Vincent Piazza Biography

Fast Facts

• Played hockey at Villanova University in Pennsylvania
• Initially wanted to become a professional hockey player, but injured his shoulder while still in college and decided to leave sports for acting
• Quote: "[on "Jersey Boys"] "The stage has this immediacy that only theater can give you, but the movie gives you something else, and although it's faithful to the musical, I think it'll have its own identity․""
• Quote: "[on learning the guitar] "I really put an effort into learning the right chords, and in that process, I learned how bloody fingers can get․""
• Began his stage career with several off-Broadway productions before transitioning to television with dramas such as "Law & Order" and "Boardwalk Empire"
• Joined the TerrNOVA theater collective in New York City where he would study alongside LuLu Roche and Eden Rountree, among others
• Was the only one of his "Jersey Boys" co-stars to have never starred in a stage production of the musical
• For his role in the Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of "Jersey Boys," he spent 12 hours a day taking voice lessons, working with dance coaches and learning guitar chords
• Asked his Sicilian father about certain translation and accents when he had to speak Sicilian on "Boardwalk Empire․"
• In order to land a role in the 2008 film "Assassination of a High School President", he worked with a Puerto Rican coach and restaurant owner in New York City to adapt a Hispanic accent for the role