I had no idea what they were saying in Italian as a child, they spoke too quickly on the radio. But I realized that language was very funny.

When I started really singing I was 17, 18 years old. I used to go around trying to be a singer in the Bronx. My knees would shake but I learned by doing.

For TV I don't think I could have gotten a better part than Uncle Junior because of the intimacy of the character based on David Chase's brilliant writing.

I've always wanted to play Don Quixote in some way. It's a great role. I think the idealism of the man shows that hope that we have in the human breast to achieve something.

I enjoyed my grandparents very much. My mother and father would always allow me to stay with them.

I don't like the way Uncle Junior dresses. He loves it.

I went to Brooklyn College and met this beautiful Jewish girl named Merle, with dark hair, exotic looking and brilliant. So we got married and had three children.