Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The Sopranos is arguably the greatest, and one of the most innovative television series of all time. It was one of the first series to portray deeply complex and morally gray characters in a way that was closer to cinema than what television was offering at the time. Few series have been able to replicate the success and quality of The Sopranos, with many taking direct inspiration from the classic series.
With a powerhouse cast delivering unforgettable performances, such as Drea De Matteo’s tragic turn as Adriana La Cerva and Nancy Marchand’s miserable portrayal of Livia Soprano, The Sopranos stands unmatched in acting excellence. This list ranks the greatest performances of the series.
10
Tony Sirico
Appeared as Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri
Tony Sirico plays Paulie Walnuts, a longtime associate of the Soprano crew who worked under former boss Giovanni Francis “Johnny Boy” Soprano. Under Tony’s leadership, Paulie continues in his role as a crucial capo to the Soprano family, engaging in a variety of schemes including robbery, extortion, and loansharking. Paulie is famously one of the only Soprano crew members to remain alive and unscathed by the end of the series.
With his long list of hilarious quotes and animated acting, Tony Sirico’s role as Paulie Walnuts is a masterclass in comedy. His hysterical blend of quirky neuroticism and aggression make Paulie one of the most unforgettable characters of the series. Sirico’s real-life experience working in the mob informs his memorable performance as Paulie. “From Where To Eternity” finds Paulie investigating the paranormal after Chris claims to have received a message from the afterlife following his near-death experience. Paulie’s paranoia reaches a feverish high in the middle of the episode after a psychic claims the dead are following him; Paulie responds by throwing a chair across the hall and shouting profanities in one of his funniest moments. But perhaps his best performance was in the classic episode “Pine Barrens,” which found Chris and Paulie lost in the woods while trying to track down Valery.
9
Vincent Curatola
Appeared as “Johnny Sack” Sacrimoni
Johnny Sack serves as the underboss (and, for a short period the boss) of New York. He’s fond of cigarettes, Maseratis, and his Rubenesque wife, Ginny Sack. Throughout the series, Johnny Sack collaborates with the Soprano crew on various business ventures, including the notable Esplanade deal. Though Sack is typically described as a “pragmatist,” his wrathful temper and love for his wife cause numerous issues between New York and Jersey at varying points in the series. Similarly to the former boss of New York, Carmine Sr. (Tony Lip), Sack dies from natural causes related to his lung cancer as opposed to the violent end other characters suffer.
Vincent Curatola‘s is perhaps best known for his role as the chain-smoking Johnny Sack. His piercing eyes, well-tailored suits, and signature cigarette make him a formidable onscreen presence. Sacrimoni often shares screentime in one-on-one scenes with James Gandolfini, whose towering presence is undeniable. But Curatola’s portrayal of Sacrimoni is stylish, graceful, and marked by clever one-liners, making it the perfect counterpoint to Tony’s towering presence. Curatola’s portrayal of Sacrimoni is also notable for making his character one of the more likable, or at least sympathetic, characters of the series. When Johnny Sack goes to bat for his wife following Ralph’s cruel joke about the mole, Curatola does a remarkable job of showing audiences how much Sack really loves his wife. It’s impossible not to root for this character among a larger group of philandering sociopaths.
8
Aida Turturro
Appeared as Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano is Tony’s sister who shows up out of nowhere to freeload and try and get some money out of the family. She appears in the second season of the series after having spent years “finding herself” in a variety of places, including California and Seattle. Her sudden arrival immediately sparks the ire of Tony, who resents her for dumping the responsibility of their mother on him. Though Janice’s initial visit seems temporary, she soon settles back into Jersey, where she marries and then kills her husband, Richie Aprile (David Proval), and later marries Bobby Bacala (Steve Schirippa) (who she doesn’t kill, but is later killed anyway).
Janice Soprano is a narcissist and shameless opportunist with a devastating lack of self-awareness. Aida Turturro portrays this character with stunning efficacy. Few characters can frustrate and upset audiences in the way Janice does, and Turturro seems to do so with effortless charm. Turturro’s performance showcases her ability to portray that unique California brand of New Age narcissism. This is a character who’s completely out-of-touch and yet certain that she’s spiritually enlightened. Turturro shines in every scene she’s in by playing Janice with an almost adolescent naivety. But what solidifies this performance as one of the series’ best is the way Turturro’s performance grows as the series goes on. By the end of The Sopranos, Janice has genuinely made strides to be a better person and parent, qualities that are subtly displayed in Turturro’s stellar performance.
7
Joe Pantoliano
Appeared as Ralphi Cifarretto
Ralph is a sadistic associate of the Soprano crew who has an obsession with Gladiator, a proclivity for masochism, and a relentless desire to be captain of his own crew. Despite being one of the top earners, Ralph is constantly causing issues for Tony and the family. While high on cocaine, Ralph swings a mace around at the Bing and nearly takes out Georgie’s eye, and later on in a fit of rage, he brutally beats Tracy to death outside the club, which triggers Tony to administer a well-earned beatdown. Ralph’s problematic parenting also contributes to Jackie Aprile’s (Jason Cerbone) demise. With all the trouble Ralph stirs up it came as no shock to the audience when Tony finally strangled him to death in “Whoever Did This.”
Joe Pantoliano has no shortage of impressive roles to his name, but his role as Ralph Cifaretto is surely among his best. Pantoliano imbues Ralph with a smug, presumptuous demeanor that’s astonishingly repellent. Pantoliano’s talent is illustrated in his ability to play such a despicable character in a comedic way that makes him palatable. Pantoliano’s charisma comes out in this performance just enough to make Ralph kind of fun to watch, despite all the disgusting things he does and says. However, the most impressive aspect of Pantoliano’s performance was his capacity to make Ralph a sympathetic character just before he’s killed. After all the horrible things Ralph does, his life and character are drastically altered when his son falls into a coma after accidentally being struck by an arrow. Suddenly Pantoliano’s performance shifts from a smug narcissist to a repentant broken parent. This performance feels so authentic that for a moment audiences actually feel for his character. This isn’t easy given Ralph’s track record, but Pantoliano makes it work. It’s a true testament to his talent as a performer.
6
Drea de Matteo
Appeared as Adriana La Cerva
Adrianna La Cerva is Christopher Moltisanti’s girlfriend and later on his fiancée. Adriana’s family has historic ties to the mob, with her uncle being Richie Aprile. Given these circumstances, it only seems natural for the naive, kindhearted Adriana to find herself in a relationship with one of the most abusive and unstable members of the Soprano crew. Adriana is constantly the victim of Chris’ verbal and physical abuse, but despite all of this she remains in a committed relationship with him in hopes of finally getting married. This fantasy tragically comes to pieces when Chris discovers Adriana’s been talking to the feds and conspires with Tony to have her executed in one of The Sopranos‘ most heartbreaking deaths.
Drea de Matteo’s performance as Adriana La Cerva feels so genuine that it’s tough to separate the actor from the character. With her thick Jersey accent, her big hair, and outfit choices, Drea de Matteo completely disappears into the character. As one of the most tragic figures in the series, Drea de Matteo does an exceptional job of depicting the hopeless futility of Adriana’s situation, especially in the latter seasons. Adriana is a character that’s intelligent enough to recognize that her communication with the feds is a death sentence, but not bright enough to know to ask for an attorney. Drea de Matteo perfectly understood this about her character in a way that was seamlessly translated into her performance.
5
Lorraine Braco
Appeared as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Jennifer Melfi is Tony’s therapist and one of the most important characters in the series. Throughout the course of The Sopranos, audiences are allowed access to Tony’s thoughts and psychology through sessions with Dr. Melfi that gradually reveal more about Tony and, incidentally, Dr. Melfi herself. During her tenure as Tony’s doctor, Dr. Melfi struggles to deal with her obligation to treat her patients, in this case, Tony Soprano, and the ethics of treating a subject who lives a life of crime may very well be beyond help. At the end of the series, Dr. Melfi reads a study that shows sociopaths use talk therapy to justify their actions, prompting her to finally cut Tony out of her life.
Lorraine Bracco‘s phenomenal portrayal of Dr. Melfi is often cited as one of the most accurate depictions of a therapist. Lorraine Bracco portrays Dr. Melfi has a calm and collected demeanor that underscores her patience and capacity for empathy when dealing with an explosive and complicated character like Tony. These qualities create a compelling juxtaposition between the two characters who are as contrary to one another as can be. Bracco achieves this performance with impressive restraint and subtlety. Her ability to shift into a less arrested style in scenes that feature Dr. Melfi, with her family and doctor, forms a multi-faceted picture of the character that makes her feel more authentically human. Bracco’s performance remains one of her greatest and most memorable achievements.
4
Nancy Marchand
Appeared as Livia Soprano
Livia Soprano is Tony’s pessimistic mother and the mainspring of many of his issues. During Tony’s sessions with Dr. Melfi, it’s revealed that in his childhood, Livia was often aggressive and impatient towards him, and, as an adult, she was not much kinder towards him. Towards the end of season one, Livia reveals to Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese) that Tony’s been seeing a therapist, a major mafia infraction. Junior attempts to have Tony killed and the relationship between the three is never the same again. Although Livia dies at the beginning of Season 3, she leaves a lasting impact and influence on Tony’s life.
Livia is the most miserable character in the entire series, and she’s arguably the greatest villain as well. She was constantly miserable and instigated a multitude of issues that threatened the stability of the Soprano crew. Nancy Marchand’s performance is one of the greatest of the series because of how good she was at portraying this angry, miserable person. Marchand’s line deliveries are consistently filled with vitriol and annoyance, and her face, perpetually fixed in a scowl, immediately sets the tone for each scene she’s in. Livia is also a uniquely duplicitous character. As the series progresses, she shows early signs of dementia, putting her actions into question. Marchand does a remarkable job of portraying these qualities and making it ambiguous to audiences whether Livia was an evil mastermind or just a confused, unhappy elderly person.
3
Michael Imperioli
Appeared as Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher Moltisanti is Tony’s protégé. Although Christopher is Carmela’s cousin, Tony refers to him as his nephew due to how close they are. While Tony attempts to groom Chris as his potential successor, his personal issues are persistent interference. Chris has a substance abuse issue that starts with him tooting a little bit of blow here and again, but later snowballs (sorry for the pun) into a full-blown heroin addiction that causes major issues in his professional and personal life. Chris’ insecurity and general lack of intelligence only add fuel to the dumpster fire that is his life. Although Chris manages to get sober, this is short-lived, and he’s ultimately killed off by Tony after the two get into a near-fatal car accident.
Michael Imperioli’s role as Christopher is a nuanced portrayal of a deeply troubled young man who never had the guidance he needed in life. Christopher is also tragically dumb. Michael Imperioli portrays this through incredible line deliveries, energetic physical acting, and nuanced facial expressions. Imperioli’s portrayal of a person struggling with substance abuse is also staggering in its authenticity. Imperioli’s top performances are in “Pine Barrens,” “The Strong, Silent Type,” and “The Ride,” the latter of the two depicting his character in drug stupors. Imperioli also does a phenomenal job of portraying the violent intensity of Chris’ character; Chris has an explosive temper that often leads to brutal violence, many times directed at Adriana. These scenes are tough to watch because of how well Imperioli plays this role. The fury in Chris’ eyes betrays his complete lack of restraint.
2
Edie Falco
Appeared as Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano is Tony Soprano’s wife, and frequently the only person that can put him in his place. She’s composed, elegant, intelligent, and seems to usually be in control. Carmela is a stay-at-home wife who ensures the house is kept in order while Tony is away at work. The two often fight because of Tony’s philandering as well as his brash decisions, which often affect the household in varying ways. Carmela sticks it through with Tony due to her traditional Catholic upbringing, but she’s often conflicted over it. Her story largely revolves around the guilt of being married to a criminal and the desire to take care of her family.
Carmela Soprano is one of the most conflicted characters in the series. She struggles to justify staying with Tony and often looks to her faith as the primary reason for doing so. This conflict is a major source of Carmela’s internal struggle, something that Edie Falco can portray with searing realism. Falco doesn’t use big gestures to display this; instead, she employs an economic approach to her performance. When she finds another girl’s nail in Tony’s laundry, for example, she doesn’t blow up or make any remark, but it’s the mixed look of disappointment and contempt that she expresses through her downcast eyes and her slight frown that shows viewers what she’s feeling. While her style is typically restrained, Falco’s most memorable moment is perhaps in the explosive fight she has with Tony in “Whitecaps.” Falco has an emotional performance that feels authentic and well-earned given everything she had to put up with up to this point in the series.
1
James Gandolfini
Appeared as Tony Soprano
Tony Soprano is the patriarch of the Soprano household and the boss of the Soprano family. He’s equally charismatic and menacing. Tony struggles to reconcile his criminal lifestyle with his obligations as a family man, and during the series, audiences watch as Tony’s personal and professional lives often intersect, frequently to the detriment of Tony and everyone around him. Although Tony attempts to be a better person, he ultimately submits to his hedonistic lifestyle and darkest impulses.
James Gandolfini gives the performance of a lifetime as Tony Soprano. Tony is a deeply complex character who can pivot from being a caring, playful, typical dad to a ruthless cold-blooded killer. Gandolfini’s immaculate acting is on full display as he seamlessly transitions between these two sides of Tony. But beneath Tony’s frightening exterior and sharp wit is a child who takes what he wants and does what he wants without considering the consequences of his actions. This is at the heart of Tony’s character, and only Gandolfini, whose incomparable charm is an integral element to the performance, can convey such a unique and important aspect to the character. Throughout the series, audiences witness the full spectrum of Tony Soprano due to this impressive performance, and it remains a testament to Gandolfini’s profound talent.
