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Actor Rich Graff talks AMC’s The Making of the Mob (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Born and raised in New York City, Rich Graff is a multi-talented and diverse actor, but he wasn’t always an actor. He has tried his hand at being a qualified chef, Olympic snowboarder and even an author before settling on acting as his chosen career. “Both my parents were born in Sicily, so there was always cooking going on in the house. I just picked it up,” explains Rich. “I was also a latchkey kid. I would come home to an empty house and my parents wouldn’t be there until about 6:30pm, so if I ever wanted anything to eat, I would have to make it myself. I started working in restaurants, and was able to cultivate my cooking skills by watching the other chefs in the busy kitchens. Shortly after, I began assisting them and was ready to go to cooking school. I enjoyed cooking but did not want to become neurotic about it.”

Aside from cooking, like any young lad, Rich loved to dabble in sports. “I began skiing at a very early age, but I seemed to have an aptitude for snowboarding. I can honestly say I became infatuated with snowboarding. I would go to the mountains every week and then finally one year I decided to actually compete. I made it to an Olympic qualifying round, but was beat out by one spot. I still love the sport and try to go as often as I can.”

Rich’s ‘go-getter’ attitude is what helps him be successful in all that he puts his mind to. He hung up his chefs cloths and went to New York University to earn himself a Bachelor’s Degree in literature and writing. “During my studies at NYU I became very passionate about poetry,” said Rich. “I have had several of my poems published. I began to write a novel, but it takes a lot of time and dedication to write a book. I realized I am way too antsy to sit around a desk for 15 hours a day, which is what it takes to write a quality book, so I changed my mind to that idea.”

From poetry came the creation of stories for Rich, and ultimately his love for acting. “I was a Gerber baby, spotted at the hospital where I was born before I had even left. I was always the kid who wanted to put on a show, to be on stage entertaining people, never shying away from the spotlight. I was also very interested in creating stories, and I believe the extreme circumstances of my adolescence lent itself to creating interesting drama.”

As a professional actor the drama genre certainly gravitates to Rich, who shows a passion for this genre. “My first real acting gig was playing a detective on the hit TV show Law & Order,” stated Rich. “It was actually the first big audition I had ever been on, and did not even have an agent at the time. Suffice it to say, I was thrilled to have been picked for the part! I do enjoy working on real life situations. I recently led the way as activist John Raines, one of the key members of the Citizens’ Commission who not only drove one of the getaway cars, but also planned the rollout after the break-in, including the release of documents to the press, in Johanna Hamilton’s award-winning feature length documentary 1971.”

Over the years Rich has become a solid working actor. He can soon be seen starring alongside Heather Graham in the romantic comedy My Dead Boyfriend, a feature film directed by Anthony Edwards. His most recent role, and what some are calling Rich’s “breakout role”, is his transformation as the world-famous American Mafia boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano in the new AMC mini-series The Making of the Mob which is set to premiere on AMC June 15, 2015. The eight-part docudrama, narrated by Emmy® Award-winning actor Ray Liotta and Executive Produced by Stephen David (The Men Who Built America), begins in 1905 and features the original five families that led to the modern American Mafia, including the rise of Lucky Luciano played by Rich.

Preparing for his larger-than-life on screen character came easy for Rich. “At the age of 11, I moved to Howard Beach, NY. I didn’t know it at the time, but most of my friend’s fathers were the head of the Gambino crime family,” explains Rich “My best friend was Peter Gotti, John Gotti’s youngest son. Others included Angelo Ruggerio’s sons and Jimmie Burke’s son; Jimmie Conway as portrayed in the movie Goodfellas. Living the life of the legendary Lucky Luciano was everything I envisioned it to be. Mr. Luciano was intelligent, business savvy, beloved by his peers, and yet ruthless and violent when necessary. The Making of the Mob takes the cliché out of the everyday mafia movie, and gives you a jaw-dropping look into the lives of these “Original Gangsters”, and the legacy they left to follow.”

Aside from being a talented actor, Rich shows impeccable good citizenship. During the September 11 attacks he was at the ready to help. “When I saw those people jumping out of the buildings, I knew there was something that I had to do. When we were allowed to go back into Manhattan, I helped clear the rubble around the buildings and gave out water to firefighters and policemen,” urged Rich. When Hurricane Sandy hit the Rockaways in New Jersey, Rich rolled up his sleeves again and joined the volunteers. “I grew up around the Rockaways, and saw how devastated that area had become. I volunteered with a group of people to help those affected to be able to get back into their homes as soon as possible.”

On life in general Rich added. “Everyone should try and help each other in times of need. It is important to be a good neighbor and friend to your community.”

To aspiring actors Rich concluded. “If you cannot live without acting; if every ounce of your body doesn’t drive you toward that goal, don’t even bother starting. You literally have to live and breathe it every minute of the day.”

Catch Rich as Charles “Lucky” Luciano in AMC’s The Making of the Mob on June 15, 2015.

To learn more about actor Rich Graff follow him on Twitter

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