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Carlo Imperato Looking Forward To Different Types Of Roles
Carlo Imperato Looking Forward To Different Types Of Roles
July 31, 1987|By DIANA AITCHISON, Staff Writer
July 31, 1987|By DIANA AITCHISON, Staff Writer
So far, Carlo Imperato, at age 23, has had some breaks.
So far, Carlo Imperato, at age 23, has had some breaks.
At 13, he landed a role in the Broadway play Runaways and at 17, he started a six-year run as Danny Amatullo in the hit TV series Fame.
At 13, he landed a role in the Broadway play Runaways and at 17, he started a six-year run as Danny Amatullo in the hit TV series Fame.
Now, about 300 TV episodes later, he`s back on the stage.
Now, about 300 TV episodes later, he`s back on the stage.
Starring in the Fort Lauderale Players production of West Side Story, Imperato is the traditional guest celebrity of the last play of the 1986-87 season.
Starring in the Fort Lauderale Players production of West Side Story, Imperato is the traditional guest celebrity of the last play of the 1986-87 season.
``Now that Fame is over and we`re off the air, I want to play all bits of work -- as long as it`s good,`` Imperato said during an interview at the Banyan Yacht and Dining Club in Fort Lauderdale. ``I want to expand musically, theatrically and professionally.
``Now that Fame is over and we`re off the air, I want to play all bits of work -- as long as it`s good,`` Imperato said during an interview at the Banyan Yacht and Dining Club in Fort Lauderdale. ``I want to expand musically, theatrically and professionally.
``When I heard about West Side Story I thought it would be fun. As Danny I acted, sang, danced and was a comic. This part allows me to stretch.``
``When I heard about West Side Story I thought it would be fun. As Danny I acted, sang, danced and was a comic. This part allows me to stretch.``
Changing from the comedic Danny in Fame to West Side Story`s troubled tough- guy, Tony, Imperato`s past comes into play, and he has an edge.
Changing from the comedic Danny in Fame to West Side Story`s troubled tough- guy, Tony, Imperato`s past comes into play, and he has an edge.
``In the neighborhood where I grew up they were tough. We were blood -- goombahs,`` he says of his Bronx roots.
``In the neighborhood where I grew up they were tough. We were blood -- goombahs,`` he says of his Bronx roots.
``We didn`t walk around with knives or anything like that, but we didn`t just let something happen to somebody. If you took something from somebody you paid for it.``
``We didn`t walk around with knives or anything like that, but we didn`t just let something happen to somebody. If you took something from somebody you paid for it.``
One of the challenges he faces in this production is another role -- that of the out-of-towner stepping onto a foreign stage.
One of the challenges he faces in this production is another role -- that of the out-of-towner stepping onto a foreign stage.
He`s playing this role as the benevolent actor that wins favor -- not a big- headed Hollywood star.
He`s playing this role as the benevolent actor that wins favor -- not a big- headed Hollywood star.
``I`m just like anybody else,`` he says candidly, his hair wet with styling gel. ``I`m a regular guy. People naturally think that because I`m on the show I`m conceited. I`m not. I got where I am because I worked for it, not because someone handed it over.
``I`m just like anybody else,`` he says candidly, his hair wet with styling gel. ``I`m a regular guy. People naturally think that because I`m on the show I`m conceited. I`m not. I got where I am because I worked for it, not because someone handed it over.
``You see this script?`` he says, removing a weathered 1-inch-thick book from a gym bag. ``I sleep with this thing.``
``You see this script?`` he says, removing a weathered 1-inch-thick book from a gym bag. ``I sleep with this thing.``
Imperato is dedicated to the script. That`s partly because he is a professional, says co-star Joanna Ran, but mostly because he owes it to the cast, which was in rehearsals for seven weeks before he dropped in for his 10- day run.
Imperato is dedicated to the script. That`s partly because he is a professional, says co-star Joanna Ran, but mostly because he owes it to the cast, which was in rehearsals for seven weeks before he dropped in for his 10- day run.
``I had to prove myself to the cast,`` he says. ``I didn`t want anybody saying `here comes the new guy.`
``I had to prove myself to the cast,`` he says. ``I didn`t want anybody saying `here comes the new guy.`
``Yeah, I`m nervous. But I can turn nervous enery energy into productive energy.``
``Yeah, I`m nervous. But I can turn nervous enery energy into productive energy.``
It was that ability that stabilized him during auditions for Fame.
It was that ability that stabilized him during auditions for Fame.
During a cattle call of about 2,500 hopefuls in a New York studio, he waited -- and waited. Finally, it was narrowed down to two candidates.
During a cattle call of about 2,500 hopefuls in a New York studio, he waited -- and waited. Finally, it was narrowed down to two candidates.
Then to one -- Imperato.
Then to one -- Imperato.
``I knew I`d get it because I didn`t want it,`` he says.
``I knew I`d get it because I didn`t want it,`` he says.
The transition from the streets of the Bronx to the opulence of Hollywood wasn`t a snap, however.
The transition from the streets of the Bronx to the opulence of Hollywood wasn`t a snap, however.
``There I was in this Beverly Hills suite looking out the window at Rolls- Royces, Lamborghinis, limousines. I was scared to death -- I was only 17.
``There I was in this Beverly Hills suite looking out the window at Rolls- Royces, Lamborghinis, limousines. I was scared to death -- I was only 17.
``I called my mom. She said to read my lines as best I could; I planned to louse it up just so I could go home.``
``I called my mom. She said to read my lines as best I could; I planned to louse it up just so I could go home.``
But when they called Imperato in for the audition his adrenaline rush was so intense, he could have recited Mary Had a Little Lamb and still walked out with the part.
But when they called Imperato in for the audition his adrenaline rush was so intense, he could have recited Mary Had a Little Lamb and still walked out with the part.
MARIA EXCITES RANDO, a soprano who earlier this year played Angelina in the Fort Lauderdale Players` Gilbert and Sullivan light opera Trial By Jury, plays opposite Imperato as Maria in this modern musical version of Romeo and Juliet, set in New York`s Puerto Rican ghetto.
MARIA EXCITES RANDO, a soprano who earlier this year played Angelina in the Fort Lauderdale Players` Gilbert and Sullivan light opera Trial By Jury, plays opposite Imperato as Maria in this modern musical version of Romeo and Juliet, set in New York`s Puerto Rican ghetto.
Rando says she is not as nervous as she is excited about opening night.
Rando says she is not as nervous as she is excited about opening night.
``We were three weeks into rehearsal when I found out I would be working with Carlo,`` she says. ``I was so excited, especially because I am a Fame fan. Not only that, I knew that Carlo could play the part because he was Tony.
``We were three weeks into rehearsal when I found out I would be working with Carlo,`` she says. ``I was so excited, especially because I am a Fame fan. Not only that, I knew that Carlo could play the part because he was Tony.
``Whenever the part for Tony is cast, they always look for a wonderful singer. Consequently, they don`t try for someone who comes off as macho as he should. The person to play Tony needs to be tough. Carlo has that background.``
``Whenever the part for Tony is cast, they always look for a wonderful singer. Consequently, they don`t try for someone who comes off as macho as he should. The person to play Tony needs to be tough. Carlo has that background.``
When asked if she would kiss the Fame star in the play, Rando, 23, replies, ``Yes, many, many, many, many times!``
When asked if she would kiss the Fame star in the play, Rando, 23, replies, ``Yes, many, many, many, many times!``
In person, Imperato looks much like a cross beween an unshaven Don Johnson and a young Robert DeNiro.
In person, Imperato looks much like a cross beween an unshaven Don Johnson and a young Robert DeNiro.
In fact, Imperato was asked to play a younger version of DeNiro`s character in the film Once Upon a Time in America. But he was snagged by contract responsibilities to Fame.
In fact, Imperato was asked to play a younger version of DeNiro`s character in the film Once Upon a Time in America. But he was snagged by contract responsibilities to Fame.
``That was disappointing,`` Imperato says. ``DeNiro is my idol.`` Idol worship is something Imperato knows about.
``That was disappointing,`` Imperato says. ``DeNiro is my idol.`` Idol worship is something Imperato knows about.
A girl from Connecticut was so taken by Imperato`s role on Fame that she quit her job, sold her car and belongings, and bought a plane ticket to Los Angeles. She showed up on the set of Fame.
A girl from Connecticut was so taken by Imperato`s role on Fame that she quit her job, sold her car and belongings, and bought a plane ticket to Los Angeles. She showed up on the set of Fame.
``She says, `Hello Carlo, I love you.` It was kind of like Play Misty for Me,`` Imperato recalled. ``I can`t imagine how someone you don`t even know loves you; thank God she had a round-trip ticket.``
``She says, `Hello Carlo, I love you.` It was kind of like Play Misty for Me,`` Imperato recalled. ``I can`t imagine how someone you don`t even know loves you; thank God she had a round-trip ticket.``
Another girl found Imperato`s Bronx neighborhood listed in a teen magazine. She tracked him down and showed up at his parents` doorstep.
Another girl found Imperato`s Bronx neighborhood listed in a teen magazine. She tracked him down and showed up at his parents` doorstep.
``You know what happened -- this shows you the kind of people my parents are -- my father asked her in for breakfast!`` he exclaims. ``I was upstairs sleeping and they were downstairs eating breakfast.``
``You know what happened -- this shows you the kind of people my parents are -- my father asked her in for breakfast!`` he exclaims. ``I was upstairs sleeping and they were downstairs eating breakfast.``
The only son in an Italian family (his real name is Anthony), Imperato is a hand-flagging, high-spirited, good Catholic boy. And says he hasn`t changed much since high school.
The only son in an Italian family (his real name is Anthony), Imperato is a hand-flagging, high-spirited, good Catholic boy. And says he hasn`t changed much since high school.
He still plays baseball (in a celebrity league with Happy Days star Donny Most), has invested his money, is part-owner of a chain of gyms and regularly counts his blessings.
He still plays baseball (in a celebrity league with Happy Days star Donny Most), has invested his money, is part-owner of a chain of gyms and regularly counts his blessings.
It has been many years since he was last on the sandy beaches of South Florida. As a boy he visited his grandparents in Miami, and later visited his sister Lisa Ferrar and her husband, Frankie, when they lived in Pompano Beach.
It has been many years since he was last on the sandy beaches of South Florida. As a boy he visited his grandparents in Miami, and later visited his sister Lisa Ferrar and her husband, Frankie, when they lived in Pompano Beach.
He`s committed to his career, and says he won`t be out nightclubbing while in Fort Lauderdale -- even on his birthay, Aug. 3. Rehearsals with the West Side Story cast last seven hours a day. The rest of the time, Imperato practices his lines in his hotel room.
He`s committed to his career, and says he won`t be out nightclubbing while in Fort Lauderdale -- even on his birthay, Aug. 3. Rehearsals with the West Side Story cast last seven hours a day. The rest of the time, Imperato practices his lines in his hotel room.
After a successful six-year run on television -- more than most Hollywood actors get during a career lifetime -- Imperato feels lucky.
After a successful six-year run on television -- more than most Hollywood actors get during a career lifetime -- Imperato feels lucky.
On April 14, when the cast of Fame shot the last scene, it marked the end and the beginning.
On April 14, when the cast of Fame shot the last scene, it marked the end and the beginning.
``We finished the shoot and stopped. All of a sudden it hit us. They said it was a print. We looked at the director. The crew looked at us. Everybody looked at everybody. They didn`t even say it was a wrap. Then everybody started crying and hugging,`` he says. ``They were my family.``
``We finished the shoot and stopped. All of a sudden it hit us. They said it was a print. We looked at the director. The crew looked at us. Everybody looked at everybody. They didn`t even say it was a wrap. Then everybody started crying and hugging,`` he says. ``They were my family.``
When asked about future plans, Imperato snaps to attention and says quickly, ``I`m doing West Side Story. Who knows after that.``
When asked about future plans, Imperato snaps to attention and says quickly, ``I`m doing West Side Story. Who knows after that.``
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