The anger that Uncle Junior has comes from my background. My father was the son of an Italian immigrant, and I’ve seen the fire of the Italian temperament. It can be explosive sometimes in ways that are both funny and tragic.
Meaning of the quote
Dominic Chianese, an American actor, explains that the angry personality of his character Uncle Junior comes from Chianese's own family background. His father was the child of an Italian immigrant, and Chianese has witnessed the intense emotions and temperament that can be common among Italians. This passionate Italian temperament can sometimes lead to outbursts that are both humorous and sad.
About Dominic Chianese
Dominic Chianese is an American actor, singer, and musician best known for his roles in popular TV shows and movies, including The Sopranos, The Godfather Part II, and Boardwalk Empire. With a career spanning over five decades, Chianese has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
More quotes from Dominic Chianese
I enjoyed my grandparents very much. My mother and father would always allow me to stay with them.
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I don’t like the way Uncle Junior dresses. He loves it.
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My father was an American who could cuss in Italian and make an aria out of it. It was wonderful to watch. But then again, he was a Gemini. I believe in that stuff.
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I had to audition for the part of Jnior, and I wanted the role terribly because I knew it was a great character. This guy is a wonderful, funny, mean old guy.
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They would wake me up when I was sleeping, and say sing a song for our friends. I had a sweet voice, I had a nice little tenor voice. God knows what I sang, but my whole family would admire me.
American actor, animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist
Uncle Junior is a criminal, which makes him a villain, so it makes people want to watch him. My whole life as an actor has been preparing for something like this.
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I’ve always wanted to play Don Quixote in some way. It’s a great role. I think the idealism of the man shows that hope that we have in the human breast to achieve something.
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I think Pirandello had something to say to people about what truth really is.
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The radio was my big influence. Comedy came from the instinctual feel I had for language.
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I went to Brooklyn College and met this beautiful Jewish girl named Merle, with dark hair, exotic looking and brilliant. So we got married and had three children.
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When I started really singing I was 17, 18 years old. I used to go around trying to be a singer in the Bronx. My knees would shake but I learned by doing.
American actor, animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist
I went on tour in the play H.M.S. Pinafore.
American actor, animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist
For TV I don’t think I could have gotten a better part than Uncle Junior because of the intimacy of the character based on David Chase’s brilliant writing.
American actor, animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist
I tried to become a family man. I got married, but it didn’t work out. After 22 months we got an annulment. Then I married an Italian girl, which resulted in an immediate annulment. I had two annulments by the time I was 23.
American actor, animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist
The anger that Uncle Junior has comes from my background. My father was the son of an Italian immigrant, and I’ve seen the fire of the Italian temperament. It can be explosive sometimes in ways that are both funny and tragic.
American actor, animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist