Read an oral history of The Sopranos' Vito Spatafore "Johnny Cakes" gay mobster storyline

Mel Magazine

The acclaimed HBO drama earned its only GLAAD nomination for Joe Gannascoli's portrayal of a closeted gay mobster, which the actor pitched after having read a about a real-life gay mobster named Vito. "The whole reason that I wanted to do this story was that I wanted to prove that I can act — to myself, really," says Gannascoli. "I’m sort of self-taught, I’m not really a trained actor. Originally I was a chef, and I still am, but I wasn’t a trained chef, I learned on the f*cking job, and this was the same thing. But playing a wise guy or a guy from the neighborhood wasn’t much of a stretch for me — I wanted to play something totally opposite of who I am." Gannascoli also reflected on John Costelloe, the actor who played his boyfriend, Jim "Johnny Cakes" Witowski. Costelloe committed suicide in 2008 at age 47. "Johnny was always, from what I knew about him, sort of dark," says Gannascoli. "I didn’t know him to that extent, but I knew he was an intense actor who was really well respected in the New York circle of actors." Ultimately, Gannascoli says he was really grateful for the role. "It was a good run — the 39 or 40 episodes I got to do," he says. "It changed my life. I met my wife, we have a great daughter, it got me a beautiful house on Long Island. Before that, I was living in a one-bedroom, rent-controlled apartment, smoking cigarettes, f*cking gambling, eating like an animal. So again, it changed my life — saved it even." ALSO: Watch The Sopranos cast's virtual reunion to benefit New York firefighters, which included a "Bada Bing Bada Zoom" cast reading and a cameo from The Russian.