Refreshing attitude. As The Sopranos nears its season premiere date, the New York Daily News talks with Joe Gannascoli, who plays gay mobster Vito Spatafore.
The heterosexual Gannascoli intimates that his character, who sprang to life after some suggestions to the producers, may play a bigger role this year: “I had read about a couple of real-life gays in the mob and suggested the idea to one of our writers, in the hopes of getting more work. Eventually it was incorporated. Some real macho guys on the set asked how I could do the role. But it was something I wanted to do. I used to work as a waiter in an all-gay restaurant named Company on Third Ave. in Manhattan. It was a great job. I got along great with the gay customers. I’m secure in my own sexuality, recently married, and I’m an actor. An actor acts. I was rooting like crazy for ‘Brokeback Mountain’ in all the awards shows. And after five seasons in the background of one of the greatest shows in TV history, it was sure nice to get some recognition.”
