It’s been an intense stretch for Dante on General Hospital. Between losing Sam, dealing with his complicated family ties, and juggling his career in law enforcement, Dante has been at the center of some of the show’s heaviest emotional storylines. It’s also given Dominic Zamprogna some of the richest material of his career — and as it turns out, the actor isn’t just riding the wave. He’s deliberately challenging himself to go further.
Key Takeaways
- Dominic Zamprogna has had some of the strongest material of his career.
- He revealed that earning another Lead Actor Emmy nomination was a personal goal he set for himself.
- His Emmy reel reflected both light and emotional moments, including Dante’s heartbreak over Sam’s death.
- He enlisted his wife and daughters to help choose which scenes to submit, making the process a family affair.
- Zamprogna says he’s embracing a less rigid, more organic approach to his performances.
A Personal Goal Realized
Speaking with Soap Opera Digest, Zamprogna shared that being back in the running for a Lead Actor Emmy this year is the result of real intention. “I kind of set it as a personal goal to be in the ring again and here I am,” he says with a smile. The actor, who previously earned three Supporting nods, learned of the nomination while driving home from the airport as his phone started blowing up.
For him, this nomination carries a different weight. He’s not looking for recognition, he’s looking to grow and advance to the next level. “I’ve always felt that if you’re going to do something, you should try to be the best at it,” he explained. The reel of Dante clips that he submitted helped reflect that mindset as they ranged from light moments to his gut-punch grief over Sam’s death.
This time around, he let his most trusted critics — his wife and daughters — weigh in on which scenes made the cut. He explained: “And so they all made their list, and then I compiled the list based on that.”
The Next Chapter
For Zamprogna, the shift from Supporting to Lead is about pushing himself to keep evolving. “You constantly push yourself to be better and more real and more authentic and organic,” he stated. With decades of experience behind him, he’s now more open to letting scenes breathe instead of trying to control every beat.
He laughed that his daughters have taught him plenty about surrendering control — both at home and on set. That same trust in the moment has helped him deliver performances that hit harder than ever.
And while the Emmy ceremony may mean waiting through a long night for his category, Zamprogna isn’t taking any of it for granted. “When you feel like you’re doing good work, of course, you’d like it to be recognized,” he reflected.
Recognition or not, one thing’s clear: Dominic Zamprogna has his sights set firmly on the next level — and he’s not backing down.
