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Federico Castelluccio is a dedicated and talented professional balancing careers as an artist, actor, and director. Born in Naples, Italy, he relocated with his family to Paterson, New Jersey, in 1968. In 1982, he received a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he earned a BFA in painting and media arts.
Federico began his acting studies in New York City under notable instructors such as Donald Buka, Molly McCarthy, and Charlie Laughton. He performed with various repertory companies in New York, engaging in classic, contemporary, and original plays. His experience includes numerous off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway productions, regional theatre, and Shakespeare festivals.
Early in his career, while performing in John Patrick Shanley’s "Savage in Limbo," Federico was approached by agents from Barry-Haft-Brown who offered representation. Soon after signing, he began booking TV shows, films, and commercials. Some of his initial roles included appearances on "As The World Turns," "The Guiding Light," and "Another World."
After nearly twelve years of persistent effort, Federico auditioned for the HBO series The Sopranos. Initially, in season one, he auditioned for the role of Johnny Sack. By season two, at the show's peak popularity, he was cast as Furio Giunta after a series of auditions with casting directors, creator David Chase, producers, and a screen test with James Gandolfini. His portrayal of Furio, blending old-world Neapolitan charm with a ruthless edge, created a complex and beloved character that resonated worldwide.
Due to Federico’s convincing Italian accent on The Sopranos, many in Hollywood and the industry believed he was an Italian actor with limited English. This misperception limited the variety of roles available to him. Consequently, Federico worked to reintroduce himself by meeting with casting directors, producers, and agents, demonstrating his versatility by taking roles with different accents as well as his natural American English voice.
In addition to acting, Castelluccio has made significant contributions as a writer, director, and producer. His 2016 directorial debut, "The Brooklyn Banker," written by Michael Ricigliano and starring Troy Garity, David Proval, Paul Sorvino, and Arthur Nascarella, is based on the award-winning short film "Lily of the Feast." Other films he wrote and directed include the shorts "Keep Your Enemies Closer," starring Peter Greene, William Sadler, and Manny Perez; "Forget Me Not," featuring Yvonne Maria Schaefer and Peter Greene; and the award-winning "Tracks of Color," starring Manny Perez, Elizabeth Rodriguez, and David Castro.
Federico’s acting career began in 1986. His film credits include "Made" (2001) with Jon Favreau, "Fire" (1996) with Robert Klein, and "Diary of a Hitman" (1991) with Danny Aiello. On television, he appeared in "NYPD Blue" (1993). He was part of the Sundance Film Festival debut "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" (2006), which won awards for best dramatic directing and best dramatic ensemble, featuring Robert Downey Jr., Chazz Palminteri, and Rosario Dawson. Other recent projects include the biographical "El Cantante" (2006) starring Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez; "Aftermath" (2002), a crime thriller starring Anthony Michael Hall and Chris Penn; "Dark Illness" (1990), a short film he executive-produced and acted in; "Capers" (2008), a comedy starring Danny Masterson; and "Lucky Days" (2006), filmed in New York City. On television, he starred in "Dragon Dynasty" (2006), which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel.
His recent acting credits include "Toy Gun," directed by Marco Serafini; "Exit 0," directed by E. B. Hughes; and "Sarah Q.," directed by John Gallagher. He was set to film the feature "The Fifth Borough" in fall 2018.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Federico Castelluccio is an internationally acclaimed realist painter, art collector, and connoisseur of old master Baroque painting. Born in Naples, Italy, he moved to the United States in 1968. From a young age, Federico exhibited talent and a natural aptitude for drawing and painting, committing early on to a career in art. In 1982, he was awarded a full presidential scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he earned a BFA in painting and media arts. At 17, before starting at SVA, he painted a portrait of veteran actor George Burns, who was impressed by Federico’s ability to capture his likeness. Burns helped advance Federico’s career by introducing him to executives at PBS, NBC, and ABC, who subsequently commissioned him to create paintings and illustrations for their programs and publications.
Castelluccio has received numerous awards for his paintings and has appeared on national talk shows and radio programs discussing his art. His work has been featured in various magazines and art publications, including American Artist and People Magazine. Documentaries such as "Night of Hearts" explore the creation and journey of his large figurative painting "Vita," which was privately commissioned by art patron Christine E. Lynn and presented to the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida. "Vita" was unveiled on November 16, 2006, at the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, working in France, Italy, and Germany, inspired by the old masters and contemporary realists. Federico’s focus includes figure painting, still life, trompe l’oeil, and landscape, all created strictly from life, earning praise for his exceptional technical skill and quality.
Castelluccio’s paintings have been exhibited in prestigious galleries across the United States and Europe. His works are part of collections at Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia, Italy; Yale University Museum of Art in New Haven, Connecticut; Kresge Art Museum in East Lansing, Michigan; and the Tisch Fine Art Collection in New York. His paintings are held in private collections worldwide, including those of celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Caroline Rhea, and Joe Pantoliano.
The Kresge Art Museum featured Castelluccio’s work in an exhibit titled "Masters of Illusion," which included paintings loaned from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Detroit Institute of Arts, highlighting 19th-century trompe l’oeil masters like John Frederick Peto and William Harnett. One of Federico’s paintings, "Torn Titian Taped," was acquired after the exhibit and is now part of the museum’s permanent collection.
He has lectured at art schools, public events, and universities, including Michigan State University and Stony Brook State University, where he delivered a lecture on Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. In 2009, he served as Master of Ceremony honoring Nelson Shanks.
Federico is an avid collector and expert in Old Master paintings, early European sculpture, and Roman, Greek, and Egyptian antiquities. His collection of 17th-century Italian Baroque paintings has been highly regarded by scholars and professionals. Elements from his collection occasionally influence his own artwork.
As a serious artist, Castelluccio’s fine art paintings are praised for their technical mastery and draw influence from Renaissance and 17th-century Italian and Dutch Baroque masters. He has exhibited in galleries in New York City, Washington D.C., and Santa Fe, New Mexico. His works are held in major museums like the Yale University Art Museum and Kresge Art Museum, as well as in private collections worldwide. In 2006, Federico and Paul Sorvino were commissioned to create artwork for permanent installation in a new wing of the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida.
