‘The Sopranos’ and Beyond

Television and film actor—and Pompton Plains resident for more than 30 years—Artie Pasquale talks luck, perseverance and gratitude.

BY DANIELLE CLEMENTS

“The Sopranos” is considered one of the best series in history. Was that role a highlight?

It was a great experience. I befriended David Chase [creator of “The Sopranos”] way back and would tell him stories about all the wise guys in Providence. As they say, the rest is history. I pinch myself knowing how lucky I was to be part of it.

You recently visited a very ill Sopranos fan suffering from ALS. Was that significant to you?

You never know what feeling you can bring to someone. If I could bring him a little encouragement, and “life,” so to speak, why shouldn’t I? I try to make time to give back—maybe that’s the way I was brought up.

You’ve remained friends with fellow Sopranos alums. Is that common?

Sometimes you develop friendships with the people you’re working with, and rarely, long-term relationships. Steven Van Zandt has a framed picture of the scene where he strangled me, (laughing) so he can see me every day.

Most gratifying role?

“I’ve been a mobster, a lawyer, a detective, a priest,” says Artie Pasquale, best known for his role as gangster Burt Gervasi in “The Sopranos.” Growing up in an Italian neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island, Pasquale was an athlete with a fascination for film. Since his work on “The Sopranos,” he has appeared in more than 70 films. A former high school teacher and coach, Pasquale holds a master’s degree in physical education and administration from New York University. Yet, it is crystal clear that acting is his passion.

It was a short play called “Mama’s Chair” by Vincent Pastore. Emotionally it was draining. With film, you do it two to three times to move cameras, change lighting. It’s a whole different world, theater.

You won two best supporting actor awards, IndieFEST Film Awards and Best Shorts Competition, for the film, “We Remember.”

That was probably one of my best performances: a dying father making amends with his son. I learned a lot from the director (John Gallagher). A lot of this business is learning to work with the styles of different writers and directors.