„The Sopranos”, the HBO drama series, is still recognized today as one of the most popular and influential media productions of the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The show is credited with radically changing the climate in modern television, and the performance of James Gandolfini, the actor who brought the brutal New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano to life, is universally applauded as one of the finest acting performances ever to reach the small screen.
That said, not even Gandolfini’s talent could have created such a successful series on its own. As we approach the birthday of the actor (September 18) who passed away in 2013 at the age of 51, Info Sud-Est presents a list of the other actors who made „The Sopranos” a phenomenon: What they did after the show ended and how their lives were affected by its success.
The Family
Carmela Soprano – Edie Falco
Edie Falco, the actress who played Carmela, Tony’s loyal Catholic wife, built a successful career long before the show began, and her work hasn’t slowed down at all in the years since.
After the show ended, she went on to star in several films, series and plays, some of them highly successful – her most notable role during this period began two years after her husband’s fictional „death” – from 2009 to 2015, Falco played Jackie Peyton, the protagonist of the beloved comedy/drama series „Nurse Jackie”.
As for movies, perhaps her best-known role is also one of her most recent – General Frances Ardmore in Avatar: 2, The Way of Water, the second part of director James Cameron’s most successful creation. She will most likely return to the big screen in this role in 2025, when the third part of the trilogy is due to be released.
Meadow Soprano – Jamie Lynn-SIgler
Acting is probably a family trait (albeit a fictional one), as Jamie Lynn-Sigler, who played Medow, the Sopranos’ personality-driven daughter, has also remained active in this field, with a number of small roles and performances in independent film productions – nothing that comes close to the success of her role in The Sopranos, though.
No one can blame her. The 42-year-old actress, married to baseball player Cutter Dykstra, became a mother in 2013, a career that takes up more time than most.
In addition to work and her two children, she also devotes some of her time to activism – particularly for victims of multiple sclerosis, a condition she was diagnosed with in her 20s that has significantly affected her life, both on and off the set.
Anthony Soprano Junior (AJ) – Robert Iler
Not much can be said about Robert Iler’s acting career in a post-Sopranos world. After the series ended, he appeared in one more episode of Law and Order before giving up acting.
Since then, the mob leader’s „son” still occasionally comes into the public eye through various interviews or appearances at public events, but for the most part he seems to have dedicated himself to a life away from the set.
He hasn’t completely given up the spotlight, though – his main post-series pursuits include a career in poker and a few attempts at podcasting.
Livia Soprano – Nancy Marchand
Tony Soprano’s mother, a complicated figure. She is probably the person who has had the greatest influence on Tony’s personal development. Although she „died” in season 3, the consequences of her actions and complex relationship with her son remained evident until the final moments of the show.
It’s hard to say if the character would have had the same impact without actress Nancy Marchand’s performance. With an illustrious career spanning more than five decades, her incredible experience was evident in nearly every scene she appeared in.
Sadly, her story came to a tragic end in 2000 when, at the age of 71, Marchand lost her battle with cancer during filming.
Later, director David Chase confirmed that the actress’ sudden death completely changed plans for the next few seasons, in which Livia would play an even bigger role.
Janice Soprano – Aida Turturro
Although she was never officially involved in the family’s dirty business, Tony Soprano’s „sister” also inherited the cold blood and the talent to manipulate any situation to get her way, chapters at which she sometimes outdid even Tony himself.
One of the reasons Aida Turturro has been able to keep up with Gandolfini on the show is the two actors’ longtime friendship, having collaborated on several occasions before starring in the HBO-created series.
His career has continued with smaller roles in several films and series, and since 2017 he has had a recurring role in „The Blacklist,” another hit series.
Corrado Soprano (Uncle June) – Dominic Chianese
Charismatic, funny but with a hint of danger in his eyes, Corrado Soprano, otherwise known as „Uncle Junior” was, ironically, among the oldest mobsters on the show. The character’s struggle with dementia and the reality of his own mortality in the show’s later seasons led to countless near-legendary scenes, but thankfully Dominic Chianese’s health proved to be much more robust.
He continued to act after the series ended, despite his age. He racked up a modest number of new roles, including a supporting role in Broadwalk Empire, another show about the world of organized crime, with his former Sopranos co-star Steve Buscemi.
Even today, at 92, the actor continues to give interviews, look for roles and occasionally sing.
Christopher Moltisanti – Michael Imperioli
For his role as Tony Soprano’s nephew and protégé, Michael Imperioli earned five nominations and an Emmy win, and his performance has received universal praise over the years, but the actor hasn’t let the success of this role define his entire career.
An artist par excellence, he has appeared in numerous highly rated productions over the years, written several books, and has generally become a figure with a strong voice in the world of film and art.
To be fair, of the younger actors who have appeared on the show, perhaps none have managed to maintain the same level of relevance as Imperioli – his podcast, „Talking Sopranos” made in 2020 with former The Sopranos co-star Steven Schirripa, has attracted a significant audience.
What’s more, the actor has remained not only in the public eye, but also popular with critics. His performance as Dominic Di Grasso on „White Lotus” earned him another Emmy nomination in 2023, the sixth of his career.
Tony Blundetto (B) – Steve Buscemi
Of all the actors who have starred in „The Sopranos,” aside from James Gandolfini, perhaps none has enjoyed commercial and critical success like Steve Buscemi, who played Tony „B,” the New Jersey don’s particularly intelligent but impulsive cousin.
Although many of his most famous roles were played before his appearance on the HBO series, he stayed busy long after his character fell victim to Tony „S” – notably, he’s been a voice actor in some of the most acclaimed animated productions of recent years – from Scooby Doo and Spongebob Square Pants to Rick and Morty, the actor has done just about everything.
These roles come on top of slightly more serious projects, such as playing Nucky Thomson, the title character in Broadwalk Empire – in this drama that ran for five seasons, it was the younger cousin’s turn to be the head of operations.
The DiMeo Syndicate – Tony Soprano’s Soldiers
Paulie Gualtieri – Tony Sirico
Paulie, the one part hilarious, one part ferocious mobster who captured everyone’s attention for 6 seasons, has maintained the confident attitude and New York charm he brought to many of the roles he played after 2007.
In fact, Tony Sirico continued to appear in various films and series right up until the last minute. The actor who in his youth was actually associated with the Colombo mafia family passed away in 2022 at the age of 79. He still managed to complete his last role though – he will appear posthumously as Coach Lou in the film „Super Athlete”, filming of which has wrapped and is due for release soon.
Silvio Dante – Steven van Zandt
Probably the most loyal of Tony’s subordinates and certainly the possessor of the funniest facial expressions, Silvio Dante left a strong impression on the audience, which is not surprising considering Steven van Zandt’s natural charisma.
In fact, die-hard rock music fans probably know him more for his musical career, especially his long-standing collaboration with rock star Bruce Springsteen, but also for artists such as Meat Loaf and Nancy Sinatra, as well as for his own band: Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.
The singer didn’t focus much on acting after the show ended, but is recognized for his role in Lilyhammer – the first original series produced by Netflix, which enjoyed moderate success internationally but was cancelled after three seasons.
Salvatore „Big Pussy” Bonpensiero – Vincent Pastore
The fact that „Pussy” was probably Tony’s most beloved underling made his act of betrayal all the more painful. Many fans believe that the moment Tony, Silvio and Paulie killed Salvatore, according to Mafia rules, was the beginning of the end for their criminal empire.
With a career that began in 1968, Vincent Pastore was one of the most experienced actors on set, and after his death on the show, he continued to work at a pace that is hard to imagine – over 70 roles from 2007 to the present. Of course, most of them weren’t blockbuster performances like the one in The Sopranos, but the workload remains impressive.
Bobby Baccalieri – Steve Schirripa
The „gentlest” member of the DiMeo clan has shown a remarkable perseverance in the spotlight over the years. After years spent on set with Gandolfini and his lieutenants, he has also starred in two more long-running projects – first as Leo Boykewich in the drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013), then as Anthony Abetemarco in the much more popular Blue Bloods (2015-2023), one of the most-watched series in the United States.
These two series have taken up much of his time, with appearances in hundreds of episodes, but he has also found time for some smaller roles and a few side projects – such as the podcast „Talking Sopranos”, alongside Michael Imperioli.
Furio Giunta – Federico Castelluccio
Although he appeared in only 28 episodes of the show, Furio has remained in fans’ memories as Tony Soprano’s most brutal and effective soldier, but Federico Castelluccio managed to capture a more sensitive side of the character in some scenes.
In the years following the series, Castelluccio took part in numerous film projects, but most were either short films or enjoyed little success.
Instead, he became an art collector, and his name has been associated with some high-value transactions over the years. In 2018, he hit the jackpot when he discovered, practically by accident, a painting that was estimated to be worth $10 million, according to CBS.
To this day, he remains an active figure in the art world, and his role on the show is constantly mentioned.
Jackie Aprile – Michael Rispoli
Although Jackie appeared in only four episodes of the first season, the role and death of the DiMeo family’s first „acting boss” was a pivotal moment for the show’s entire story.
Michael Rispoli, the actor who almost got the role of Tony Soprano himself, didn’t wallow in the success of his most famous role. He starred in almost numerous TV productions after his stint on the show ended, and tried his luck in the theater as well.
This proved to be a good choice. In 2014, Rispoli played the lead antagonist in Between Riverside and Crazy, one of the most acclaimed Broadway plays of recent years. The play won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2015.
Richie Aprile – David Proval
Jackie’s smaller in stature but much more violent brother, Richie Aprile has left a strong impression on audiences, just as David Proval has left a strong impact on the industry.
Few other actors on the show, or even in general, come close to the level of dedication and consistency demonstrated by Proval, who, like Vincent Pastore began his career in 1968 and has been in at least a few roles a year virtually non-stop since the late 1980s.
Now 81, the Brooklyn actor shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. His last role was 2022, a one-episode appearance on Grace and Frankie, and he continues to meet regularly and make public appearances with former co-workers.
Ralph Cifaretto – Jon Pantoliano
A real thorn in Tony’s side, Ralph Cifaretto was the character the entire audience loved to hate. Bringing this obnoxious but funny character to life earned Joe Pantoliano the only Emmy Award of his career.
After his brutal death on the show, the actor went on to add various roles to his already impressive filmography, from animation to comedy, action, thriller and horror, and several productions he was involved in are currently set for release.
Vito Spatafore – Joseph Gannascoli
Although Vito started out as a minor character, his story took a turn that completely changed the course of the story in last season, and the man behind the character is not even an actor originally, but a chef.
After the show ended, Gannascoli continued on the acting path for a while, but he’s best known for all the ways he tried to monetize his experience on the show – with activities like offering a dinner for a fee for the chance to talk to an actor from The Sopranos, the path Vito’s actor chose is certainly more unconventional.
He hasn’t devoted all his time to personal enrichment, though. During the pandemic, he started a personal campaign to help overworked doctors, firefighters and other emergency responders – he single-handedly distributed tens of thousands of dollars worth of hot meals raised from donations to emergency personnel on duty in areas near his neighborhood.
Tony’s mistresses
Irina Peltsin – Oksana Lada
The first of Tony’s mistresses, at least of those the audience has known, the relationship with Irina was one of the biggest problems in the DiMeo clan leader’s personal life.
Ukrainian actress Oksanda Lada hit the big time with her first major role, by far the most famous of her career. Like many other actors whose careers practically began on the set of the HBO-produced series, she later starred mainly in crime films and series such as Law & Order and mafia movies.
None of her later roles, however, came close to the level of success with which she began her journey.
Gloria Trillo – Annabella Sciorra
Although she was only in Tony’s life for a short time, Gloria’s suicide was one of the events with the most profound impact on the mobster, mainly because of his guilt over his own role in the woman’s death.
The dramatic performance earned Annabelle Sciorra the only Emmy nomination of her career so far, but the actress doesn’t let the role define her.
Over the years, she has had roles in numerous commercially and critically successful productions, notably series such as Law & Order, CSI, Godfather of Harlem, Blue Bloods and Daredevil.
Sciorra was one of many women who accused producer Harvey Weinstein of rape and numerous other abuses in one of the most shocking scandals in Hollywood history, the event that was the foundation of the #MeToo social movement.
Svetlana Kirilenko – Alla Kliouka
Although she only appeared in 7 episodes and her role in the story was quite limited, Svetlana has remained in people’s memories as the only woman who categorically rejected and didn’t allow herself to be manipulated by Tony Soprano.
After this powerful performance, Belarusian-born actress Alla Kliouka appeared in only a few projects, the best known probably being „Evlampiya Romanova. Sledstvie vedet diletant”, a series that was a significant success in Russia.
Shortly after filming began in 2003, the actress began a relationship with the show’s director, Vladimir Morozov. The two got married and since then Kliouka has been living in Moscow and focusing more on family life. Her last screen appearance was a supporting role in an episode of The Amazing Mrs. Maisel in 2019.
„Civilians” and Tony’s associates
Artie Bucco – John Ventimiglia
Artie, the funny chef with mobster ambitions, was probably Tony Soprano’s only real friend throughout the show – the only one who wasn’t paid off or intimidated by him, anyway.
John Ventimiglia’s career has gone in many directions since the end of the HBO production – from comedic roles like Artie to appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and somewhat more sober roles like Commissioner Milo in the 2020 thriller The Man in the Woods, the actor has shown great versatility over the years.
Jennifer Melfie – Lorraine Bracco
The show’s entire identity was defined by the complicated relationship between Tony and his psychologist, Jennifer Melfie. The doctor was by the criminal’s side from the first scene of the show until near the end, and Lorraine Bracco’s performance is considered one of the best – with four Emmy nominations for the same character to prove it.
The years that followed were, however, complicated for the actress. Problems with depression and the tragic loss of her parents in 2010 deeply affected her career, but she continued to star in at least a few productions a year, albeit in smaller roles.
In recent years, however, the actress has returned to the spotlight with roles such as Tim’s mother, the lead in the 2019 BBC production ‘Jerk’, and Meryl in ‘Jacir’, a 2022 film about the life of a Syrian refugee in America that has been a considerable local success.
Bracco has also dedicated much of his time to charity – she is a founding member of the Felix Organization, a non-profit dedicated to helping children raised by the state.
Herman „Hesh” Rabkin – Jerry Adler
One of the DiMeo family’s most important associates, the breakdown of Hesh and Tony’s relationship was one of the big signs that the mobster was on a self-destructive path in the show’s final season.
Jerry Adler, the actor who brought the rogue allied with Italian mobsters to life, can boast a career that has taken him to many different parts of the artistic world. From stage manager in the 1980s to Broadway director and finally actor, Adler has never lacked for work or creativity.
The same is true of his post-HBO years – he’s been in many roles since then, but perhaps his most famous and enduring is that of Howard Lyman in the CBS series The Good Wife. In 2017, the 94-year-old actor moved with his wife to his home state of New York, and since then seems to be enjoying a quieter life with rare public appearances.
Adriana La Cerva – Drea de Matteo
Christopher’s girlfriend and later fiancée made perhaps the biggest mistake a civilian living in the mafia’s sphere of influence can make – she cooperated with the authorities. Her death on Tony’s orders remains one of the most shocking and debated scenes in the show’s history.
Like many of the other actors on the show, she went on to play smaller roles over the years, some of them in popular productions such as „Joey,” a spin-off of the famous „Friends” series, or series like „Desperate Housewives” and „Sons of Anarchy.”
Her career has recently taken an unexpected turn. At 51, the actress has joined adult platform OnlyFans. She made the decision after, in her own words, she could no longer find work in Hollywood because of her refusal to get vaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Agent Dwight Harris – Matt Servitto
Over the course of the story, many characters have undergone radical changes, and FBI agent Dwight Harris is perhaps the best example of this: from a competent and honest lawman to a de facto ally of New Jersey mobsters.
After The Sopranos, Matt Servitto has managed to land several recurring roles in series that have enjoyed moderate success compared to the HBO series. With performances in highly rated series such as Brotherhood, Banshee, The Blacklist, and most recently Billions, the actor has proven that he is not tied to his most famous role.
On top of that, he’s had several attempts (and successes) as a director and writer. In particular, Servitto’s 2021 horror short Good Head, released in 2021, was very well received by critics.
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