How Assante's family came to America
information about him has moved to "Assante's Family"
Armand Assante grew up in Washingtons Heights, near Brodway and close to the Lincoln Brigde.
But that arier got to violent and the family moved UpState New York in the country.
Armands mothers name is Katherine, her family comes from an old Irish family The Healy´s.
Armand grew up in a family with very strong traditions and a very high moral standard. His parents had artistic backgrounds.
His father painted all is life and it´s said that he paint´s lovely "still-leben" and very sensitive portraits.
His mother foght with being paralysed, but eventually she trained her self so much she could walk. She took an education and has made a living being a music and english teacher. She also writes poetry and her husband illustrated them.
(Read articles and interviews about Mr. Assante Sr. and Mrs. Assante here)
(The above information is partly from an interview Armand gave in 1980 to GOSSIP´s Art Stern and from information on internet were Katherine (Healeys) Assante´s poetry with illustration was for sale)
Afternoon TV Magazin
Interview with Armand Assante
by Kevin Mulligan
"My father's work is very personal" says Armand Assante "He has a particular vision and his vision changes alot.
He is very affected by light. Light is vey important to him.
He goes crazy here because this light in New York is probably the most inconsistent light in the world. If you can wath it every day, it changes drastically.
Today is not as clear as yesterday !"
.......
And talking of his sisters...
"I think Andrea has had it harder than any of us. Well, she's ten years younger and, I don't know, I been very aggressive in my getting out and doings things, and my parents are heady people, and alot of demands are made on her for a young kid.
She's probably even more introperspective than I was.
My older sister Denise is the one with the real tremendious talent.
She has talent in everything. If you took any one og the seven arts, she has talent in each of them.
I had certain limitations which I worked within - my theatrical ability, my musical ability - I've stayed in those. But my sister can really paint, she can really draw, she can really sing, she can really dance, she can really do alot of things ! She was a terrific ceramic artist - and not in a superficial manner.
She did'nt know which to select. It´s like somebody with all these gifts, but like, but not knowing which to take.
I think the theater has answered all her needs of all her creative drive..."
Read scanning of original article(black and white) (Opens in PDF)
article sponsered by american fan from NY
My mother ---a music teacher, as the most astonishing woman I ever known. When I was born, my mother was paralyzed from the neck down with polio.
She was a paraplegic, but walked for a short while, and she went on to get the master´s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She´s taught music and written poetry since I was born, and she`s still in a wheelchair." Link is sadly dead, we will try to find in archive (read more of what he said in the interview given to "Mr. Showbiz")
Armands Assante whole family price winners
GQ Magasin
by Stephanie Mansfield
"Mambo Kings"
This happens after Hollywood had made him "to foreign" ! (what ever that is?) among other things the story of his grandfather comming to America is told(resume): (Open in PDF)
One of the best inteviews made with Armand Assante. Tells his story from his early childhood.
He loved music and with a feew freinds he organized a band called:" The Pheaton Four"
Get the full interview in 8 individually JPEGfiles
The Sunday Gazette
By Douglas J. Rowe
The Associated Press
Interview with Armand Assante
"Mambo Kings"
Two brothers in a bus dreaming about a new life...
After doing "Mambo Kings" and another recent succes "Q&A" this interviewer catch up with Armand Assante about a couple of issues many talked about.
His grandfather tried to escape poverty in Neaples at the at 9, he was discovered as the ship got to Liverpool and got returned to Italy. He finally succeeded to come to America and at the age of 30 he was a succesfull restaurant owner and then the depression came and took it all away.
Read more....
GoogleNews/Archive
By Madeleine Mar, Miami.com
Interview with Armand Assante
You can read more about Anya & Alesandra Assante here...
Armand Assante
Photos above are from 2009 and Armand Assante is here seen with his cousin Mary Ellen, but celebrating Christmas in USA.