Early life

Schirripa was born on September 3, 1957 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. His father Ralph was Italian American. His grandparents Ilario Schirripa and Maria Capacci are from Riace, Italy. His mother is of Jewish heritage.

Career

Film and television work

While working in Las Vegas, Schirripa landed a role as an uncredited extra in the Martin Scorsese classic Casino. In the film, he portrayed a customer at the bar in the infamous scene when Joe Pesci's character angrily stabs a man with a pen. After this, Schirripa decided that he wanted to become an actor. He had several minor roles in movies, including The Runner (1999) and Joe Dirt. His breakthrough role was in The Sopranos (2000), playing Tony Soprano's dense but likable mobster brother-in-law Bobby Baccalieri for 5 seasons.

His many television appearances include Angel, Casino Cinema, Star Trek: Enterprise, Hollywood Squares, Joey, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, My Wife and Kids, Ed, Jeopardy!, George Lopez, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and The King of Queens. Schirripa recently appeared on CBS's primetime game show Million Dollar Password. Furthering his game show enthusiasm, Schirripa appeared on the game show Pyramid helping contestant Scott Zinser win $10,000. He also made an uncredited appearance, along with fellow Soprano star Vincent Pastore, on the 6th Season episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force entitled "She Creature".

Schirripa was a frequent guest on the Don Imus radio program. In February 2007, he began to make appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, on Spike TV, siding with Team 3D as their cousin in their ongoing battle against The Latin American Xchange. On October 30, 2007, he appeared on, The Podge and Rodge Show. He is also currently doing spots as "Steve the Judgmental Bastard," on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and has recently taped several episodes of, The Gong Show with Dave Attell, as one of the celebrity judges.

From 2008 to 2012, Schirripa had a recurring in the ABC Family show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, as Leo Boykewick, Ben's dad.

In 2009, he made a cameo appearance alongside fellow Sopranos actor Frank Vincent in Stargate Atlantis episode "Vegas". Recently, he was in My Fake Fiancé with Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence as the Monkey.

Schirripa was also the co-host on NBC's Today Show during its fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford, as Hoda Kotb was out. This occurred the week of July 17. He has appeared on the Tonight Show more than 40 times as a guest and as a correspondent. Schirripa hosted NBC's poker game show, Face the Ace, with the premiere episode airing on August 1, 2009.

In the fall of 2010, Schirripa had a guest star role in the digital comedy short film, "Lil DPC", from writer/director Michael Ratner, which also features Rapper Fat Joe and Blink 182's Mark Hoppus.

In 2011 and 2012, Schirripa hosted and narrated the television true-crime series Nothing Personal, which premiered in the U.S. on Investigation Discovery and in the UK on History. The series featured an often humorous take on true stories and reenactments of murders-for-hire. In addition to hosting the hour-long programs, Schirripa was one of the program's executive producers. The programs were filmed on location around the United States and in Ontario, Canada. Subsequently, Schirripa hosted Karma's a B*tch!, also for Investigation Discovery (IDSC) titled This show dramatizes stories of people who seek revenge on someone they believe did them wrong. Recently, Schirripa has provided the voice for the lemon in McDonald's McCafe Strawberry Lemonade commercials. He has also guest-starred in the American version of Top Gear.

On May 27, 2013, Nickelodeon premiered Nicky Deuce, a Nickelodeon film starring Noah Munck, based on the book Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family by Steve Schirripa and Charles Fleming. Nicky Deuce also featured supporting roles filled by James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, and Vincent Curatola of The Sopranos fame.

Steve Schirripa played Sonny Rosselli in "A Poet Long Ago", a short film written by Pete Hamill and directed by Bob Giraldi, which gained entry into a number film festivals in 2013.

In 2014, Schirripa played Joey on the ABC series "Black Box", did voice acting in an episode of "American Dad!" entitled "Stan Goes on the Pill", and played Vito in the silver screen adaptation Jersey Boys, directed by Clint Eastwood. He will play Father Ed in "Chasing Yesterday", a film by Writer/Director Joseph Pernice, as well as be in the film "Houses", by Writer/Director Jenner Furst, alongside "Sopranos" co-stars Michael Imperioli and John Ventimiglia. Schirripa was also the executive producer and host of "Karma's a B*tch!", which aired its second season on Investigation Discovery.

Theatre

On April 3, 2014, Steve Schirripa gave a theatrical performance in a special production of Guys and Dolls alongside Nathan Lane, Patrick Wilson (American actor), and Megan Mullally at Carnegie Hall.

Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties

In 2014, Steve Schirripa launched a line of organic, vegan pasta sauces under the business name of Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties Group. The company currently features three types of sauce: marinara, tomato basil, and arrabbiata. The sauces are available from Grace's Marketplace in Manhattan and Long Island, New York, on the company's website, and at local health food stores along with Whole Foods.

Filmography

• 1995: Casino as Man in Bar (uncredited)
• 1997: Highway to Vegas as Bodyguard #1
• 1998: Denial as Best Man
• 1998: Chicago Hope as Security Officer
• 1998: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Goon
• 1998: Welcome to Hollywood as Entertainment Director Riviera Hotel
• 1999: The King of Queens as Maitre'd
• 1999: Speedway Junky as Security Guard
• 1999: Detroit Rock City as Beefy Jerk #2
• 1999: The Runner as Host
• 1999: The Debtors as The Crapsman
• 1999: Pensacola: Wings of Gold as Tony (Credited as Steven Schirripa)
• 1999: Angel as Benny
• 1999: Play It to the Bone as Party Guest
• 2000: Battery Park as Anthony
• 2000: The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas as Croupier
• 2000: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye as Male Cop
• 2000: Big Sound as Russell
• 2001: See Spot Run as Arliss (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2001: Alex in Wonder as Steve
• 2001: Joe Dirt as Hood (Credited as Steven Schirripa)
• 2001: Black Scorpion as Collector #1
• 2002: Monday Night Mayhem as Sal
• 2003: Columbo as Freddie (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2003: George Lopez as Tommy Durango (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2003: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Paulie Obregano (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2003: My Wife and Kids as Insurance Salesman
• 2003: Ed as Sandy Buckman
• 2003: High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story as Anthony
• 2004: Law & Order as Frederico Libretti
• 2004: What Are the Odds as Tony
• 2004: Star Trek: Enterprise as Carmine (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2004: Joey as The Pit Boss (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2005: Duane Hopwood as Steve (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2005: Justice League as Cecil (voice)
• 2005: Must Love Dogs as Vinnie (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2005: Meet the Mobsters as Tony (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2000-2007: The Sopranos as Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri
• 2007: TNA iMPACT! as Himself/Cousin Steve
• 2007: The Podge and Rodge Show
• 2008: A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa as Mobster
• 2008: The Replacements
• 2008: Open Season 2 as Roberto (voice)
• 2008: Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Himself
• 2008-2013: The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Leo Boykewich (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2009: Stargate: Atlantis as Poker Player #2
• 2009: Circledrawers as Human Protecter
• 2009: The Hungry Ghosts as Frank
• 2009: Ugly Betty as Frankie Burrata (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2009: Aqua Teen Hunger Force as Terry's Partner (voice, uncredited)
• 2009: My Fake Fiancé as The Monkey (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2009: Face the Ace
• 2009: Jordon Saffron Taste This! as Louie
• 2009: Brothers as Louie
• 2010: Hereafter as Cooking Teacher "Carlo" (Credited as Steven R. Schirripa)
• 2010: The World of Richard P. Cummings Jr. as Richard Cummings Sr.
• 2010: Open Season 3 as Roberto (voice)
• 2011: Kill the Irishman as Mike Frato
• 2011: Nothing Personal - host and executive producer
• 2013: Karma's A B*tch! - host and executive producer
• 2013: Nicky Deuce as Uncle Frankie
• 2013: A Poet Long Ago as Sonny Rosselli
• 2014: American Dad! (voice)
• 2014: Jersey Boys as Vito
• 2015: Benders as Vito
• 2015: The Jack and Triumph Show as Himself
• 2015-2016: Blue Bloods as Detective Anthony Abetemarco

[ Source: Wikipedia ]