Dominic Chianese ‘Unrecognizable’ in Boardwalk Empire

For an 80-year-old actor, Dominic Chianese certainly gets around. According to TV Guide, the multi-talented octagenarian now has a recurring role on the second season of Boardwalk Empire, and will be playing Leander Whitlock, a contemporary of Commodore Louis Kaestner (Dabney Coleman). He will appear in 6 episodes of the 12-part second season.

OUR FIRST LOOK AT DOMINIC CHIANESE AS LEANDER WHITLOCK

Chianese is of course most famous for his 8-year stint as Tony Soprano’s Uncle Junior on “The Sopranos.” Boardwalk Empire’s creator Terrence Winter (who also used to write for The Sopranos) says that Chianese will be “almost unrecognizable” in his new role.

Well, that won’t be much of a shock since Chianese was already almost unrecognizable in his role as Vic Volberg on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” earlier this year, as the elderly dad of one of the teenagers, Grant. He appeared in two May 2011 episodes, to sing “Young at Heart,” and to bestow the nickname Cookie on his “Secret Life” son’s girlfriend, and we haven’t seen him since. The characters Grace and Grant later broke up.

Chianese will appear in six episodes of Boardwalk Empire’s second 12-part run. The new season of Boardwalk Empire begins on September 25 on HBO.

Hmmm. Everyone who could possibly have a beef with Nucky on the boardwalk at one time … this trailer looks like one of those dream sequences they used to have on “The Sopranos,” n’est-ce pas?

Idle Wonder: Will Dominic Chianese sing on Boardwalk Empire, too?

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