Michael Rispoli Michael Rispoli Michael Rispoli is an American character actor. He was in the cast of the HBO television series "The Sopranos" as Jackie Aprile, Sr. Rispoli reunited with "Sopranos" co-star James Gandolfini in the 2009 thriller "The Taking of Pelham 123". Rispoli was a contender for the role of Tony Soprano that ultimately went to Gandolfini. Rispoli, a second-generation Italian American, was raised in Tappan, New York, one of eight children, and attended Tappan Zee High School, where he played football. He majored in theater at State University of New York at Plattsburgh and graduated in 1982. The feature film
Big Girls Don't Cry (The Sopranos) Big Girls Don't Cry (The Sopranos) "Big Girls Don't Cry" is the eighteenth episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and is the fifth of the show's second season. It was written by Terence Winter, directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on February 13, 2000. "* = credit only" With Furio Giunta now working as a soldier with the Soprano crime family, Tony elevates Paulie and Silvio to "capo" and "consigliere" respectively. While dining at Nuovo Vesuvio, Tony asks Artie to hire Furio as a mozzarella-maker. Artie tells Tony that the kitchen is already fully occupied and