‘Sopranos’ Star Taking the Stage for 1 Night Only

For one night only, a legendary star of “The Sopranos” is stepping out of the shadows and back into the spotlight — not as a mob boss, but as a storyteller, singer, and stage veteran ready to share his life’s incredible journey.

‘Sopranos’ Legend Returns to the Stage

Dominic Chianese — best known as Corrado “Uncle Junior” Soprano — is 94 years old and continues to captivate audiences. On June 30, he’ll bring his singular blend of storytelling and song to The Town Hall in New York City for a special performance titled “Dominic Chianese: One Night Only.”

In an exclusive interview with People, Chianese revealed his vision for the evening: “The stories, they come out, and the songs, they sort of portray the stories, too.” He’ll reflect on his decades-long career and pay tribute to the mentors who shaped him — including Al Pacino and the late James Gandolfini.

“I played a lot of authority figures, lawyers, judges, criminals. I played priests,” Chianese said. “It’s a wonderful career. It’s a very long career, a checkered career.”

The Emmy-nominated actor plans to showcase not only his acting skills but also his musical talents. Fans will remember Chianese’s emotional performance of “Core’ngrato” in the season 3 finale of “The Sopranos” — a moment he credits to “E Street Band” icon Steven Van Zandt. “Stevie taught me that you can really sing with your heart and let it out in the studio,” he said.

He also credits his grandfather, an immigrant from Naples, with instilling his love for music. “His music came from the heart, and singing wasn’t about talent or even the voice. It was the way I did it,” Chianese shared. That influence has led to two full-length albums of Italian and American songs, including 2003’s “Ungrateful Heart.”

Dominic Chianese’s Career Spanned Stage, Screen — and the Mob

Long before he was Uncle Junior, Chianese was a New York stage actor with roots in the Bronx and dreams of performing. According to his TV Insider bio, he began acting in 1952, working in regional theaters, Off-Broadway musicals, and character roles. But his rise to fame didn’t come until the late ’90s — nearly half a century into his career.

His first film credit was in 1972’s “Fuzz,” and he later appeared in iconic titles like “The Godfather Part II,” “All the President’s Men,” and “Fort Apache, The Bronx.” But it was his collaborations with Al Pacino — and his work with director Sidney Lumet — that helped shape his path.

Chianese often played figures of authority, gangsters, or sometimes both. His gritty realism made him a natural fit for the HBO biopic “Gotti” in 1996, which eventually led to David Chase casting him in “The Sopranos.” His portrayal of Uncle Junior — petty, political, and occasionally hilarious — became one of the show’s most enduring performances.

Despite playing one of the few major characters who wasn’t “whacked,” Chianese remained a central figure across multiple seasons. He earned back-to-back Emmy nominations in 2000 and 2001 and became a late-in-life icon. “A construction crew in Times Square stopped working and said, ‘There’s Uncle Junior!'” Chianese recalled to People. “Before, only people in theater knew who I was.”

Tickets for “Dominic Chianese: One Night Only” are available here.