Michael Imperioli

For six seasons, Michael Imperioli was an explosive fixture on HBO's critically acclaimed Mafia chronicle "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007), earning five Emmy nominations and one win for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Prior to making his mark on pop culture history with his finely drawn portrait of an Italian-American thug with suppressed artistic instincts, Imperioli was an active figure in the New York independent film scene of the 1990s. He was often seen in street-smart character roles for directors like Martin Scorsese, Hal Hartley and Spike Lee, with whom he also co-scripted and co-produced the crime feature, "Summer of Sam" (1999). Memorable for his ability to imbue a likeable quick wit into otherwise dark and dangerous characters, Imperioli also had significant talent off-camera, penning scripts for "The Sopranos," founding a New York theater company, and eventually writing and directing his own independent features.