The Rhode Island homeowner talks about working with Donnie Wahlberg on “Blue Bloods,” the “Sopranos” cast’s last wild night in New England, and more.
Steve Schirripa is a real one.
Down-to-earth, friendly and candid, Schirripa very much feels like what he calls himself: “a blue-collar guy.”
When I call him for an interview, he asks about me before I can ask about him: “So how’s work been? Looks like you’ve been getting some great interviews lately.” That’s peak Schirripa.
I first interviewed “The Sopranos” alum a year ago to ask about his love of the Ocean State. As a Rhode Islander, and fan of both “The Sopranos” and Willieboy (his Insta-famous pup), I loved that he was so often posting to Instagram and Facebook about trips to the Ocean State. I had to know: What was it about us?
“The beach towns are nice, am I right? Just beautiful, man. I like the people. I just want peace,” he told me at the time. He then went on to ask about my lack of Rhode Island accent. Casually snacked on an egg. Told me about almost becoming a gym teacher.
Since then, the native New Yorker has visited New England a few more times — including for “Talking Sopranos” events with “Sopranos” co-stars Michael Imperioli and Vinnie Pastore, and stops for a meatball fix at his buddy Jerry Longo’s Longo Ristorante Pizzeria in Westerly. Now, he’s finally a New England homeowner.
“I proudly have my Rhode Island driver’s license,” Schirripa tells me in our recent interview from his New York home. “We don’t know much about the state yet, still exploring.”
(Hmm. Note to self: a “Fear and Loathing in New England”-type story where I drive Schirripa and Willieboy around to some essential local spots, and no, not just all Dunkin’s, wise guy.)
For now, I called him at his New York home for a wide-ranging interview, ostensibly to talk about his gig hosting the long-sold-out Soupy Fest II in Westerly, R.I. this past weekend.
Soppressata is a type of dry cured Italian sausage that’s apparently slightly different from the distinctive “soupy” associated with Westerly. (As one RI Reddit commenter put it: “Two kinda people in Westerly, those who make soupy and those who buy it.”)
If you’re looking to learn more, soupy is now the subject of a new feature-length documentary, “Westerly’s Gold: Sweet, Spicy, And Full of Tradition” from Chris Walsh and Betty-Jo Cugini, playing at the town’s United Theatre. Schirripa is in the film footage, from hosting last year’s Soupy Fest I, he tells me.
You can also catch him in Massachusetts soon. Although it’s not yet posted, mark your calendars: Schirripa tells me he’ll be at the Brockton Rox baseball game June 21 for a “Sopranos Night” Q&A — with Willieboy.
Here, we talked his upcoming role on “Dexter,” working with Donnie Wahlberg on CBS hit “Blue Bloods,” Willieboy’s short-lived acting career, Schirripa’s on-screen reunion with Imperioli, Tracy Morgan’s Knicks game fiasco, a wild night in New England with “The Sopranos” cast, and more.
Boston.com: So you hosted Soupy Fest again. Soupy is a big deal in Westerly.
Steve Schirripa: Listen, I’m not joking, they sold out in, like, in 60 seconds. Now there’s a movie out, “Westerly’s Gold.” They love soupy. It’s just incredible, man. They’re very proud of it, and they should be.
What makes soupy unique to Westerly?
They have this tradition from Calabria, Italy, and it continues on. There’s a lot of Calabrese people in Westerly. They’ve been making soupy for generations. I gotta be honest, I’ve been eating soppressata my whole life, since I’m a baby — the kind you buy in an Italian deli — but I’ve never seen a passion like this. It’s pretty amazing.
I guess [you could liken it to] apple pies down south. Each family has their recipe, they’re very into it, they work all year on it. They said houses have soupy rooms — rocks on the floor, hooks to cure the things — I swear to God. It’s a whole thing.
Can you taste the difference between Westerly soupy versus deli-bought?
Yeah, it’s a little different. Each one is different because it’s a family’s recipe. Maybe it’s cured differently.
They’re billing this as “a new annual tradition.” Will you host next year?
If they want me. I’m a fan of it. It’s a fun thing.
You’re also in “Dexter: Resurrection” out soon.
I did one episode so far — we shot it up in Yonkers— and I’m doing another soon. I play a sleazy landlord named Vinny. That’s about all I can tell you. I had a scene with the son, Harrison [Jack Alcott], a very nice kid. I have a couple scenes with some of the original cast. It’s a great cast this year: Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage [plus Neil Patrick Harris, John Lithgow, Jimmy Smits, Eric Stonestreet and more, according to IMDB] — it’s stacked.
How did that work, they reached out to you?
Yeah, they called my agent and asked if I’d do some episodes. I said sure. I also did the Hallmark movie.
Right, “Sisterhood, Inc.” aired in February. How’d you like that?
It was fun. I liked the cast. Hallmark has their own [big fanbase]. I think like 1.3 million watched. I enjoyed it.
What else are you working on?
I’m kind of at the point, Lauren, where if it’s not really good, I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to do any crap.
But I got a big commercial — me and Michael Imperioli for San Pellegrino. They have this flavored water made in Italy, Ciao. It’s pretty funny. We’re trying to give it away to people, and they mistake Michael and Steve for Bobby and Christopher. Everywhere we go, people run away. They’re scared. [chuckles] It’s very clever, very funny.
I also saw you in a dog food ad for Freshpet. When I saw it, I thought, “Oh, man, they should’ve used Willieboy.”
Well, that’s what the plan was, I think. But Willie only does what Willie wants [laughs]. They needed a trainer, a double. So they went with professional actors.
[laughs] But Willie took some stills. I’ve had thousands of people online ask me why they didn’t use Willie.
I bet. So you and Willieboy were just at Longo’s again. You’ve told me before it’s the best meatball you’ve ever had. I’ll say it again: the best meatball I’ve ever had. I’ve had people walk up to me on the street here [in New York] about it: “You never tasted my meatballs.” I was waiting to cross a street and this woman came up: “My brother owns a restaurant down the street. He makes good meatballs.” I said, “Well, this is in Rhode Island.” She was, like, mad.
[laughs] Amazing. I’m wondering what makes them so good. What’s Jerry’s secret?
I don’t know. I don’t ask. I just eat them. They’re soft. They’re fresh. His sauce is terrific.
You’ve known Jerry since “The Sopranos.”
I’ve known Jerry over 25 years. He’s a very dear friend; he’s had different restaurants. He used to be a host at Foxwoods [Resort Casino in Connecticut]. When Jim Gandolfini was alive, we used to go there quite often. Myself and Lorraine Bracco, Michael, Stevie Van Zandt and Jim. W e were there the night before the “Sopranos” finale.
I didn’t know that. Tell me about that night.
So Jim and I were in Atlantic City the night before that with Jerry. We took a little crappy tiny four-seater to New England. I was drinking warm tequila at 10 a.m. because I was a nervous wreck. We take this four-seater to Foxwoods, did an event. The rest of the cast joined us — Stevie [Van Zandt], Arthur Nascarella, Lorraine Bracco and John Ventimiglia. We were up all night. They were in my room playing cards — I was trying to sleep. The next morning we flew to Florida for the finale.
I love that. I know you’re still tight with Michael and Vinnie, from your live shows. You’re still in touch with Dominic Chianese, who played Uncle Junior.
Oh, yeah, he just called me from London. He’s 94. He was here last year. We had lunch.
What about “Blue Bloods,” which just ended. Are you still tight with that cast?
We were all friendly but never hung out. Everybody has families. We’re older. It’s not like “The Sopranos” days — we were younger, everybody was out running around every night. I don’t do that anymore. With “The Sopranos,” we’d get off set at 2 a.m., it was like, “Come on, let’s go out, [bars] don’t close til 4 a.m.” Then it’s “I know another place.” Now it’s 6 a.m. It was like that.
Oh wow. I don’t think I’ve done that since I was in my 20s.
[laughs] Yeah, “Blue Bloods,” we were a little bit more mature.
[laughs] Everyone got along great. Very respectful, very nice cast. But most of us went home after work.
You told me once that Donnie Wahlberg would give the cast and crew New Kids on the Block tickets.
Donnie’s very generous, man. You’d get an email, he invites you to any show you want to go to in the country, any city, he’d give you two tickets. Extremely generous. Donnie’s a terrific guy. He’d buy the whole cast and crew — you’re talking 150 people— he’d buy Taco Bell for everyone. The crew loved him.
[laughs] That’s awesome. He’s doing the spin-off, “Boston Blue.”
He’s the right guy to do that. I’m happy for him.
Would you make a cameo on the show?
If they ask me, I’d love to.
I gotta ask: You were at the Knicks game when Tracy Morgan got sick with food poisoning recently.
[chuckles] Yeah. I’ve known Tracy for 35 years. Tracy never stops talking. He’s a beautiful, funny guy. I could tell he wasn’t feeling well. I asked him a few times, “You okay?” Because he was quiet. Then that happened.
I’m such a fan of his. He just seems like such a great guy.
Funny, good guy. Big Knicks fan. He’s beloved. I just happened to be sitting a couple seats over. I was worried about him. I said to the ref, “See? Your refereeing is making Tracy sick.”
[laughs] That’s good.
[laughs] The ref didn’t think it was too funny.Interview has been edited and condensed.
Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer and regular Boston.com contributor. She can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.
