Leo Donato, born Leonardo Di Pierri in New York, is a renowned voice over talent and actor, whose journey began in Little Italy, where he spent his childhood running numbers for local mobsters. His parents, Italian immigrants Gilda Carmella Padrevita Di Pierri and Bernardo Di Pierri, worked tirelessly to provide a better life for him and his two siblings.
Gilda worked at a local factory, while Bernardo, a former stowaway to America, toiled as a gravedigger. Their hard work paid off, and Donato moved to a better neighborhood, attending a private Episcopalian High School with an impressive curriculum. His parents' emphasis on education was evident, as they encouraged him to pursue higher education.
Donato's fascination with the theatre began when he watched the film East of Eden, starring James Dean, countless times. After attending the University of Hartford, Connecticut, and majoring in Psychology, he returned to New York to pursue his dream. At 22, he had a burning passion for the theatre that would eventually pay off.
His Off-Broadway debut led to an agent approaching him, marking the beginning of his career as an American Theatre Actor and Television Actor. He studied under the tutelage of Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, and Susan Baton. Between plays, he landed roles in television soap operas such as One Life to Live, All My Children, and General Hospital.
In 1989, Donato made the permanent move to Los Angeles to pursue roles in television and film. He secured his first lead role in a television series that same year, starring as the lead in Joe Bash.
Throughout his career, he has guest-starred in notable shows like LA Law, NYPD Blue, Matlock, and television movies, including Wolf, directed by Rod Holcom. After years of dedication, he met voice coach Maurice Tobias and began studying under her guidance. With the same tenacity that started his journey in New York after college, Donato shifted his focus to voice overs, eventually becoming a renowned voice over talent.
