Steven Ralph Schirripa, born September 3, 1957, is an American actor recognized for his significant roles in popular television series. He is widely known for portraying Bobby Bacala on 'The Sopranos', Leo Boykewich on 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager', and Detective Anthony Abetemarco on 'Blue Bloods'. Schirripa has accumulated over 300 appearances across these and other long-running shows. Beyond acting, he has hosted Investigation Discovery series such as 'Karma's a B*tch!' and 'Nothing Personal', and lent his voice to the 'Open Season' film franchise.

Schirripa's career began in entertainment management in Las Vegas, leading to early acting roles, including an uncredited part in Martin Scorsese's 'Casino'. His breakthrough came with 'The Sopranos' in 2000, where he played Bobby Baccalieri for five seasons, initially wearing a fat suit. His extensive television credits include appearances on 'Angel', 'Star Trek: Enterprise', 'Law & Order', and 'The King of Queens', among many others. He has also participated in game shows like 'Million Dollar Password' and 'Pyramid'.

Steven Schirripa's journey into acting began unconventionally while working as an entertainment director at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He gained initial exposure through cameo appearances in comedy specials and an uncredited role as a bar patron in Martin Scorsese's film 'Casino'. This experience inspired him to pursue acting professionally. After taking on several minor film roles, Schirripa secured his breakout role in the second season of the acclaimed series 'The Sopranos' in 2000. He was cast as Bobby Baccalieri, a character he would portray for five seasons, even wearing a fat suit for the initial two seasons to embody the role.

Following his success on 'The Sopranos', Schirripa amassed a diverse television resume. He held recurring roles in shows like 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' as Leo Boykewich and later as Detective Anthony Abetemarco in 'Blue Bloods'. His numerous guest appearances span a wide range of genres, including 'Angel', 'Star Trek: Enterprise', 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', and 'The King of Queens'. Schirripa also transitioned into hosting, fronting Investigation Discovery series such as 'Nothing Personal' and 'Karma's a B*tch!', often with a distinctive, sometimes humorous, approach to true crime narratives. He has also been a recurring guest on talk shows and a participant in game shows.

Leveraging his public persona, often associated with tough-guy Italian-American characters, Schirripa authored a series of books. These include 'A Goomba's Guide to Life' (2002), 'The Goomba's Book of Love' (2003), and 'The Goomba Diet: Large and Loving It' (2006). He also co-authored 'Big Daddy's Rules: Raising Daughters Is Tougher Than I Look' (2013). Additionally, he collaborated on the 'Nicky Deuce' series of children's books, which were adapted into a Nickelodeon film. Schirripa also ventured into business, launching a line of organic vegan pasta sauces called Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties. In 2020, he co-hosted the podcast 'Talking Sopranos' with Michael Imperioli, which led to a book deal for an oral history of the show.