Uncle Junior on James Gandolfini, The Sopranos & 70 Years of Acting | Dominic & Junior Episode One

In the premiere episode of Dominic & Junior, legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese sits down with his son Dominic Chianese Jr. for a deeply personal conversation about The Sopranos, James Gandolfini, New York, family, acting, music, loss, and the stories worth preserving.Dominic shares memories of Nancy Marchand, Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, Vincent Pastore, Jerry Adler, Joseph Siravo, and other members of The Sopranos family.

He also reflects on his relationship with James Gandolfini, describing Jimmy as one of the great actors of his generation and placing him in the same stratosphere as Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and John Lithgow. Dominic remembers Gandolfini’s humility, generosity, humor, and the experience of working opposite him as Uncle Junior and Tony Soprano.Father and son also speak openly about losing people they love, including Dominic Sr.’s wife Jane and daughter Sarah. As Junior puts it, “we honor the dead by living well.”

Their discussion ultimately becomes a reflection on love, recovery, family, forgiveness, and the opportunity this podcast gives them to create something new together.

Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, special guests, New York stories, Sopranos memories, performances, family conversations, and more.

Chapters:

00:00 James Gandolfini, The Godfather & A New Beginning

00:40 Welcome to Dominic & Junior

04:02 Becoming Uncle Junior at Retirement Age

05:01 The Bus Ride That Started Dominic’s Career

09:20 Remembering The Sopranos Family

13:22 Frank Vincent & The Grand Ole Opry

17:00 Vincent Pastore and the Desire to Learn

18:24 James Gandolfini: “The Same Stratosphere as Pacino”

25:22 Legacy, Loss, Family & What Artists Leave Behind

37:30 Recovery, Healing, Father and Son & One Last Al Pacino Story

About the Podcast: Hosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on.From The Sopranos and The Godfather Part II to Broadway, old New York, Italian-American culture, fatherhood, and life behind the scenes, each episode brings together nearly a century of experience with a modern perspective.

Discover the stories behind Dominic Chianese, Uncle Junior, The Sopranos, The Godfather Part II, New York acting history, Italian-American culture, Broadway, music, and a lifetime in entertainment. Dominic Chianese and Dominic Chianese Jr. share personal memories, behind-the-scenes stories, family history, Sopranos experiences, lessons from the stage and screen, and reflections on the people and places that shaped their lives. For fans of The Sopranos, Junior Soprano, James Gandolfini, David Chase, classic New York, Italian-American storytelling, film history, television history, acting, and family legacy, Dominic & Junior offers a rare first-hand perspective from one of television and film’s most recognizable actors.

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Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations.

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