Dive into the story of how the actor nearly missed his chance to be part of The Sopranos, a role that would become his ticket to TV immortality.
They say that luck is where preparation meets opportunity, but sometimes, even the most prepared can find themselves standing at a crossroads, ready to walk away from something that could change their lives forever. Michael Imperioli, the actor who played the unpredictable and ambitious Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos, knows this better than anyone.
It’s hard to believe that the show, which is often dubbed the greatest TV series of all time, almost lost one of its key players before it even started. But Imperioli was never one to blindly chase fame; he wanted something more.
What would have happened if he had chosen a different path? If, instead of embracing the role of a hot-headed, aspiring scriptwriter, Imperioli had walked away from the role that defined him? Well, the world of The Sopranos was not about to let him go that easily. And looking back, it’s clear that this was a decision that would become a part of television history.
When Michael Imperioli nearly said goodbye to The Sopranos
For most actors, a role in The Sopranos would be a dream come true. Yet, Michael Imperioli didn’t quite see it that way at first. It wasn’t some elaborate audition for a legendary director like Martin Scorsese, a man he’d already worked with in Goodfellas. In fact, Imperioli admitted he didn’t think much of the audition for The Sopranos—it wasn’t the kind of high-stakes role he thought would define his career.
It didn’t seem like I was impressing him [Chase] at all – but I didn’t really care. It wasn’t like I was auditioning for Scorsese.
His words almost sound like the humble musings of an actor who had already been there, done that, and was no longer impressed by the glamorous world of Hollywood. Yet, when The Sopranos creator David Chase called him back, offering him the role of Christopher Moltisanti, Imperioli had to give it a second thought.
That second thought turned into one of the most iconic roles in television history. But it wasn’t smooth sailing from the get-go. Imperioli’s first day on set was as chaotic as one of Christopher’s misadventures. Not only did he crash a car into a tree, but the $60,000 Lexus he drove off the set was a total write-off. To make matters worse, his co-star James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) was right there to witness the carnage.
“Boom! Right into one of the trees,” Imperioli remembered, adding
The airbags went off, Jim’s head snapped back, smoke everywhere.
Gandolfini found the whole thing hilarious.
Michael Imperioli’s journey from Goodfellas to The Sopranos
Before he ever stepped foot on the set of The Sopranos, Michael Imperioli was already rubbing shoulders with legends like Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci. He had a role in Goodfellas, playing the ill-fated bartender Spider. For Imperioli, it was a big break, but it wasn’t without its bumps.
While filming the iconic scene where he’s supposed to get shot, things went horribly wrong. The tiny blood packets he was supposed to detonate malfunctioned, causing Imperioli to smash into a tray of drinks and badly cut his fingers. Rushed to the hospital, doctors initially thought he was the victim of a real gunshot wound. But once they opened his shirt and saw the wires, they realized they had a Hollywood mishap on their hands.
“There I am—my finger being cut in the presence of Scorsese, De Niro, and Pesci! That’s me being made,” Imperioli said (via The Guardian). The symbolism wasn’t lost on him. He was officially part of the world of crime dramas, but it would be The Sopranos that would put him on the map as one of television’s most unforgettable characters.
In 2004, Imperioli was officially awarded the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti. The show, which became a cultural phenomenon, garnered 21 Emmys and countless accolades over its six seasons. Yet, even though the series wrapped in 2007, its impact is still felt today.
Despite his massive success, Imperioli didn’t shy away from his role as Christopher. “I think I am defined by The Sopranos,” he told The Guardian. Ergo, Michael Imperioli’s name will always be synonymous with this dark, unforgettable drama that defined a generation of TV lovers.
