Michael Imperioli was born in Mount Vernon, New York on 26th March 1966. His work on film began in the late 80s - an early part that brought him recognition was in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, as Spider, a local kid who works for the gangsters and has a run-in with the psychopathic mob soldier played by Joe Pesci. He worked throughout the 90s in the New York independent film industry, especially as a regular in Spike Lee's movies, appearing in Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Clockers, Girl 6 and Summer of Sam, generally playing working-class Italian-Americans from the "outer boroughs." While rooted in the New York movie scene, Imperioli also worked in Hollywood in the mid-90s, in the formulaic movies Bad Boys and _Last Man Standing (1996)_ .

In 1999 Imperioli was cast in The Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti, a low-ranking soldier in the Soprano crime organization whose family connections to street boss Tony Soprano move him up the ladder in the organization. Imperioli's multi-layered portrayal of such an unappealing character is a real highlight of the series and earned him an Emmy and a SAG award.

Imperioli has long been active in the New York theater scene as well, having written, directed, produced or starred in numerous plays. He was a founder, along with Lili Taylor (his then-girlfriend and co-star in Household Saints) of the downtown theater company, Machine Full. He has also written several episodes of "The Sopranos" and was a writer on Lee's "Summer of Sam," which he also executive-produced.

Although most famous for his prominent part in "The Sopranos," Imperioli has worked on other television programs as well, including Law & Order, New York Undercover and NYPD Blue. He is married and has three children.


Has two children, David (b. 1997), and Vadim (b. 2001) with wife Victoria, and a stepdaughter, Isabella. Grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. Italian-American Although he often portrays violent Mafia characters, and has appeared in other violent movies and TV shows, he claims to despise on-screen violence. Studied acting at New York City's Stella Adler Conservatory.