Vinny Vella

Vincent Frank Vella (January 11, 1947 – February 20, 2019) was an American actor, talk show host and comedian. He acted in more than forty films often in the role of a gangster. He was best known for the role of Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese's Casino and Jimmy Petrille in the HBO show The Sopranos.

Vinny Vella
Born
Vincent Frank Vella

(1947-01-11)January 11, 1947
Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, US
DiedFebruary 20, 2019(2019-02-20) (aged 72)
New York City, New York, US
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor, talk show host, comedian
Spouse(s)Margaret Ann Hernandez
Children5

Early life

Vella was born on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York City. His father was from Bari, Italy and his mother was from Naples, Italy [1][2] Vella's father had a fish store in Little Italy.[1]

Career

Vella acted in more than forty films often in the role of gangster.[3] He was best known for the role of Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese's Casino.[4] He played Jimmy Petrille on the HBO show The Sopranos.[4] He was the subject of a 67-minute 2000 documentary called Hey, Vinny by director John Huba.[3] In New York City, he hosted a public-access television cable TV show on MNN, the Vinny Vella show.[5] He appeared in more than 35 advertisements.[3]

Personal life

He was married to Margaret Ann Hernandez; they had one son, Vincent Vella Jr. Besides Vincent Vella Jr., Vinny was also a father to Ben and Anthony Hernandez, Jennifer Maloney and Lauren Vella. Vella was at one time the "Mayor of Elizabeth Street".[6] In 2007, he opened his own pizzeria in Williamsburg, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.[7][8]

In June 2008, Vella was involved in controversy around a lottery ticket, according to some sources, and threatened to sue over it.[9]

Death

Vella died at home on Elizabeth Street, New York City on February 20, 2019, due to liver cancer, at age 72.[4][10]

Filmography

Film

Vella's films include:

Year Title Role Notes
1994Season of ChangeMichael[11]
1995CasinoArtie Piscano[4]
1997Donnie BrascoMobster in PhotoUncredited[12]
1999Ghost DogSammy the Snake[3]
2000WannabesCarmine[3]
2000Hey, VinnyHimselfDocumentary, by director John Huba[3]
2001Kissing Jessica SteinCab Driver[3]
2002Analyze ThatMello[4]
2003This Thing of OursCarmine[3]
2003Coffee and CigarettesVinny(segment "Those Things'll Kill Ya")[3]
2004The Kings of BrooklynMan[3]
2006Find Me GuiltyGraziedei[12]
2007Holla at MeFrankie Maldini[3]
2009Chasing the GreenVincent[13]
2009Sicilian TaleDon Sebastiano Militello[3]
2009New York BloodThe Boss[3]
2011Kill the IrishmanFrank Brancato[3]
2017Monsters of Mulberry StreetPaulie Spagnuolo[14]
TBABlood Money[3]

Television

His TV shows are:

Year Title Role Notes
1999-2004The SopranosJimmy Petrille4 episodes[4]
2004Law & OrderJiltsEpisode: "Everybody Loves Raimondo's"[3]
2013The Vinny Vella showVinny1 episode[5]

References
  1. Kurutz, Steve (February 29, 2004). "Bada-Boom Times". Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. Weyland, Jocko (April 29, 2007). "Unstoppable". Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  3. "About Vinny Vella". vinnyvellaactor.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  4. "Vinny Vella, who starred in 'Casino' and 'The Sopranos,' dead at 72 after battling liver cancer". USA TODAY. February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  5. "Manhattan Neighbourhood Network". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  6. Mooney, Jake (October 8, 2006). "The Mini Mayors". Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. "The Village Voice". Archived from the original on June 17, 2008.
  8. "Former Sopranos actor Vinny Vella's pizzeria is a 'hit' in Williamsburg". New York Daily News. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  9. "'Sopranos' star threatens to sue lottery". Digital Spy. June 19, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  10. Schladebeck, Jessica (February 21, 2019). "'Casino' and 'The Sopranos' actor Vinny Vella dies at 72". New York Daily News.
  11. "Vinny Vella (Les Soprano, Casino) est mort à 72 ans". www.msn.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  12. Schladebeck, Jessica. "'Casino' and 'The Sopranos' actor Vinny Vella dies at 72". latimes.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  13. Russ Emanuel. "Chasing the Green - A Russ Emanuel Film". chasingthegreen.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  14. Wetherill, Jack (February 21, 2019). "Casino star Vinny Vella dies aged 72". Dailystar.co.uk. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
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