“Sopranos” tough guy Joe Gannascoli, who played closeted gay mobster Vito Spatafore on the blockbuster HBO mob series, has been hit — by hard times! Once clad in pricey designer suits, the down-on-his-luck actor hocks pirated DVDs and pics at jacked-up prices to stunned New York tourists — out of the trunk of his car! “I’m hustling,” he exclusively admitted to a reporter for The National ENQUIRER, as he sold bootlegs at a whopping $60! Read on for details of Joe’s hustles, and click here for more news of celebrities going broke ….
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Despite reports the former wise guy was worth as much as $3 million, Joe — shown here at far right with fellow castmates at the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards — now shakes down customers along a “Sopranos Sites Tour” that visits familiar locations from the show!
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Photo credit: Files
“We walk around … and it is Joe selling photos, DVDs, license plates and other cheap junk that he will sign for you and sell at a ridiculous price,” said one customer — who paid $80 for three items and called it “an absolute rip-off.” Another warned to "ask in advance for the price of a signature/picture!"
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Photo credit: Files
"If Joe Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore) is lurking behind the tour bus beforehand selling bootleg junk out of his trunk... stay away," cautioned another experienced customer, who recommended that the tour company to stop "allowing him to hang around the tour bus trying to grift people!"
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Photo credit: Files
But this isn’t the first time Joe’s gotten negative reviews. Sources on the show said Joe turned off castmates with his constant self-promotion! “
James Gandolfini was very much a team player, and would only do interviews if it was to help someone in the ‘Sopranos’ family,” tattled our tipster.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
“But Joe was the opposite — he kept grandstanding, and it became a turnoff for James and [creator]
David Chase.” Worse yet, sources revealed Joe used
James’ 2013 death to promote himself through a series of interviews talking about their close friendship!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
“Joe wasn’t close to Jim,” an insider spilled. “They probably hadn’t spoken in seven years. But as soon as Jim died, there was Joe — grandstanding again!”
Despite reports the former wise guy was worth as much as $3 million, Joe — shown here at far right with fellow castmates at the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards — now shakes down customers along a “Sopranos Sites Tour” that visits familiar locations from the show!
Photo credit: Getty Images
“We walk around … and it is Joe selling photos, DVDs, license plates and other cheap junk that he will sign for you and sell at a ridiculous price,” said one customer — who paid $80 for three items and called it “an absolute rip-off.” Another warned to "ask in advance for the price of a signature/picture!"
"If Joe Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore) is lurking behind the tour bus beforehand selling bootleg junk out of his trunk... stay away," cautioned another experienced customer, who recommended that the tour company to stop "allowing him to hang around the tour bus trying to grift people!"
But this isn’t the first time Joe’s gotten negative reviews. Sources on the show said Joe turned off castmates with his constant self-promotion! “
James Gandolfini was very much a team player, and would only do interviews if it was to help someone in the ‘Sopranos’ family,” tattled our tipster.
“But Joe was the opposite — he kept grandstanding, and it became a turnoff for James and [creator]
David Chase.” Worse yet, sources revealed Joe used
James’ 2013 death to promote himself through a series of interviews talking about their close friendship!
Photo credit: Getty Images
“Joe wasn’t close to Jim,” an insider spilled. “They probably hadn’t spoken in seven years. But as soon as Jim died, there was Joe — grandstanding again!”
Photo credit: Getty Images