| Dante Falconeri | |||||||||||||||
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| Dominic Zamprogna as Dante Falconeri | |||||||||||||||
| General Hospital | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Dominic Zamprogna | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | June 22, 2009 | ||||||||||||||
| Created by | Robert Guza Jr. | ||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Dom or Little Dom (by Johnny) The Audacious One (by Spinelli) | ||||||||||||||
| Aliases | Dominic Pirelli | ||||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | ||||||||||||||
| Born | 1984 (age 39–40)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Police Detective (undercover as mob soldier)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | 324 Wharf Street[3] Port Charles, New York | ||||||||||||||
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Dante Angelo Falconeri[4] is a fictional character on on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital. Dante is the son of the popular character Sonny Corinthos and his old flame Olivia Falconeri. He has been portrayed by Dominic Zamprogna since June 22, 2009.
Character description and casting
Dante was born in Bensonhurst around 1985 to a 16 year old Olivia Falconeri. Olivia dated Sonny Corinthos in high school. After the relationship ended, Sonny began dating Olivia's cousin Connie (now known as Kate Howard). After Sonny left Bensonhurst, Olivia learned she was pregnant. The only other person who knew Sonny was Dante's father was Connie. Olivia swore her to secrecy to protect Dante from Sonny's dangerous lifestyle. Dante is Catholic like his mother.
| “ | He's a smart, intelligent, loving kind of thug. They've written him to be witty and charming. It's just interesting to play a character like that when there's a lot of tough guys on the canvas. I think this is a new, fresh take on this ... he's funny, he's not scared of anything. He's putting himself in front of people that could pull out a gun and shoot him right there. He earns respect for having the balls to do that. He's gutsy. But at the same time, he's not your prototypical tough guy. | ” |
- Soapnet[5]
Since the announcment of the character in the summer of 2008, there has been much speculation about who would portray the character. First Tom Pelphrey was considering the role. He had just relocated to California leading fans to believe he was joining the cast. Pelphrey later released a statement saying he wanted to seek work outside of daytime.[6] Then in October 2008, it was announced that David Lago had reportedly been cast as Dante. All seemed to be going well except for the fact that Lago had never actually signed a contract and the deal fell apart.[6] Lago instead returned to his former job as Raul Guittierez on The Young and the Restless. In late spring of 2009, it was announced that Canadian actor Dominic Zamprogna had been cast as the character of Dominic. Seeing that the character had the same name as the actor led to much speculation among fans. On July 8th, 2009, Dominic is confirmed to be Dante Falconeri.[7]
[[Video:GH Promo 1-22-10|thumb|300px|left|Sonny unknowingly shoots his own son.]]
Character History
Arrival
An adult Dante arrives in Port Charles on June 22, 2009. Trained as an undercover cop, Dante is operating under the alias of Dominic Pirelli, a hit man who works for mob boss Claudia Zacchara. Claudia is married to Sonny, the father he never knew about. When Claudia orders Dante and other employees to kill rival Jason Morgan, her brother Johnny Zacchara saves Jason's life, wounding or killing several of the shooters. Dante is able to flee into the nearby woods where he meets Morgan Corinthos, his half brother, though neither are aware that Sonny is Dante's father. When Morgan's mother Carly Corinthos Jacks lets Dante escape, he makes his way to Sonny's house to recover, where he meets Kristina Davis, his half sister. He later reveals himself to his mother, while keeping his undercover assignment secret from her.
Dante is able to convince Sonny to hire him, despite Claudia and Jason both raising concerns. Dante rents a room above Kelly's Diner from Mike Corbin, his grandfather.[8] On August 3, 2009, Dante, still known as Dominic, meets Lulu Spencer, and the two are instantly attracted to each other, despite interference from her brothers Lucky Spencer and Ethan Lovett. Dante understands their violent reaction to having a sister involved with a mobster, when he learns his mother is romantically involved with Johnny Zacchara.
Sonny sends Johnny and Dante to destroy a drug shipment that men loyal to imprisoned Anthony Zacchara are bringing into town. The police, including Lucky, catch the men, but Dante allows Johnny to escape. While in custody, Dante admits to police commissioner Mac Scorpio that he is working undercover, and Mac arranges for him to be released since there wasn't a valid search warrant.[2] Sonny and Carly begin to trust Dante after he protects Morgan from Kristina's abusive boyfriend, Kiefer Bauer, and he becomes Morgan and Michael Corinthos' bodyguard, despite doubts voiced by their step-father Jax.[2]. Olivia learns about Dante's work and urges him to abandon his assignment, while Dante grows closer to Lulu, sharing a kiss on August 26, 2009.
While hanging out with Morgan at the General Hospital Carnival, a charity event for the Michael Corinthos Foundation, Dante saves Morgan's life when a drugged Edward Quartermaine drives his car into the crowded midway. Dante is injured, and when Dr. Patrick Drake recommends a kidney transplant, Olivia wrestles with whether to tell Sonny and Dante that they are father and son. Dante's condition stabilizes, but Patrick encourages Olivia to tell them the truth anyway. When his handler, Ronnie Domestico, visits him in the hospital, he leaves his badge behind. Dante is able to lie about it when Lulu sees it, and Jax, realizing that Dante is Olivia's son and an undercover cop, pockets it before Sonny can see it. Jax begins pushing Dante to bust Sonny, while Claudia also learns that Dante is Olivia and Sonny's offspring.
Claudia, who secretly ordered the hit-gone-wrong on Sonny that ended up putting Michael in a coma, begins pressuring Dante to sleep with her, believing that a child will protect her from Sonny should the truth come out. Dante reveals to Lulu that Sonny ordered a hit on his childhood father figure, and he turns Claudia's advances down, despite her threats to reveal that he is Olivia's son. Lulu is drugged after attending a photo shoot for Crimson and overhears Ronnie refer to Dante as a police officer. When Lulu refuses to go to a hospital, Dante takes her back to his apartment, where she passes out after kissing him. In the morning she reveals that she remembers nothing of the night before.
At Claudia's birthday party, Sonny reveals that he knows Claudia is responsible for Michael's accident, and fearing for her life Claudia takes a pregnant Carly hostage. Dante, Johnny and Lulu all head to the Zacchara mansion, where Lulu falls through the floor and gets trapped in the flooded basement as the water continues to rise. Johnny goes for help while Dante jumps into the water to try to keep Lulu from drowning. She is soon suffering from hypothermia and, in her shock, recalls what she overheard about Dante being a police officer. She asks him not to bust Sonny. But Dante says Sonny should be behind bars for all the crimes he committed, especially the one involving the murder of Dante's father figure and role model, Mr. Poletti. As they talk, Dante also reveals to Lulu that he is Olivia's son. Johnny arrives with the paramedics, who rescue the two.
After Claudia disappears, Dante encounters Johnny at the burned cabin where she had been killed. Dante says he owes Johnny and he will help find out what happened to Claudia. The next day Dante discovers evidence linking Sonny to the murder of Claudia when he recovers fragments of Sonny's burned clothing from the fireplace in Sonny's living room. Lab results determine the clothing has Claudia's blood on it.
On November 17th, Lulu asks Sonny, in his office, what he would do if a cop was trying to uncover evidence against him. Before he could answer, Dante walks in and Sonny, assuming Lulu is talking about Lucky, says that a cop never has and never will send him to prison. As Dante tries to escort Lulu out, Sonny asks him to stay for a second, which terrifies Lulu, because she thought she had given him up. Sonny tells Dante to take care of Lulu because he doesn't want to see her unhappy. Dante then asks if Sonny thinks she likes him, which Sonny responded, "She's waiting for you outside." When Dante exited Sonny's office, him and Lulu go to the docks where she explained to him that he didn't need to be the one to bust Sonny because he could lose his life over it. Dante then says that him and Sonny are on the opposite side of everything there is except for the fact that they both think the world of Lulu. Dante then surprises Lulu with a passionate kiss to prove how much she means to him. He left Lulu on the docks as she covered her mouth because she is realizing how much she cares for him.
Johnny learns Dante's identity as Olivia's son and an undercover cop after eavesdropping on a conversation that Lulu and Dante have on the docks on November 20, 2009. He angrily confronts Olivia about the secret, but eventually agrees not to tell Sonny.
Dante saves Sonny's life when they are ambushed on their way to broker peace with a Zacharra associate who has agreed to help the jailed Anthony eliminate Sonny. Jason guns down the shooters and Sonny tells Max, Milo, Jason and Dante to attend a Crimson-sponsored art show that night as a cover, since the cops will be investigating what happened. Before heading out Sonny shares a drink with Dante to decompress and they bond a little. Because Sonny suggested bringing a date, Dante knocks on Lulu's door and Lulu, already dressed and about to leave for the art show anyway, accompanies him to the event. Dante recognizes something familiar about the art by the mysterious recluse named Franco, who recreates crime scenes. But he cannot quite place what it is.
Lulu catches Dante listening to a recording of a conversation he had with Sonny, in which Sonny makes incriminating remarks about Claudia's murder. Dante admits to Lulu that he is conflicted about taking down Sonny, because he has come to like Sonny and his family. But after seeing Olivia cozying up to Sonny during their spontaneous chili cook-off in Kelly's kitchen, he turns the recording in to be used as evidence, saying he has to keep his mother safe. Later that night, Ronnie informs him that the evidence wasn't enough to get a arrest warrant on Sonny. Angry but relieved at the same time, Dante joins Lulu at Jakes for Karaoke Night. After Luke and Ethan did their number, Dante went outside to get some air and to think of what he is going to do. Lulu then goes outside with him because she feels he shouldn't be alone. He then told her about how the evidence wasn't enough and he confided in Lulu by telling her he may have second thoughts about taking down Sonny. Lulu comforts him by sharing a dance with him in the ally outside of Jakes.
On December 4th, Sonny starts to get suspicious of "Dominic" when he starts to ask too many questions about Claudia's murder. He then explains to Sonny that he needs to know everything that happened that night in order to find out who took the picture of Claudia's dead body. He then was invited, by Lulu, over to her apartment because she wanted to apologize for the way she has been acting toward him and his situation. They both agree that it's hard for both of them because Dante is starting to see a different side to Sonny. Lulu then tells him that he needs a break from his problem and the two play a video game which leads to them kissing, which Lulu enforced. Dante then got a call from Jax and left Lulu even though he didn't want to. Jax told Dante that Olivia was at Sonny's house to tell him about Dante's mission, which the real truth she wanted to tell Sonny was that him and Dante were father and son.
Though she continues to fight her feelings for him, Lulu & Dante get very close. Dante even spends Christmas with Lulu's family, the Spencers. On December 28, 2009, the two go on their first official date to the opera. Though she doesn't think she'll like it, he asks her to just give it a chance. Lulu is so overwhelmed by it that it brings her to tears and they almost end up making love in the back of their limo. But they are interupted by the driver who tells them they're home.
Claudia's Murder
At Claudia's birthday party, Sonny reveals that he knows Claudia is responsible for Michael's accident, and fearing for her life Claudia takes a pregnant Carly hostage. Dante, Johnny and Lulu all head to the Zacchara mansion, where Lulu falls through the floor and gets trapped in the flooded basement as the water continues to rise. Johnny goes for help while Dante jumps into the water to try to keep Lulu from drowning. She is soon suffering from hypothermia and, in her shock, recalls what she overheard about Dante being a police officer. She asks him not to bust Sonny. But Dante says Sonny should be behind bars for all the crimes he committed, especially the one involving the murder of Dante's father figure and role model, Mr. Poletti. As they talk, Dante also reveals to Lulu that he is Olivia's son. Johnny arrives with the paramedics, who rescue the two.
After Claudia disappears, Dante encounters Johnny at the burned cabin where she had been killed. Dante says he owes Johnny and he will help find out what happened to Claudia. The next day Dante discovers evidence linking Sonny to the murder of Claudia when he recovers fragments of Sonny's burned clothing from the fireplace in Sonny's living room. Lab results determine the clothing has Claudia's blood on it.
On November 17th, Lulu asks Sonny, in his office, what he would do if a cop was trying to uncover evidence against him. Before he could answer, Dante walks in and Sonny, assuming Lulu is talking about Lucky, says that a cop never has and never will send him to prison. As Dante tries to escort Lulu out, Sonny asks him to stay for a second, which terrifies Lulu, because she thought she had given him up. Sonny tells Dante to take care of Lulu because he doesn't want to see her unhappy. Dante then asks if Sonny thinks she likes him, which Sonny responded, "She's waiting for you outside." When Dante exited Sonny's office, him and Lulu go to the docks where she explained to him that he didn't need to be the one to bust Sonny because he could lose his life over it. Dante then says that him and Sonny are on the opposite side of everything there is except for the fact that they both think the world of Lulu. Dante then surprises Lulu with a passionate kiss to prove how much she means to him. He left Lulu on the docks as she covered her mouth because she is realizing how much she cares for him.
Johnny learns Dante's identity as Olivia's son and an undercover cop after eavesdropping on a conversation that Lulu and Dante have on the docks on November 20, 2009. He angrily confronts Olivia about the secret, but eventually agrees not to tell Sonny.
Dante saves Sonny's life when they are ambushed on their way to broker peace with a Zacharra associate who has agreed to help the jailed Anthony eliminate Sonny. Jason guns down the shooters and Sonny tells Max, Milo, Jason and Dante to attend a Crimson-sponsored art show that night as a cover, since the cops will be investigating what happened. Before heading out Sonny shares a drink with Dante to decompress and they bond a little. Because Sonny suggested bringing a date, Dante knocks on Lulu's door and Lulu, already dressed and about to leave for the art show anyway, accompanies him to the event. Dante recognizes something familiar about the art by the mysterious recluse named Franco, who recreates crime scenes. But he cannot quite place what it is.
Lulu catches Dante listening to a recording of a conversation he had with Sonny, in which Sonny makes incriminating remarks about Claudia's murder. Dante admits to Lulu that he is conflicted about taking down Sonny, because he has come to like Sonny and his family. But after seeing Olivia cozying up to Sonny during their spontaneous chili cook-off in Kelly's kitchen, he turns the recording in to be used as evidence, saying he has to keep his mother safe. Later that night, Ronnie informs him that the evidence wasn't enough to get a arrest warrant on Sonny. Angry but relieved at the same time, Dante joins Lulu at Jakes for Karaoke Night. After Luke and Ethan did their number, Dante went outside to get some air and to think of what he is going to do. Lulu then goes outside with him because she feels he shouldn't be alone. He then told her about how the evidence wasn't enough and he confided in Lulu by telling her he may have second thoughts about taking down Sonny. Lulu comforts him by sharing a dance with him in the ally outside of Jakes.
On December 4th, Sonny starts to get suspicious of "Dominic" when he starts to ask too many questions about Claudia's murder. He then explains to Sonny that he needs to know everything that happened that night in order to find out who took the picture of Claudia's dead body. He then was invited, by Lulu, over to her apartment because she wanted to apologize for the way she has been acting toward him and his situation. They both agree that it's hard for both of them because Dante is starting to see a different side to Sonny. Lulu then tells him that he needs a break from his problem and the two play a video game which leads to them kissing, which Lulu enforced. Dante then got a call from Jax and left Lulu even though he didn't want to. Jax told Dante that Olivia was at Sonny's house to tell him about Dante's mission, which the real truth she wanted to tell Sonny was that him and Dante were father and son.
Though she continues to fight her feelings for him, Lulu & Dante get very close. Dante even spends Christmas with Lulu's family, the Spencers. On December 28, 2009, the two go on their first official date to the opera. Though she doesn't think she'll like it, he asks her to just give it a chance. Lulu is so overwhelmed by it that it brings her to tears and they almost end up making love in the back of their limo. But they are interupted by the driver who tells them they're home.
Secrets Come Out
Lulu is kidnapped by Franco and straps her to a bomb. However, Lucky and Dante team up. As Lucky leaves to go find Lulu, Dante gets a call from Jason telling him where Lulu is and he rushes off to save her while Jason rushes to save Sam. Although, Sam's bomb is a fake, Lulu's actually blows up. Dante and Lulu manage to escape with no injuries. Later, because of his line of work, Dante tries to push Lulu away from him, though that rarely seems to work. When Dante goes to see Sonny, he tells him that when he retires, he will offer the Corinthos organization to Dante. Michael overhears this, and verbally attacks Dante. Dante and Johnny talk on the pier, and Michael listens. Michael then finds out that Dante is an undercover cop, but still is unaware of his true identity. Without hesitation, Michael goes straight to Sonny and tells him Dominic is an undercover cop.
Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) & Sonny (Maurice Bernard) finally face off.
Though Sonny doesn't believe it at first, he and Jason look deeper into Dominic's background and find out Michael is telling the truth. When Dante learns that Sonny is attending the christening of Josslyn Jacks, he goes to his boss, Thomas Rayner to get Sonny's arrest postponed. On January 29, 2010, just before the christening Sonny confronts Dominic and tells he knows everything. Sonny shoots Dante as Olivia walks in. She then confesses the truth to Sonny and Dante is rushed to the hospital. When Dante is officially questioned, he claims that he shot himself. Sonny is later put on trial for Claudia's murder and Dante is pressured by his fellow detective Ronnie Domestico and powerhouse attorney, Claire Walsh, to find Michael who has mysteriously disappeared. When Dante finds Michael, he shocked to learn that Michael was the one who actually killed Claudia. Though he is hesitant, Dante finally comes forward with the truth assuming that the judge will go easy on Michael.
See Also
References
- ↑ Brook Lynn stated that Dante is four years older then her, so if she was born in 1987, then that would make his birthyear approximately 1983 or '84
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/soaps/gh/previews/1490-gh-prevue-week-of-august-10-edition.html
- ↑ Dante rents a room from Mike Corbin in July 2009.
- ↑ Dante's full name is stated on October 3, 2008 and again in July 2009.
- ↑ http://sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/dante-general-hospital-speaks?page=0,3
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://soapcentral.com/gh/news/2009/0105-lago_pelphrey.php
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx2Q-vLvHMI
- ↑ http://www.ghofs.net/2009/07/general-hospital-spoiler-pics-spoilers.html
External links
| v - e - d |
|---|
| Current Contract Characters |
| Nikolas Cassadine - Michael Corinthos III - Sonny Corinthos -Carly Corinthos Jacks - Kristina Corinthos-Davis - Alexis Davis - Patrick Drake - Olivia Falconeri - Dante Falconeri - Matt Hunter - Jasper Jacks - Epiphany Johnson - Maxie Jones - Ethan Lovett - Sam McCall - Jason Morgan - Edward Quartermaine - Monica Quartermaine - Tracy Quartermaine Spencer - Mac Scorpio - Robin Scorpio - Rebecca Shaw - Lucky Spencer - Luke Spencer - Lulu Spencer - Damian Spinelli - Elizabeth Webber - Claudia Corinthos - Johnny Zacchara |
| Recurring Characters |
| Alfred - Helena Cassadine - Spencer Cassadine - Mike Corbin - Morgan Corinthos - Garrett Floyd - Max Giambetti - Milo Giambetti - Alice Gunderson - Kate Howard - Jane Jacks - Molly Lansing - Kelly Lee - Winnifred Leeds - Diane Miller - Bobbie Spencer - Jake Spencer - Cameron Webber - Lesley Webber - Lainey Winters |
| Notable Former Characters |
| Lorenzo Alcazar - Ruby Anderson - Ned Ashton - Gail Baldwin - Lee Baldwin - Scott Baldwin - Brenda Barrett - Katherine Bell - Jessie Brewer · Stavros Cassadine · Stefan Cassadine · Jagger Cates · Stone Cates · Lois Cerullo · Skye Chandler-Quatermaine · Lucy Coe · Kevin Collins · Anna Devane · Sean Donely · Andrea Floyd · Steve Hardy · Audrey Hardy · Tiffany Hill · Felicia Jones · Frisco Jones · Georgie Jones · Tony Jones · Ric Lansing · Duke Lavery · Courtney Matthews · Chloe Morgan · AJ Quartermaine · Alan Quartermaine · Dillon Quartermaine · Emily Quartermaine · Lila Quartermaine · Robert Scorpio · Dominique Stanton · Holly Sutton · Zander Smith · Amy Vining · Mary Mae Ward · Justus Ward · Laura Webber · Rick Webber · Karen Wexler |
| Important Crew |
| Executive Producer: Jill Farren Phelps Head Writer: Robert Guza, Jr. Former Executive producers: Gloria Monty · H. Wesley Kenny · Wendy Riche Former headwriters: Bridget and Jerome Dobson · Douglas Marland · Pat Falken Smith · Norma Monty · Gene Palumbo · Claire Labine · Richard Culliton · Megan McTavish · Charles Pratt, Jr. · Garin Wolf |
| Related Topics |
| Port Charles (Spin off series) · Port Charles (City) · Luke and Laura · General Hospital: Night Shift · Frisco and Felicia · List of cast members · List of General Hospital miscellaneous characters |
| History of General Hospital |