Italian Americans have not had an easy time in this country. They are often the subject of stereotyping and racism despite being an integral part of this countries early history. The new popularity of the pejorative term “guido,” a slang term for lower class urban Italian American’s who often emulate African American “thug” and “macho” culture, has continued to hurt the image of the Italian American in this country. Despite their troubles, here is a list of three great Italian American actors who have done their nationality proud and who don’t just play mob bosses rigging exclusive poker chip games.

Al Pacino You’ve got to love Al Pacino but sometimes the guy feeds into the Italian gangster stereotypes, playing role after role of the quiet, powerful mob boss. There was no stopping Pacino after his role of Micahel Corleone in “The Godfather,” with another nomination for Best Actor for his role in Sidney Lumet’s “Serpico,” the story of a undercover, corrupt cop. Even more accolades followed with “Dog Day Afternoon” and the powerful “Scent of a Woman.”

James Gandolfini The face of fictional mob boss and family man Tony Soprano, for six seasons Gandolfini played the short tempered and terrifying Soprano boss to perfection. Watching Gandolfini as Tony Soprano is one of the pitch-perfect casting decisions. Many people do not know that Gandolfini h as been in the film business for many years before the success of “The Sopranos,” putting in work since the early 90s and continuing his success today, doing voice work for “Where the Wild Things Are” film as well as playing a great comedic role the British film “In the Loop. ” Marisa Tomei An Academy Award winner and #18 on men’s mag FHM’s annual 100 Sexiest Females in the World list, Tomei who is 45 this year, doesn’t look a day over 30. Tomei has done a good job of not being typecast as just another strong, loud Italian woman and has played a number of powerful and critically praised roles in the films “In the Bedroom,” Before the Devil Knows Your Dead” and most recently, “The Wrestler.”

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