Michael Imperioli

Biography

Michael Imperioli (born March 26, 1966) is an American actor, writer, musician, and Buddhist practitioner, best known for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti on HBO’s The Sopranos. His multifaceted career spans film, television, literature, and music.

Early Life and Career

Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Imperioli hails from an Italian-American family. He began his acting career in the mid-1980s, appearing in films such as Lean on Me (1989) and Goodfellas (1990), where he played Spider. He continued to collaborate with director Spike Lee in films like Jungle Fever (1991), Clockers (1995), and Summer of Sam (1999), which he co-wrote.

Breakthrough and Television Roles

Imperioli’s breakout role came in 1999 when he joined The Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti, a complex character balancing aspirations of becoming a screenwriter with his life in organized crime. His performance earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004, along with multiple Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

Following The Sopranos, Imperioli appeared in various television series, including Law & Order (2005), Life on Mars (2008–2009), Detroit 1-8-7 (2010–2011), and Lucifer (2016–2017). In 2022, he portrayed Dominic Di Grasso in the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus, for which he received an Emmy nomination.

Film and Writing

Imperioli's filmography includes roles in The Basketball Diaries (1995), The Lovely Bones (2009), and One Night in Miami (2020). He co-wrote the screenplay for Summer of Sam and directed The Hungry Ghosts (2009), a film exploring themes of addiction and redemption.

Recent Projects

In 2024, Imperioli made his Broadway debut in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. Additionally, he serves as the narrator and executive producer of the History Channel docuseries American Godfathers: The Five Families, which delves into the history of New York City's Mafia families.