ACTING IN OVER 100 FILMS, GARRY PASTORE GETS READY FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SILENT PARTNERS AT THE MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL
I had the opportunity to sit down with Garry Pastore, an American actor of Italian German descent living in New Jersey. Garry is quite humble and grateful to do what he is passionate about for so many years. Garry can be seen in over 100 roles throughout his career and is getting ready to for the Miami Film Festival the first week of April.
What were you doing before acting and how did you get into it?
I was in a high School production of West Side Story as Tony, and it was lift off after that. I was doing some modeling, commercials, and Soap Operas early on, but it didn’t really resonate with me. After West Side Story, I began doing small parts which led to bigger ones and here I am with over 100 roles over four decades. Some of them includes Prizzi’s Honor, Goodfellas, Do the Right Thing, Carlito’s Way, Copland, A Bronx Tale, The Week Of, The Irishman, Shooting Heroin, First Shift, Silent Partners, and Last Call, to name a few.
We know all industries are competitive and some more than others. Pleas share with us how you have sustained this business.
It’s a long arduous process. First, you must get a role and appreciate the fact you even got one to begin with. As you aspire in your journey, and the roles get bigger, accepting the right role gets easier. I have always played a cop or a robber. I am starting to shy away from playing the stereotypical heavy. Lately, I am getting roles portraying everyday characters I have never played before; this I find totally rewarding as an artist.
Who are a few of your mentors?
I would have to say Martin Scorsese because of his loyalty to me and vision has been incredibly helpful during my career. Martin Luther King and Bob Marley, their love and strive for peace and unity and Bob’s message through music. Lao Tzu and his incredible and masterful quotes about failure and success. All are inspirational forces for me!
Congratulations on Silent Partners that host its world premiere at the Miami Film Festival on April 3, 2025. Tell us about your role.
Thank you! Silent Partners is a semi-fictional tale about mobster Dave Iacovetti who ran a crew during the 70’s and 80’s in South Florida. I play Dave in the film and that was a real treat to have the freedom that Ciro Dapagio gave me with Dave’s character development. What was also fascinating, was just how rampant crime was in Florida during this time, from the Mariel boatlift to the crime syndicates that flourished between the drug cartels, the American mob, and every other criminal all looking to get their hands on their piece of the pie.
What makes this film special for you?
What makes this film so special for me is that it’s an indie film, which I prefer to work on because it’s a bunch of actors getting together for very little money. We do this because of the rawness of the project and the freedom to play with their characters, which this film is full of. I also assisted the producers with casting for this film and that in of itself, was really rewarding. I hand-picked some of the actors who are also friends and colleagues and with Ciro’s approval, we certainly put an amazing cast together. Ronnie Marmo, Mike Marino, Emilio DiFabio, Saul Stein and Lou Silver are my buddies, and we really worked well off each other. Ciro added the veterans James Russo, Antoni Corone, Nick Vallelonga, Barry Jay Minoff, Raphael Castillo and a few up and comers that added their unique style and energy, which was electric.
What is up next for you?
I am doing a gothic horror film titled, Hellbound Covenant, which takes place in the satanicpanic of the 1970’s where I play an Irish Priest, Father McCarthy, who has an evil entity enter his parish and tries his best to rid it. I was recently offered a role in another film where I will be portraying a doctor in 1947 Roswell New Mexico that operated on the alleged aliens of Area 61. I welcome these off the grid roles, keep ‘em coming!
What would you like your fans/readers to know about who Garry Pastore is?
I am just a regular guy who has a passion for the arts, especially the art of filmmaking.
I write, I direct, I create. It all starts with words on a page and it’s up to the actor to interpret what they need to do to bring those words to life. It’s my release, my temple, the euphoria you get when you know you crushedsomething is the greatest rush in the world. To make a director smile, is pure bliss. I am not of Hollywood mentality, and I don’t yearn for Academy Awards, but receiving one would be great. I like my life simple; I just like to be me. I am very humble, approachable, and helpful to those that deserve it. If you see me on the street, stop and say hello.
Tell us about a few charities you support?
I support several charities but anything that helps Autistic individuals, holds a very special place in my heart. Also, St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, Wounded Warriors, and most recently, the Dara Lynn Foundation.
Please feel free to stay and touch and follow Garry Pastore.
gpactor@facebook
www.imdb.com/garrypastore
