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The idea to explore Vito’s sexuality had actually been Gannascoli’s own, he told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview this week. According to The US Sun, Gannascoli came up with the idea to explore Vito's sexuality.
He'd been reading a true crime book which chronicled the life and crimes of the DeMeo crew, a Brooklyn-based gang connected to the Gambino crime family.
“And the first thing I’d ask is ‘what’s going on in the next episode? Let's talk about it.
Vito's New Hampshire Hideout
Near the beginning of Season 6, Vito is discovered partying by a couple of mob associates when they come to collect from a gay bar.
It was a busy restaurant, and there were a lot of girls there.
“And everybody stood up as I walked in and started clapping their hands. That was during season four, and at the beginning of season five they asked me for the name of the book again and I gave it to them.
“So that’s how I broached it with the writers and I guess they took it to David Chase.
“And I understand that he later gave an interview and said that’s the only suggestion he’s ever taken from an actor, which I’m very grateful for.
“That [decision] changed my life.”
Gannascoli wouldn’t be made aware of the Vito pivot for several months.
It seems that Vito may have lucked out, as he decides to stay in town and eventually sparks up a relationship with Jim, the owner of a local diner and volunteer firefighter.
The Sopranos depicts Vito and Jim's relationship with a degree of sensitivity that was rare at the time for same-sex couples on TV, as Vito struggles to reconcile his newfound comfort with the pull of his former, much less accepting lifestyle.
But the supporting cast had moles on the inside – and Gannascoli’s source worked for the crew.
Or am I in it? It was able to change the future of television by altering audience expectations
More than anything, Vito's Season 6 arc serves as an encapsulation of some of the series' recurring themes: the nearly inescapable cycles of violence and the inability of most people to do the work necessary to change.
You have such long days, I’m not going to bother you with that.’ But he told me it sounded like fun and he wanted to do it.”
Gannascoli continued: “I remember it was a cold and rainy night, he was sick, and one of my friends went to pick him up.
Real-life mob story that inspired Vito Spatafore's iconic gay storyline in The Sopranos
Amid the graphic violence and tense drama, The Sopranos included an iconic gay storyline headed by Vito Spatafore, which was inspired by a real-life mob story
It has been revealed that The Sopranos gay storyline with character Vito Spatafore was inspired by a real-life mob story, as show celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Vito's sexuality was hinted at in season five of the show, when the boyfriend of head mobster Tony Sopranos daughter caught Vito giving oral sex to a male security guard.
Remembering Gandolfini 11 years on, Gannascoli said that while their interactions on set were limited, he will remember the actor as a giant of a man with an even bigger heart.
“I remember [during filming] when I had a restaurant, different actors from the show would come every month and meet fans, hang out, and sign things – it was great,” reflected Gannascoli.
But next year be ready because it’s going to be a big year for you, so that’s what I did.”
After the episode aired, Gannascoli remembers being shunned and shot dirty looks by real wise guys in his neighborhood in Brooklyn.
He also claims to have been confronted by the relative of a known mobster while out clubbing one night, resulting in a physical skirmish that had to be broken up by bystanders.
While horror holds a special place in his heart, Conor is an equal opportunity movie and TV fan, with a deep love for arthouse films, megabudget blockbusters, and everything in between. Vito may have stumbled upon a way out of the mob world, living a cozy existence with his mustachioed partner in a sleepy town in the Granite State. You’re going to be blowing a guy.’
“I said, ‘What?
Am I getting killed? He was just 51 years old and had recently become a father for the second time. Do I have any good scenes?
“And this one time I asked him am I getting killed, and he told me ‘No, you’re okay.’ And I asked him if I had some good stuff and he said ‘Yeah, you have some good stuff.’
“So I thought, great I’ll wait until we get the script to do the [table] read-through.
Maybe Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand) said it best when she told her grandson, "It's all a big nothing."
- Release Date
- 1999 - 2007
- Network
- HBO
- Showrunner
- David Chase
- Directors
- Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García
- Writers
- Michael Imperioli, Jason Cahill, Lawrence Konner, David Flebotte, James Manos, Jr., Salvatore Stabile, Toni Kalem, Mark Saraceni, Nick Santora
Inside the real-life mob story that inspired Vito’s iconic gay storyline on The Sopranos & why it was tricky to pitch
TWENTY-five years ago today, The Sopranos premiered on HBO – a cornerstone moment in pop culture that undoubtedly changed television forever.
Across its six seasons, the James Gandolfini-led mobster epic brought to life a colorful cast of memorable characters and crafted unforgettable storylines, punctuated by bursts of graphic violence, iconic one-liners, and dark humor.
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But The Sopranos was more than just a typical mob story; it was a groundbreaking show that served as a subtle character study, tackling the then-taboo topics of male mental health, toxic masculinity, and even sexuality.
Perhaps The Sopranos’s boldest convention-challenging exploration came during the show’s final season when Vito Spatafore – Tony Soprano’s highest earner – was revealed to be a closeted gay man.
Vito’s sexuality was first hinted at during season 5 of the show when the portly mafia captain was spotted by the boyfriend of Tony Soprano’s daughter giving oral sex to a male security guard near a construction site.
The subject wouldn’t be raised again until early into the following season when a leather-clad Vito – played by Joseph R.
Gannascoli – was spotted dancing with other men inside a gay bar by members of the Jersey mob.
Word of Vito’s secret life soon got back to Tony Soprano, forcing him to flee New Jersey for New Hampshire, where, briefly, Gannascoli’s character is provided a glimpse of what life could look like outside of the mob, away from his fiercely homophobic comrades.
But otherwise, he said his performance was well-received by friends and Sopranos fans alike.
Gannascoli watched the ninth episode of season five with a group of 20 of his friends and didn’t tell any of them what they were about to see. But this was going to be something totally the opposite of who I am," he added.
During filming for season 4, Gannascoli had been reading the true crime book, Murder Machine, which chronicles the life and crimes of the DeMeo crew, a Brooklyn-based gang connected to the Gambino crime family.
One member of the DeMeo Crew was a man by the name of Vito Arena, a prolific car thief, robber, and murderer who was involved in scores of killings during the 1970s and 1980s.
He was a regular, blue-collar guy from Jersey who possessed a special kind of talent.