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JOSEPH VASSALLO

I am here for Networking

About Me

I am traditionally old-fashioned and have strong Mediterranean foundations mingled with many years of traveling experience, fluent in Italian, English and Maltese, conversational in German, with some understanding of French and Spanish, and constantly seeking stimulation, whether it be intellectual, spiritual, artistic or emotional.Thus far my life has been a roller coaster of events and I continue to pursue to live an extraordinary life. I take great comfort in the fact that I connect deeply with my imagination and drift away in my fantasies where I can make imaginary worlds and people come to life, and can fly high above the negative, greedy spirit and disturbing nature of this world and live in my dreams...
Joseph Vassallo was born and raised on the Island of Malta, just a few miles south of Sicily, Italy. He is the first born of four children. Joseph did not consider acting until, at age 13, he saw his father play a small role in the hit movie, “The Midnight Express”. This led to him enrolling at the prestigious “Manuel Theater” in Valletta. He left school at the age of 16, drifted through a variety of mini-jobs and before he turned 17, he left the country to go live in, Wintertur / Switzerland, Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles. Thirsty for more excitement, Joseph sailed around the world multiple times on board the luxurious cruise liner the QE2 were he worked as a waiter.By the mid-eighties, he decided to rent a small studio in New York City and enrolled at the, “Herbert Berghof Studio”. In 1988, the young actor moved to Los Angeles and continued on his path in the dramatic arts. There, he trained under legendary acting geniuses, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler and Joanne Baron. Joseph landed a spot at “The Actors Studio’ in Hollywood as an observer under the supervision of the legendary Shelley Winters, who at the time ran the studio. He developed a love for the stage early in his career, between New York and Los Angeles he appeared in about 18 stage plays some of which to critical acclaim, such as “A HATFUL OF RAIN”, “A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE”, “SHE STOOPS TO QONQUER” and “OTHELLO” to mention a few. In the early 90’s he got his first professional job as a principle actor on a TV commercial for “ROYAL CARRABEAN”. Since, Joseph endorsed over 100 national TV commercials one of which, “TWIX” won the Gold Award at the New York Film Festival. In 1994, Joseph auditioned for the role of “Tony the Match” at the Sony Columbia Studios in Hollywood and got the attention of Damon Wayans who hired him for the role in “BLANKMAN” to play opposite DAMON WAYANS himself, JASON ALEXANDER and JON PULITO. Shortly after followed the drama feature “MY BROTHER JACK” opposite "CINEMA PARADISO’S" MARCO LEONARDI, followed by “THE 4TH TENOR” opposite the funny RODNEY DANGERFIELD, then the feature comedy “JUST MARRIED” and in this film Joseph plays opposite BRITTANY MURPHY and ASHTON KUTCHER. Once again he found favor in the eyes of Writer, Producer and Director DAMON WAYANS in the movie “BEHIND THE SMILE”. Joseph is also enjoying a career appearing on American National Television. He had the privilege to Guest Star opposite some TV icons such as, DICK VAN DYKE in "DIAGNOSSIS MURDER", “THE WEST WING” with MARTIN SHEEN and ALLISON JANNEY, "ALIAS" with JENIFER GARNER and MICHAEL VARTAN, "DAMON", and ABC's successful Sitcom, "MY WIFE AND KIDS" again opposite the "generous and hilariously funny" DAMON WAYANS and TISHA CAMPBELL-MARTIN. Over the years, Joseph learned how to write for film and television. In 2005 he was hired to work on the Disney Studios Lot as a writing consultant on the hit TV series “MY WIFE & KIDS” which he remembers it to be an exceptional experience. Since 1992 he wrote over a dozen screenplays and a Novel.During 2006-2007, Joseph went on to write, produce, act and direct and he endeavors to continue in the same path.

My Interests

cooking - good wine - a good laugh - film - art - dreaming - traveling - love - inspiration - world history - family - children - great literature - writing - poetry - fitness - candlelit dinners - the ocean - style - fashion - foreign languages - curiosity - exploration - new york city - paris - rome - valletta - fantasy - mediterranean beaches - music - cultures - truth - wisdom - loyalty - honor - the infinite God...

I believe the human brain has difficulty living in the moment. It often travels in mental flight somewhere either in the past or the future but hardly ever absorbs the moment...unless we learn to channel and change frequency.

I'd like to meet:

Honest and genuine people who can inspire me to keep growing in wisdom and become a better person.


INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona DeparisCM: WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO ACT? JV: “The ability to create. The ability to communicate free speech to a mass audience. I love the instant response you get from an audience in the theater. Al Pacino once said, “On stage, it is like walking on an elevated tight rope.” On film, that tight rope is drawn on the floor. I believe there exists a monster in all of us that is dying to come out. We suppress that creature from coming out because we have been taught to control it from childhood and the system suppresses it from ever breathing. The stage allows me to unleash the monster within me without hurting anyone and it is all legal.”

INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona DeparisCM: Do you consider yourself as a Character actor or a Leading Man? JV: "Good question. There is a misconception where “Character Acting” sometimes seems defined by flab fluctuation and baldness rather than the actor’s absorption into the character he or she plays. To me every role is a character role. We play characters. You see De Niro in “RAGING BULL”, Hoffman in “TOOTSIE” and Brando in the GODFATHER. Those were three very different “character” roles but the actor still portrays the leading man. In my book, the actor is always playing the character. Whether De Niro is playing the life of a boxer, Hoffman, a woman or Brando, an old man, the head of a crime family, they are all characters. I consider myself as both."


INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona DeparisCM: WHAT IS DOWNTIME LIKE FOR AN ACTOR? JV: “Being an actor is a very passive role. Waiting to find or start the next gig is a passive and a very anxious, frightening role, and that is why many actors when they finish a job, become depressed. It's living in a vacuum!!! That is why I choose to write amongst other things.”

Music:

MY DAUGHTER'S LAUGH... THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN... THE SOUND OF THE WIND...

Movies:

CHECK OUT MY OTHER PAGE: http://www.myspace.com/josephvassallofilms



INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona Deparis - CM: WHO AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE? JV: Damon Wayans. A long time ago he said to me, “Joey you should write” and I said, ‘Are you kiddin’ me?” And he said, “Can you tell a story?” I said, yes. He replied, “Put it on paper”. And that was that. It stuck!
INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona Deparis CM: WHEN YOU WRITE, DO YOU FOLLOW A CERTAIN SCHEDULE? JV: That’s a very good question. It is all about, DISCIPLINE! I COMMIT! Discipline and commitment are the secret to starting and finishing something, anything. I believe in hard work. I get up at five in the morning, when it is quiet and no distractions. My brain thinks the best in the morning. Then I commit four to eight hours of writing a day. I do it in split shifts. It depends on my creative juices that day. I usually become a hermit. I live in my PJ’s and grow a beard. Drink lots of coffee and listen to a variety of music. I find music to be inspirational in all of my creative work. Sometimes, I have all the images in my mind and I cannot wait to put it all on paper."

Television:

MY WIFE AND KIDS, WELCOME BACK CARTER, TAXI, IN LIVING COLOR, ALL IN THE FAMILY, CHICO AND THE MAN,, THE HONEYMOONERS, I LOVE LUCY, SIENFELD ...
INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona Deparis CM: NOW YOU ARE PRODUCING. WHY PRODUCE? JV: “When you do an independent Project usually, the team is paid very little money. So then, one becomes an investor in the project. Producing gives me the card and the opportunity to play across the board. I want to help with casting, I want to sit and look at the rushes, I want to sit and edit with the director and the editor, and I want to be involved in the roller-coaster process and changes of the writing and the screenplay. I love the team effort that it takes to make a project come to life. That is why I want to produce.”
INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona Deparis CM: WHAT IRRITATES YOU THE MOST? JV: “I am a straight shooter. I tell it how it is. Many, especially in Los Angeles are uncomfortable with that. On the other hand, In New York, the East Coast or Europe I don't find that to be a problem. What irritates me the most is when an individual or a so called friend tries to manipulate something I said or did by pulling a verse from a book not to prove a point or to teach me something but just to get their competitive way. I HATE THAT!!!!”
Joseph Vassallo "Renato Mannari" West Wing

Add to My Profile | More VideosMy Wife and Kids "Mr. Rococco"

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Add to My Profile | More Videos THE IMMIGRANT

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Heroes:

MOM and DAD
INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona Deparis CM: WE HAVE SEEN YOU ON “MY WIFE & KIDS”. WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING WITH, DAMON WAYANS? JV: “I describe Damon in one word, “GENIUS”! He is incredibly talented. He is astoundingly creative and his amazing instincts and wits are always right on the money. I have worked with him several times on several projects and this artist can star, write, produce and direct a successful show or movie at the same time. He knows exactly what is going down on the set at every minute. His eyes are everywhere and he does not skip a beat. He is a film making machine and a very generous artist. Working with him is a dream. He is a fine director. He always knows what he wants and allows the actor the freedom to create. I guess that comes from him being an actor and a stand-up comic himself. Damon can look at a script and knows exactly what it needs to be better. He is amazing with notes. He is like a doctor. As a person, I could not have met a better human being on earth. I have been around and met people from all walks of life. Damon is very kind, giving and extremely wise. He has helped a lot of people. His loyalty and honor towards his friends are exceptional! What can I tell you...he's one heck of a guy!!"
INTERVIEW: “Circle” Magazine with, Ramona Deparis CM: WHICH OF THE TWO DO YOU LOVE THE MOST, WRITING OR ACTING? JV: “With writing just like I feel about acting, I can always travel in my mind into another world, another life. I love both!!”