A Sopranos star is sharing the details of his long-term weight-loss transformation
Joseph “Joe” R. Gannascoli, who played capo Vito Spatafore on the HBO series from 1999 to 2007, weighed 400 pounds in earlier seasons of The Sopranos
Currently down to 250 pounds, the 67-year-old told the New York Post that he hopes to drop another 40 pounds over the next four months
The transformation comes partly in preparation for his next television project, which is based on his 2006 crime-novel-meets-cookbook, A Meal to Die For
Gannascoli said he suffered from bad hips and sleep apnea while filming The Sopranos
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To support his health journey, the actor underwent hip surgeries and gastric band surgery
Gastric band surgery reduces stomach size with a band. This can make the patient feel full sooner, eat less, and subsequently lose weight, according to the Cleveland Clinic
After his surgeries, Gannascoli also worked with multiple diet pill companies
In 2006, he was sued by a diet pill company, which alleged that he did not adequately promote its product
In turn, Gannascoli said the company did not like that his character was revealed to be gay
When Gannascoli returned for season six, he had dropped 140 pounds
His look changed so much that the show’s writers made it part of his plot, and Vito Spatafore even appeared in a weight-loss advertisement for the “thin club” during the final season
In 2026, Gannascoli is utilizing consistent training and dietary changes to prepare for his next role
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He starts his days with golf at 6 a.m., and he typically continues to a pickleball court afterward, from which he heads to the gym
“I just started hitting every body part, and I’m doing that four times a week,” he told the outlet. “Now I’m doing heavier weights and less reps.”
As for diet, Gannascoli favors salads—but not baby carrots, as his character does—and limits red meat
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He also intermittently fasts, typically eating his last meal of the day at 2 p.m
“I feel better and look better than I did back on the show,” Gannascoli said
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