Russell (R): I'm here with my good friend Paul Sorvino, star of Goodfellas and this one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where he plays Worf's brother. Paul, its great to have you here in my bed.
Paul Sorvino (PS): I'm an American actor. I am the father of actress Mira Sorvino. My film roles include Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas (1990).
R: That's great Paul. Now tell me a little something about yourself while I lay here with my eyes closed and breathe heavily while trying to not be nauseous.
PS: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Italian American parents Marietta, a homemaker and piano teacher, and Ford Sorvino, a robe factory foreman. I attended Lafayette High School and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
I began my career as a copywriter in an advertising agency, where I worked with John Margeotes, founder of Margeotes, Fertitta, and Weiss. I took 18 years of voice lessons. While attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, I decided to go into the theatre. I made my Broadway debut in the 1964 musical Bajour, and six years later I appeared in my first film, Where's Poppa?
I received an avalanche of critical praise for my performance as Phil Romano in Jason Miller's 1972 Broadway play That Championship Season, a role I repeated in the 1982 TCS film version. In a 1974 ABC Movie of the Week, I played Harry Walter, a stout, real estate salesman, who is randomly picked up by a beautiful woman (JoAnna Cameron) and raped at gunpoint as a prank, and left to explain to his friend (Adam Arkin) and wife (Michael Learned) how "It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy", a movie considered risqué, even for the '70's. I also appeared in the 1976 Elliott Gould/Diane Keaton vehicle I Will, I Will...For Now. I have starred in the weekly series We'll Get By (1975, as George Platt), Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (1976, in the title role) and "The Oldest Rookie" (1987, as Detective Ike Porter). I appeared in Larry Cohen's 1985 science fiction horror film The Stuff as a reclusive militia leader, alongside my future Law & Order co-star Michael Moriarty. I helped found the American Stage Company, a group that launched several successful Off-Broadway shows, while living in Tenafly, New Jersey in 1986.
R: Wow, New Jersey and raped...sounds like a pretty great life. Paul, can you turn off that goddamn light, it's killing me. What else have you done in your long and storied career?
PS: In 1991, I took over from George Dzundza on the popular series Law & Order, and in 1993 I subbed for the late Raymond Burr in a Perry Mason TV movie. I have also appeared as Bruce Willis' father in the weekly series Moonlighting, and the "Lamont" counterpart in the never-aired original pilot for Sanford and Son. Some of my most notable film roles were Paul Cicero in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990) and Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone's Nixon (1995). I founded the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation, with the goal of building asthma centers for children and adults across the United States. In 1999, friend Jason Miller wrote the screenplay as I directed and again starred in (albeit playing a different role) a lower-budget TV version of That Championship Season.
From 2000 to 2002, I had a starring role as Frank DeLucca in the CBS television drama That's Life. I am filming The Trouble with Cali in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania. I am directing and starring in the film which is partially funded by Lackawanna County, where the city of Scranton is the county seat. My daughter, Mira, also stars in the film. I co-ventured with Peter Margo, the founder of Palmer Video, to form CareFromAll.org to raise funds for my charity.
R: No kidding? I have barely heard of two of those projects!! And Mira Sorvino, your daughter, is totally bangable. I think we can both agree it'd be great to have her here in my bed. Hahahah, I know Paul... What's going on in your personal life, Paul?
PS: I live between Los Angeles and Gilbert, Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains. I am married to Lorraine Davis, a drama therapist for Alzheimer's patients and have three children: Mira, Michael, and Amanda.
On January 17, 2007, news reports detailed that I displayed a gun in front of my daughter Amanda's ex-boyfriend, Daniel Snee, after the man pounded on her hotel door and made threats. Amanda testified Snee threatened to kill her at a hotel January 3 in Stowe, Vermont; she said she locked herself in the bathroom and called both police and her father. Her 67-year-old father showed up before police, she testified. When police arrived, the young man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, she said. As a deputy sheriff in Pennsylvania, I am legally able to carry a gun in different states. I did not point the gun at Snee, or threaten him.
In March 2008, I and my daughter Amanda lobbied with the Americans Against Horse Slaughter in Washington, DC for Congress and the Senate to Pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S311/HR503). We run a private horse rescue in Gilbert, Pennsylvania.
I am also an accomplished sculptor, specializing in cast bronze.In December 2008 my sculpture of his friend the late Jason Miller was unveiled in Scranton Pa. In addition, I guest star on the most recent album of Neapolitan singer Eddy Napoli, "Napulitanata," performing a duet of the song "Luna Rossa."
R: Wow! You really keep busy, with your horses and sculpting and acting and what not. I'm impressed. Paul, I'm thinking about going to get one of those deli pizzas you cook yourself. They have delicious pepperonis and the crust can get crispy like I like it. I know you know about pizzas Paul. You are a portly fella!
Paul, You have some controversy concerning your film you were making in Pennsylvania. Tell us about it. And stop yelling. Jesus Christ......
PS: In 2005, was given $500,000 of taxpayer money to film a movie in Scranton, Pennsylvania by then Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert Cordaro. The Trouble with Cali began filming in the January 2005 and ended in late February 2005. I claimed I would only need $250,000 to complete the project, but several months later asked for an additional $250,000 of tax payer funds. As of May 2009, the film has not been released, more than three years later, and I have not said when, or if, the film might be made available.
The current County Commissioners, Mike Washo and Corey O'Brien, have repeatedly asked to speak with me about the film - when it will be released, and how they can get a return on their half million dollar investment. They have also asked for a detailed budget that explains where the $500,000 went. I refuse to make myself available to explain the status of the film. A partial budget was sent to the Commissioners by mail which showed that the bulk of the money was spent on catering and other non-essential items, and it is important to note that not all of the $500,000 was accounted for. I was then quoted in The Scranton Times saying that films take time, and I could probably complete the movie if I were given another $250,000.
Commissioner Cordaro did not require a completion bond when he handed over the half million dollars, so it is unlikely the current Commissioners will be able to recoup the money. There has been [public outrage] over the matter in Scranton, as the city and the county are in financial debt, and many local filmmakers were not given the time of day by the Commissioners. One Scranton based director put it simply: "Paul Sorvino has killed film in Northeastern Pennsylvania." As for me, I recently sold my Pennsylvania summer home.
R: Holy crap, Paul! That's a pretty shitty thing to do. But it wasn't my tax dollars, nor do I care what you do with your free time. Plus you came to my bed this Sunday morning, so you're a good egg in my book!!
Ok, Paul, I've got to roll over and take a nap to try to forget that I am alive. On your way out could you bring me some aleve and a glass of water. Some ice, but not too much. Thanks, Paul. Paul Sorvino everyone!!!!
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