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Celebrate the life of Vinny Vella of Casino and The Sopranos fame with this book of his enduring legacy!

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Who's Better Than You! Vinny Vella Life Stories

Vinny Vella

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Celebrity Actor and Native New Yorker

Vinny appeared in over 100 movies, TV episodes, and commercials. Best known for his role as Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese's Casino, Vinny saw it all and delighted in telling everyone he encountered about his life, escapades, and acting career. Vinny in story after story in Who's Better Than You: Vinny Vella Life Stories regales the reader with the deeds and misdeeds of his life.

Vinny reveals meeting Frank Sinatra, wise guys, actors, and other celebrities. You will laugh to tears as he talks about his “twin brother”, mausoleum shopping, grade school problems, Rikers Island, San Gennaro Festival, Casino, an encounter with Hobo The Chimp,  lottery mishaps, his time in Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, King Tut’s ring, running numbers, and his family.

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The Mayor of Little Italy

Prodigious, talented, creative director Paul Stone shared with us "The Mayor of Little Italy" featuring Vinny which is Episode 1 of the documentary series The Last Days of Little Italy.


Paul Borghese

 

Actor, Director, and Producer honored us by contributing an inspirational introduction and gathered the wonderful testimonials for this book. He recalls, “The first movie I ever directed that Vinny had a lead in was Four Deadly Reasons.”

Here is an excerpt from his introduction.

"I remember Vinny falling asleep and snoring while they were filming on Sidney Lumet’s set when we worked on Find Me Guilty together. It was literally an almost dead silence courtroom moment when we all hear a rolling snore, and Sidney yelled, “CUT! – what the hell was that?!” And we all died laughing knowing it was Vinny. Even Sidney laughed. He also did that on another well-known Hollywood Director’s set whose name I won’t mention, but since he was only an extra on that one this particular crazy director kicked him off the set but not so much for that, but mostly because Vinny walked in on him in his personal bathroom while snorting coke, as a production assistant was doing something to him that she shouldn’t have been doing. At least that’s how the story goes."

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More Stars Praise Vinny!

Vinny's showbiz friends shared their favorite memories of him through heartfelt testimonials. From wild nights out to quiet moments of support, they all agree that Vinny a true friend always knew how to make them laugh. Their stories are a testament to the kind of person Vinny was and the impact he had on those around him. Click the arrow on the right of the quote below to scroll through the stars!

“I had been in touch with Vinny about the possibility of our working together and quite sadly, not so long before he passed away in 2019. Vinny was a life force whose extraordinary street and survival demeanor defined him both as a man but as well as an Actor. In Italian Theatre Vinny Vella is straight out of Commedia dell’Arte, a combination of Arlecchino and Pulcinella, and Un Vero Napolitano. He is a Lesson in the Improvisational Attitude that sustains the absurdity of our lives, and a reminder to laugh at ourselves, especially today when there’s little left to laugh about.”

- Armand Assante, Actor

About the Writer

Gary D. Morgan

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Vinny Vella and author Gary Morgan are seen here hanging on Elizabeth Street outside Albanese Meats & Poultry.

Gary D. Morgan thrived as an actor, director, producer, adjunct college professor, reporter, social worker/therapist, New York City civil servant.  He received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Gary is a loving husband, father, and grandfather. 

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