960) is an American actor. He portrayed Jackie Aprile Sr. in a recurring role of The Sopranos. "46 Long" "Denial, Anger, Acceptance" "Meadowlands" "...To Save Us All from Satan's Power".
