Federico Castelluccio
Encyclopedia
Federico Castelluccio is an Italian
-American
actor and professional visual artist, who is best known for his role as Furio Giunta
on the HBO TV
series, The Sopranos
.
, Italy, his family moved to Paterson, New Jersey
in 1968. In 1982, Castelluccio was awarded a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts
in New York City, where he earned a BFA in painting and media arts. Just prior to winning the scholarship, Federico received an opportunity to do a painting for veteran actor George Burns
.
with Jon Favreau, Fire with Robert Klein and Diary of a Hitman
with Danny Aiello
. In television, Federico's credits include NYPD Blue
and his best known role in the HBO hit series, The Sopranos
, as the Neapolitan
enforcer Furio Giunta
.
He also appeared in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
which debuted in 2006 at the Sundance Film Festival
and received two awards, one for best dramatic directing and another for best dramatic ensemble, headed by Robert Downey Jr.
, Chazz Palminteri
, and Rosario Dawson
.
Castelluccio’s recent film projects include the biographical El Cantante
starring Marc Anthony
and Jennifer Lopez
, Aftermath, a crime-thriller starring Michael Anthony Hall, Chris Penn
and directed and written by Thomas Farone, The Obscure Brother, filmed in southern Italy, a short film that Federico executive produced and acted in. Federico starred with David Zayas
and Otto Sanchez
in 2003's La Araña directed and written by Vincent Zambrano and Jose Patino. Capers, a comedic film, was released in 2008 and stars Danny Masterson
. Lucky Days
is a full-feature film that recently completed filming in New York City. The 2009 film "Forget Me Not", directed by Federico, starring Yvonne Maria Schaefer
, had international success. In television, Federico was recently seen as the lead role in Dragon Dynasty, a made for television film which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel
. He also appeared in the episode of Kenny Vs. Spenny
titled "Who Can Produce The Best Commercial" in a role strongly echoing his work on The Sopranos as Furio.
and 17th century Italian and Dutch Baroque
masters. He has exhibited his paintings in galleries in New York
, Washington, D.C.
, and Santa Fe, New Mexico
, and his works are held in the collection of the Yale Fine Art Museum and Kresge Art Museum as well as private collections in the United States
, South America
and Europe
. In 2006, Castelluccio and actor Paul Sorvino
were privately commissioned for artwork to be donated as a permanent installation to the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida
. During the fourth season of Celebrity Apprentice
, Castelluccio was asked by Donald Trump
to judge which celebrity designed the best hat. Castelluccio eventually chose La Toya Jackson
. She was awarded $25, 000 for her charity, the AIDS Project Los Angeles
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and professional visual artist, who is best known for his role as Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:...
on the HBO TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series, The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
.
Early life
Born in NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy, his family moved to Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
in 1968. In 1982, Castelluccio was awarded a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
in New York City, where he earned a BFA in painting and media arts. Just prior to winning the scholarship, Federico received an opportunity to do a painting for veteran actor George Burns
George Burns
George Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
.
Acting
Castelluccio began his career as an actor in 1986. Some of his film credits include MadeMade (2001 film)
Made is a 2001 film written and directed by Jon Favreau. It stars Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Peter Falk, and Sean Combs.-Plot:Bobby has ties to the local mafia boss, Max, but works as an honest mason for Max's construction projects. He fights in amateur boxing matches on the side, but his career is...
with Jon Favreau, Fire with Robert Klein and Diary of a Hitman
Diary of a Hitman
Diary of a Hitman is a 1991 drama/thriller directed by Roy London and written by Kenneth Pressman, based on his play Insider's Price. The film stars Forest Whitaker, Sherilyn Fenn, James Belushi, Sharon Stone and Lois Chiles....
with Danny Aiello
Danny Aiello
Daniel Louis "Danny" Aiello, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including Once Upon a Time in America, Ruby, The Godfather: Part II, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Léon, Two Days in the Valley, and Dinner Rush...
. In television, Federico's credits include NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
and his best known role in the HBO hit series, The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, as the Neapolitan
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
enforcer Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:...
.
He also appeared in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is a 2006 American drama film based on a 2001 memoir of the same name by author and musician Dito Montiel, which describes his youth in Astoria, New York during the 1980s....
which debuted in 2006 at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and received two awards, one for best dramatic directing and another for best dramatic ensemble, headed by Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert John Downey, Jr. is an American actor. Downey made his screen debut in 1970 at the age of five when he appeared in his father's film Pound, and has worked consistently in film and television ever since. During the 1980s he had roles in a series of coming of age films associated with the...
, Chazz Palminteri
Chazz Palminteri
Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri is an American actor and writer, best known for his performances in The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale, and his Academy Award nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Bullets Over Broadway....
, and Rosario Dawson
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Isabel Dawson is an American actress, singer, and writer. She has appeared in films such as Kids, Men in Black II, 25th Hour, Sin City, Clerks II, Rent, Death Proof, The Rundown, Eagle Eye, Alexander, Seven Pounds, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Unstoppable.-Early...
.
Castelluccio’s recent film projects include the biographical El Cantante
El Cantante
El Cantante is a 2006 American film released in the United States on August 3, 2007. The biopic stars singer Marc Anthony and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez . The film is based on the life story of salsa legend Héctor Lavoe...
starring Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
and Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, Aftermath, a crime-thriller starring Michael Anthony Hall, Chris Penn
Chris Penn
Christopher Shannon "Chris" Penn was an American film and television actor known for his roles in such films as The Wild Life, Reservoir Dogs, Footloose, Rush Hour, True Romance, All the Right Moves and Pale Rider.-Early life:Penn was born in Los Angeles, California, the youngest son of Leo Penn,...
and directed and written by Thomas Farone, The Obscure Brother, filmed in southern Italy, a short film that Federico executive produced and acted in. Federico starred with David Zayas
David Zayas
David Zayas is a Puerto Rican theatrical, film, and television actor. He is most known for his roles as Angel Batista on Showtime's series Dexter and as Enrique Morales on the HBO prison drama Oz.- Life and career :...
and Otto Sanchez
Otto Sanchez
Otto Sanchez is an American actor best known for playing Carmen Guerra in the HBO prison drama Oz. He also played the role of Otto in the short-lived drama Kidnapped. He appeared as a supporting character in Bad Boys 2. He played the lead role of Paul in the film Push which won awards at The Long...
in 2003's La Araña directed and written by Vincent Zambrano and Jose Patino. Capers, a comedic film, was released in 2008 and stars Danny Masterson
Danny Masterson
Daniel Peter "Danny" Masterson is an American actor and DJ best known for his role as Steven Hyde in That '70s Show.-Early life:...
. Lucky Days
Lucky Days
Lucky Days , also known as I Love You in the Second Round, is a currently airing Taiwanese Drama starring Tammy Chen and Chris Wang which first premiered on January 8, 2010 on TTV and SETTV.-Main cast:...
is a full-feature film that recently completed filming in New York City. The 2009 film "Forget Me Not", directed by Federico, starring Yvonne Maria Schaefer
Yvonne Maria Schaefer
Yvonne Maria Schaefer is a film actress and a producer.- Biography :Yvonne Maria Schaefer is an Actress and Producer. She is president of YMC Films Film Production. In her native Frankfurt/Main, Germany Yvonne Maria began early on her career as a model and actress. As a child Schaefer studied...
, had international success. In television, Federico was recently seen as the lead role in Dragon Dynasty, a made for television film which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
. He also appeared in the episode of Kenny Vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
titled "Who Can Produce The Best Commercial" in a role strongly echoing his work on The Sopranos as Furio.
Painting
Castelluccio is also an accomplished painter. His fine art paintings are highly technical and influenced by RenaissanceRenaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
and 17th century Italian and Dutch Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
masters. He has exhibited his paintings in galleries in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, and his works are held in the collection of the Yale Fine Art Museum and Kresge Art Museum as well as private collections in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 2006, Castelluccio and actor Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
were privately commissioned for artwork to be donated as a permanent installation to the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. During the fourth season of Celebrity Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. season 11)
The Celebrity Apprentice 4 is the eleventh installment of the United States version of the reality television series, The Apprentice. On May 16, 2010, NBC announced that the show would be returning to its Celebrity Apprentice format after returning to its regular version for the tenth season of...
, Castelluccio was asked by Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
to judge which celebrity designed the best hat. Castelluccio eventually chose La Toya Jackson
La Toya Jackson
La Toya Yvonne Jackson is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, television personality, actress, businesswoman, philanthropist, activist and former model. She is the fifth child of the Jackson family...
. She was awarded $25, 000 for her charity, the AIDS Project Los Angeles
AIDS Project Los Angeles
AIDS Project Los Angeles is a 5013 non-profit organization, "dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by AIDS disease, reducing the incidence of HIV infection, and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy."...
External links
- Federico Castelluccio Official Site
- Yvonne Maria SchaeferYvonne Maria SchaeferYvonne Maria Schaefer is a film actress and a producer.- Biography :Yvonne Maria Schaefer is an Actress and Producer. She is president of YMC Films Film Production. In her native Frankfurt/Main, Germany Yvonne Maria began early on her career as a model and actress. As a child Schaefer studied...