Born in Queens, New York, Vincent Piazza used to be a collegiate hockey player, until a shoulder injury forced him to quit and leave the Villanova University in Pennsylvania after just one year. Since then, he worked with an acting coach, then joining a theater group in New York City. He soon landed roles in a number of New York Off-Broadway productions, such as Baby Steps, A Match Made in Manhattan and Much Ado About Nothing. In 2006, Piazza made his film debut in the Sundance-screened Stephanie Daley. His other roles include guest spots on Law and Order: Criminal Intent, The Sopranos, Rescue Me, and later the 2007 film Rocket Science, where he played the kleptomaniac older brother of the film’s protagonist. In 2010, he was cast on the HBO series about the Prohibition era called Boardwalk Empire.