Michael Rispoli Quotes

United States, Actor
November 27, 1960

Michael Rispoli is an American character actor. He was in the cast of the HBO television series The Sopranos as Jackie Aprile, Sr. Rispoli reunited with Sopranos co-star James Gandolfini in the 2009 thriller The Taking of Pelham 123. Rispoli was a contender for the role of Tony Soprano that ultimately went to Gandolfini.

We're dream chasers. Nobody owes us our dream. But we have to chase it.

Michael Rispoli
- Dream
- Nobody
- Chase
I grew up around hardware. I could sell you all the plumbing and electricity you want.

Michael Rispoli

That's what I play - blue-collar Italian-Americans. You got to be typecast in order to work. I've been blessed.

Michael Rispoli
- Work
- Blessed
- Typecast
If I were to be cast as Cyrano or a Connecticut prep-school teacher or a gay boutique owner, it would only happen if some director I had worked with in the past said, 'Why don't we give Rispoli a shot at it?'

Michael Rispoli
- Director
- Would
- Worked
My mother and father were supportive. But in an Italian family, you kind of work with your hands, or you are an engineer or a doctor. But an actor was something they couldn't get hold of. They were afraid I wouldn't be able to make a living, and for many years, they were right.

Michael Rispoli
- Family
- Mother
- Father
I think I was drawn to acting just as a way of getting noticed.

Michael Rispoli
- Think
- Acting
- Noticed