Michael Rispoli (born November 27, 1960) 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 1 2 3. Rispoli was a contender for the role of Tony Soprano that ultimately went to Gandolfini.Rispoli, a second-generation Italian American, was born in Tappan, New York, one of eight children.