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Michael Imperioli

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Michael Imperioli: Biography

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Birth Place: Mount Vernon, NY
Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 1966
Profession: Actor; writer

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An intense, unibrowed actor who almost always plays characters of Italian descent, Imperioli first made an impression as an aspiring Mafioso who ill-advisedly laughs at Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. Throughout the '90s, he played a succession of cops, criminals and everymen on the big screen. He was in five films by Spike Lee, including the 1999 drama Summer of Sam, which he cowrote with the director. Imperioli's big year was 1999, when he landed a career-making role on the mob TV series The Sopranos as Tony Soprano's irascible nephew. Off-screen, he was romantically linked with frequent costar Lili Taylor before marrying another woman in 1995.Michael Imperioli Fast Facts:

Before getting steady work as an actor, earned a living as a furniture mover, messenger, bartender and waiter.
First came to prominence as Spider in Goodfellas, who was shot in the foot by Joe Pesci's crazed mobster; in the first season of The Sopranos, his character likewise shoots a young man in the foot for no good reason.
Closed a restaurant, Ciel Rouge, he owned in Manhattan with his wife to open off-Broadway theater Studio Dante.
Avid racehorse fan who has directed commercials for OTB, the Off Track Betting franchise.
Directed a commercial for Rutgers University's football program, which featured his Sopranos costar James Gandolfini.
Wrote five episodes of The Sopranos.

Michael Imperioli Relationships:
Claire Imperioli - Mother
Dan Imperioli - Father
David Imperioli - Son
Isabella - Stepdaughter
John Imperioli - Brother
Lili Taylor - Ex-significant Other
Vadim Imperioli - Son
Victoria Imperioli - Wife
Michael Imperioli Awards:
2001 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
2003 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
2004 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Winner
2006 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
2007 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
2003 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
2005 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee