--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The…" description: "\"John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since that time. Alec Baldwin was in my class back t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg" --- # John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my… ![“John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since that time. Alec Baldwin was in my class back then, Sean Young and Andrew McCarthy.” quote by Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg) > “John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since that time. Alec Baldwin was in my class back then, Sean Young and Andrew McCarthy.” [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker recounts early acting class connections, highlighting how shared beginnings foster lasting friendships and professional networks. **In simple terms:** Early classmates become lifelong friends and career contacts. Key Takeaway Value and relationships from the start. Themes friendship networking career collaboration Mood nostalgic grateful reflective Type personal anecdote industry insight When to use this quote - acting class - industry events - collaborative projects - career development Key Concepts acting social capital mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain supportive relationships in a competitive field? - What role do early mentors play in long‑term success? A Different Perspective Not all early connections persist; some may become competitive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-class/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Sopranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sopranos/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I think a lot of people who didn't know my work before 'The Sopranos' think I came from the Jersey Shore, like they picked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-think-a-lot-of-people-who-didn-t-know-my-work-before-the-sopranos/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [When I read the pilot of 'The Sopranos,' I wasn't terribly blown away by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-i-read-the-pilot-of-the-sopranos-i-wasn-t-terribly-blown-away-by/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Not to toot our own horn, but when 'The Sopranos' was on, it was as good as any movie that was coming out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/not-to-toot-our-own-horn-but-when-the-sopranos-was-on-it-was-as-good/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [“Alec? Not Baldwin?' she jokes. 'Meg Ryan's long-suffering husband?' 'No drip. Meg Ryan married Denis Quaid until she ran off with Russell Crowe before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-campbell/alec-not-baldwin-she-jokes-meg-ryan-s-long-suffering-husband-no-drip/) Ellie Campbell > [When I do scenes with Alec Baldwin, he just stares at my boobs. That's how good of an actor he is, he finds a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-krakowski/when-i-do-scenes-with-alec-baldwin-he-just-stares-at-my-boobs-that-s/) [Jane Krakowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-krakowski/) > [Alec Baldwin is so funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/alec-baldwin-is-so-funny/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [ Alec Baldwin made us all feel like \[we could\] pal around with him and come up with the best scenarios or scenarios if you're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/alec-baldwin-made-us-all-feel-like-we-could-pal-around-with-him-and/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [If the media isn't slanted toward the Left, why is everyone so worried about my affiliation with Glenn Beck but not with Alec Baldwin?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/if-the-media-isn-t-slanted-toward-the-left-why-is-everyone-so-worried/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [Bush is a frat boy in the White House but we've had that before. But I wasn't one of those people that was threatening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/bush-is-a-frat-boy-in-the-white-house-but-we-ve-had-that-before-but-i/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [Alec Baldwin has done this great Donald Trump. I wish somebody would hire Leslie Jordan to play Jeff Sessions. The only way is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/alec-baldwin-has-done-this-great-donald-trump-i-wish-somebody-would/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [I don't want to infringe on Alec Baldwin's territory, but I'm a pretty darn good 'Words With Friends' player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-don-t-want-to-infringe-on-alec-baldwin-s-territory-but-i-m-a-pretty/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [I love working with Alec Baldwin. He's one of the five greatest actors ever to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-love-working-with-alec-baldwin-he-s-one-of-the-five-greatest-actors/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“I don't want to alarm anyone, but everywhere we go I see Alec Baldwin. It's like he's following us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/i-don-t-want-to-alarm-anyone-but-everywhere-we-go-i-see-alec-baldwin/) [Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/) > [I almost bumped into Alec Baldwin and then turned around and Paris Hilton was standing there. And I was like, 'Look, it's stupid spoiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/i-almost-bumped-into-alec-baldwin-and-then-turned-around-and-paris/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [I want to interview Alec Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-want-to-interview-alec-baldwin/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) ## More by Michael Imperioli > [I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never really completed anything I thought worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays-and-teleplays-i-ve-tried-to/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I love fiction and read novels constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-love-fiction-and-read-novels-constantly/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I do smoke in real life. A lot. We're all smoking right now in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-do-smoke-in-real-life-a-lot-we-re-all-smoking-right-now-in-fact/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I played guitar in a band from when I was about 20 for three years. Then I sang a little. Then I started getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-played-guitar-in-a-band-from-when-i-was-about-20-for-three-years/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [It doesn't really matter to me how people see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/it-doesn-t-really-matter-to-me-how-people-see-me/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I'd go for parts that didn't pay a dime, and there would be 300 to 400 actors there. It could be very discouraging. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-d-go-for-parts-that-didn-t-pay-a-dime-and-there-would-be-300-to-400/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Detroit 1-8-7' - the numbers are police slang for murder - is filmed in that blue-collar Michigan city, providing a flavor of authenticity. Detroit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/detroit-1-8-7-the-numbers-are-police-slang-for-murder-is-filmed-in/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Detroit is a city that really stands out. It's been through a very difficult time. There's been a lot of pain here, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/detroit-is-a-city-that-really-stands-out-it-s-been-through-a-very/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Everybody I play probably has some Italian in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/everybody-i-play-probably-has-some-italian-in-them/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [When you're going through these difficult times of chaos and trauma, the most important thing is to keep those who are closest to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-you-re-going-through-these-difficult-times-of-chaos-and-trauma/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [When I was young, you went to school, dealt with your friends and drama, went home, did your homework, went to bed, and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-i-was-young-you-went-to-school-dealt-with-your-friends-and-drama/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I've played some gangster roles, but that's obviously not me. When you're an Italian-American New York actor, it's just an easy way to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-ve-played-some-gangster-roles-but-that-s-obviously-not-me-when-you/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [There's too many actors in LA. I mean, I'll go out there from time to time, but I always find it pretty soul-destroying. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/there-s-too-many-actors-in-la-i-mean-i-ll-go-out-there-from-time-to/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Stop and appreciate what you have today. Look at what you have with wider eyes, maybe with more compassion and more gratitude for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/stop-and-appreciate-what-you-have-today-look-at-what-you-have-with/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I would never put on a Mets hat. Only if I was playing a Met as part of the job. Which, actually, I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-would-never-put-on-a-mets-hat-only-if-i-was-playing-a-met-as-part/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) [Explore all 41 Michael Imperioli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since that time. Alec Baldwin was in my class back then, Sean Young and Andrew McCarthy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Imperioli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos-was-in-my-first-acting-class/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos-was-in-my-first-acting-class/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/michael-imperioli-15945_acting_john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos_200529.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since…” — Michael Imperioli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Imperioli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos-was-in-my-first-acting-class/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos-was-in-my-first-acting-class/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```