# Steve Schirripa
**Steve Schirripa** (Steven Ralph Schirripa, born 1957) is an American actor, producer, and national bestselling author best known for playing Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri on the HBO series *The Sopranos*. Born in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, he came to acting in middle age by way of a decade in Las Vegas hotel work, first as an entertainment director who booked performers such as the Wayans brothers, [Ellen DeGeneres](https://www.edgepedia.org/ellen-degeneres), and the Beach Boys, then as a bit-part player before landing the role that defined his career.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) • [2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Steven Ralph Schirripa, born 1957 in Brooklyn, New York[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/19756/steven-r-schirripa) |
| Defining role | Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri on *The Sopranos* (HBO), cast in 2000 and played for six seasons[2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html) |
| Pre-acting career | Entertainment director at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, booking acts such as the Wayans brothers, Ellen DeGeneres, and the Beach Boys[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) • [2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html) |
| Film debut | Martin Scorsese's *Casino* (1995), one line: "Joey, look out, look out"[2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html) |
| Books | Coauthor with Charles Fleming of the national bestsellers *A Goomba's Guide to Life* and *The Goomba's Book of Love*, plus *The Goomba Diet* and the *Nicky Deuce* children's books[4](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/57849/steven-r-schirripa/) |
| Podcast | *Talking Sopranos*, co-hosted with Michael Imperioli since 2020[5](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/holiday-touchdown-a-bills-love-story/cast/steve-schirripa) |
| Recognition | Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, 2008, Drama Ensemble, *The Sopranos*[6](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/nominee_histories_0.pdf) |
## Las Vegas years and entry into acting
After earning his degree from [Brooklyn College](https://www.edgepedia.org/brooklyn-college), Schirripa moved to Las Vegas, where he worked as entertainment director for the Riviera Hotel, a job he later described as giving him his first glimpse of show business.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) • [7](https://mynews4.com/news/entertainment/steve-schirripa-on-sopranos-legacy-why-he-has-a-soft-spot-for-las-vegas-in-his-career) His connections to comedians, many of whom filmed cable specials, led to uncredited bit parts, and his film debut came in Martin Scorsese's *[Casino](https://www.edgepedia.org/casino-1995-film)* (1995) as the bar patron [Joe Pesci](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-pesci) stabs with a pen; he delivered a single line on screen. He has said the brief appearance convinced him to pursue acting as a career.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/)
He then played heavies, bodyguards, and security personnel in films such as *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1998), and took small television parts on *Chicago Hope*, *The King of Queens*, and *Angel*, while continuing to work at the Riviera.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) • [8](https://www.boston.com/culture/celebs/2024/04/08/steve-schirripa-wants-to-live-in-rhode-islands-watch-hill-but-i-havent-done-that-well/) He described his situation at the time as a hotel executive dabbling in acting as a hobby.[8](https://www.boston.com/culture/celebs/2024/04/08/steve-schirripa-wants-to-live-in-rhode-islands-watch-hill-but-i-havent-done-that-well/)
## The Sopranos
**Casting.** While back in New York for a wedding, Schirripa auditioned for *The Sopranos*. He had auditioned for the role of an FBI agent; the casting directors did not see him in that part but considered him a fit for [Bobby Baccalieri](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-baccalieri). According to a 2012 account of his [University of Delaware](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-delaware) appearance, the show's casting director offered him a role in the first season and his agent told him not to take it; he landed the role in 2000 and called getting the job "hitting the lottery."[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) • [2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html) • [9](https://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/10873/udr_138_16.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1)
**The character.** Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri, brother-in-law to [James Gandolfini](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-gandolfini)'s Tony Soprano, began as a comic foil. The show's writers made him the Soprano crew's most devoted and tender-hearted figure: willing to do whatever physical work was needed, yet thin-skinned when it came to harsh words, and acting as [Junior Soprano](https://www.edgepedia.org/junior-soprano)'s ([Dominic Chianese](https://www.edgepedia.org/dominic-chianese)) right-hand man.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) Schirripa played the role for six seasons and never knew when Bobby might be killed off; he said he rented a house every year because he feared being written out.[2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html) The role earned him a shared Screen Actors Guild nomination for Drama Ensemble in 2008.[6](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/nominee_histories_0.pdf)
The part remains inseparable from his public identity. In a 2019 Esquire interview he said, "All over the world I'm Bobby Bacala. And I'm okay with that."[10](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25837745/steve-schirripa-bobby-bacala-interview/) With Michael Imperioli, he later co-wrote *Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos*, and in interviews the two have continued to discuss the show, including Gandolfini's difficulty carrying the role of Tony and a leak of plot details from the production.[11](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-sopranos-michael-imperioli-steve-schirripa-b2919914.html) • [12](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/james-gandolfinis-sopranos-co-star-gets-real-about-how-hard-to-play-tony-steve-schirripa) • [13](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/sopranos-star-confirms-leak-revealing-plot-details)
## Writing and business ventures
Schirripa's humor books, written with Charles Fleming, include the national bestsellers *A Goomba's Guide to Life* and *The Goomba's Book of Love*, and *The Goomba Diet: Large and Loving It*, which carried blurbs from James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, and [Tony Sirico](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-sirico) among other cast members.[4](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/57849/steven-r-schirripa/) • [10](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25837745/steve-schirripa-bobby-bacala-interview/) His children's book *Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family* was adapted into a Nickelodeon TV movie, *Nicky Deuce* (2013), in which he played Uncle Frankie alongside several former *Sopranos* castmates including [Michael Imperioli](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-imperioli), Vincent Curatola, and Tony Sirico.[14](https://ir.paramount.com/static-files/2e21f353-e3d3-414d-bb42-def3d7d2f2aa) He also started a sauce company, Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties.[10](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25837745/steve-schirripa-bobby-bacala-interview/) In 2026 he published a children's book with his dachshund WillieBoy, *WillieBoy Eats the World*.[15](https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2026/05/02/steve-schirripa-talks-his-new-kids-book-the-sopranos-and-more/)
## Television and podcasting after The Sopranos
While still on *The Sopranos*, Schirripa appeared in films such as *Joe Dirt* (2001), *High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story* (2003), and *Must Love Dogs* (2005), contributed film reviews to *The Showbiz Show with David Spade*, and appeared as a special correspondent, Steve the Judgmental Bastard, on *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) After the series, he hosted Spike TV's *Casino Cinema*, was executive producer of *Nothing Personal* on [Investigation Discovery](https://www.edgepedia.org/investigation-discovery), and had a recurring role on *The Secret Life of the American Teenager* (ABC Family, 2008 to 2013).[2](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html) • [4](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/57849/steven-r-schirripa/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/)
**Talking Sopranos.** In 2020 he debuted the podcast *Talking Sopranos* with co-host and fellow cast member Michael Imperioli, offering behind-the-scenes stories and discussion of the show's legacy.[5](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/holiday-touchdown-a-bills-love-story/cast/steve-schirripa)
**Recent work.** His screen credits after the series include [Woody Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/woody-allen)'s *[Wonder Wheel](https://www.edgepedia.org/wonder-wheel-film)* (2017), a voice role in *Planes: Fire & Rescue* (2014), and guest roles such as Vinny Valente on *Dexter: Resurrection* (2025) and Frank in the Hallmark movie *Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story* (2025).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/19756/steven-r-schirripa) In 2026 he and Imperioli were announced as stars of *UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob*, an iHeartPodcasts drama about the New York Mafia's activity after the fall of the Twin Towers.[16](https://nz.news.yahoo.com/sopranos-alums-michael-imperioli-steve-131328515.html) He has also appeared in a revival production of *Celebrity Autobiography* off Broadway.[17](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Steve-Schirripa/)
## References
1. [Steve Schirripa – Actor, Producer, Writer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/steve-schirripa/)
2. [Actor Steve Schirripa discusses experience in entertainment industry, UDaily (University of Delaware), February 15, 2012](https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2012/feb/schirripa-acting-021512.html)
3. [Steven R. Schirripa, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/19756/steven-r-schirripa)
4. [Steven R. Schirripa, Penguin Random House author page](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/57849/steven-r-schirripa/)
5. [Steve Schirripa as Frank in Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, Hallmark Channel](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/holiday-touchdown-a-bills-love-story/cast/steve-schirripa)
6. [Actor Awards nominee histories (2008 Drama Ensemble, Steven R. Schirripa)](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/nominee_histories_0.pdf)
7. [Steve Schirripa on 'Sopranos' legacy and his soft spot for Las Vegas, MyNews4](https://mynews4.com/news/entertainment/steve-schirripa-on-sopranos-legacy-why-he-has-a-soft-spot-for-las-vegas-in-his-career)
8. [Here's why Steve Schirripa has been in Rhode Island so much, Boston.com, April 8, 2024](https://www.boston.com/culture/celebs/2024/04/08/steve-schirripa-wants-to-live-in-rhode-islands-watch-hill-but-i-havent-done-that-well/)
9. [UD Review, February 14, 2012 (Steve Schirripa speaks about past on 'Sopranos')](https://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/10873/udr_138_16.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1)
10. [Steve Schirripa Will Always Be Bobby Bacala. But He Doesn't Mind., Esquire, January 10, 2019](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25837745/steve-schirripa-bobby-bacala-interview/)
11. [Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa interview, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-sopranos-michael-imperioli-steve-schirripa-b2919914.html)
12. ['He Had To Kill People.' James Gandolfini's Sopranos Co-Star Gets Real About How Hard It Was For Him To Play Tony, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/james-gandolfinis-sopranos-co-star-gets-real-about-how-hard-to-play-tony-steve-schirripa)
13. [Sopranos Star Confirms 'There Was A Leak' Revealing Plot Details, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/sopranos-star-confirms-leak-revealing-plot-details)
14. [The Sopranos Cast Reunites For Nickelodeon And MarVista Entertainment's Original Kids TV Movie Nicky Deuce, Paramount press release](https://ir.paramount.com/static-files/2e21f353-e3d3-414d-bb42-def3d7d2f2aa)
15. [Steve Schirripa talks his new kids book, 'The Sopranos,' and more, Boston.com, May 2, 2026](https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2026/05/02/steve-schirripa-talks-his-new-kids-book-the-sopranos-and-more/)
16. ['Sopranos' Alums Michael Imperioli & Steve Schirripa Reunite For 9/11 Mob Drama 'UnderGround Zero', Yahoo News](https://nz.news.yahoo.com/sopranos-alums-michael-imperioli-steve-131328515.html)
17. [Steve Schirripa, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Steve-Schirripa/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sc to Sl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license