arrive magazine
Published January/February 2001

Cut!

by Lorraine Zywotow

Tony Ray Rossi is running late. We had an 11:30 a.m. appointment to meet the haircutter/actor at his second floor, picture windowed hair salon at 30 W. 57 th Street , New York City. He calls in from his car, “I'm in the middle of traffic on 6 th Avenue , but I'm not far…see you in a few minutes.” “Put the wings on it, Tony!” one of his staff shouts towards the phone. The salon is a cozy studio walk-up overlooking the constant ebb and flow of midtown traffic. This Friday morning, the crosstown gridlock is well established – no ebb, no flow, just a street full of stalled metal – but within five minutes Rossi, good to his word, has extricated himself from the logjam and is on his way upstairs.

There is none of the high-nosed “we-are-almost-too-good-to-do-your- hair” affection to Rossi's Salon. Just the opposite; this is a place you come to as much to chat over a cup of coffee as to have your hair done. Friendly and light-hearted. Even so, when Tony walks into, the room takes on a new energy, a slightly frantic, definitely palpable, air of fun. To begin with, Tony just looks like fun. Physically, Tony Rossi is not an imposing figure, though you might expect one, given Tony's television role on the hugely popular Mafia-themed The Sopranos . But he does have the quintessential Italian face: big and laugh-lined, black eyebrows arching over deep brown eyes, and the whole visage topped by an impressive shock of black, swept-back hair.

He moves from staffer to staffer, little hugs here, joking comments there, sly grins everywhere. This is a family as much as, or perhaps more than, it is a business. And family doesn't just mean the staff; every client is family, and even the casual visitor can't leave without feeling part of the camaraderie.

Rossi is passionate about his work – it's not work to him but a labor of love. He cuts hair with such confidence that his scissors literally fly; fast, precise.

Tony's Italian mother encouraged him to attend Calise Beauty Institute when he was fifteen years old. Calise was also her maiden name, so the coincidence was a good omen for his future. He was licensed at 16 in New York and over the next 32 years built a very successful career. Now, at 48, Tony Rossi's reputation reaches far and wide. Sylvester Stallone, Peter Weller and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho have been clients. Back in the 1970's, Jane Fonda made famous the shag haircut she got at Tony's. Danny Aiello, his cousin, is a regular.

But, it has not been enough for Tony to only entertain his clientele; acting before a bigger audience was always a dream. With no intention of quitting his day job, Tony Rossi has achieved that dream. It all began when Brian Hamill's brother and a client, told Tony about an Italian food chain looking for Italian men to appear in a commercial. He auditioned, was hired and a second career was launched. From that commercial came parts in Donnie Brasco, a Law and Order episode, The Soprano's Emmy Winning episode, “College”, 100 Centre Street on A & E directed by Sidney Lumet…and more. The salon's Midtown location gives him the luxury of slipping to auditions between cuts and perms.

Tony says, “If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life"

No appointment necessary (but always appreciated), Walk Ins are always welcome.

Rossi Hair Salon
30 West 57 th Street
New York City, NY

1-212-581-4550