Joe Abbate

New Jersey native Joe Abbate's first interest in acting was sparked when his teacher persuaded him to play the lead role of Moses in a grammar school stage production of "The Exodus" . Joe wasn't immediately sure that acting was what he wanted to do in the long run until much later in life . Acting would go on a temporary hiatus while he focused on playing high school sports and going to College. Then, while attending a college film course, he was again chosen for a role. This time in a short, independent film project upon which his final grade was based. A stint as a background 'extra' followed when Joe went along with a friend to an open call for a TV pilot and he was cast . This time the idea of being an actor stuck with him. He obtained representation along the way first through freelancing with a few agents and then a manager . From there, the opportunities began to pour in; a role in the independent feature film, "This Thing of Ours", as well as various roles in "The Sopranos"