Biography

Was allegedly the original choice to play Tony Soprano in the HBO series The Sopranos (1999) but turned the role down.

Son of Maria Johannes (Brendel) (secretary) and Gedio "Eddie" LaPaglia (auto mechanic). His father was from Bovalino, Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. His mother was Dutch.

Filmed scenes playing as Chicago gangster Al Capone for the 2001 Tom Hanks drama Road to Perdition (2002), but all the scenes were cut out.

Although often cast as New York tough guys, few people know that he was actually born and raised in Australia. He has said that the only internationally successful Australian actor at the time he began acting was Mel Gibson, who had lost his Australian accent, so he did the same. Today, looking at all the hot young Australian actors who have kept their native accents but can use other dialects in their films, he says he regrets having dropped his accent.

He is part owner of an Australian Soccer club called Sydney FC (Football Club)

The whole question of God and what God is, and whether it's a blond guy with a beard, I don't know... I don't know that. Do I believe that there's something greater at work than the sum of humanity? Yeah, I think so.

Steve Martin is one of the most intelligent, well-read human beings that I've ever come across. He is equally as funny off screen as he is on. But he also has a very intellectual side, and he's a really nice human being. We actually become good friends.

I can't find my car keys in the morning. Trying to get out of my house is a nightmare. 'Where's my wallet? Where are my keys? I have to go find a missing person.'

For the most part, the American film market has become very corporatised, even independent film to a degree, and because of the corporate management mentality, they want to take the safe way.

A lot of people think I'm that guy in 'Betsy's Wedding', but I'm not. What it is for me is that, on some level, I connect with the character emotionally.