David Chase's critically acclaimed drama, The Sopranos, is universally recognized as one of the greatest shows of all time. Even decades after its controversial finale, The Sopranos reigns as a superior series and continues to recruit dozens of new fans around the world today. It features some of the most memorable performances and iconic moments in television history, many of which were widely recognized and even earned several accolades, including Emmys and Golden Globes.
While most fans recognize an array of Soprano stars from other popular gangster movies like Goodfellas and Casino, several actors also appeared inFrancis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy. Widely considered the best gangster trilogy in film history, The Godfather paved the way for decades of crime movies and shows, including The Sopranos; thus, it makes sense the two would share multiple actors. Some are well known, like Dominic Chianese, who played Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, but other minor actors from The Sopranos, like Richard Bright and John Aprea, had significant roles in the iconic film franchise.
The Sopranos
TV-MADramaCrimeNew Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.
Release Date January 10, 1999 Cast James Gandolfini , Edie Falco , Jamie-Lynn Sigler , Lorraine Bracco , Michael Imperioli , Steve Van Zandt , Tony Sirico , Steve Schirripa Seasons 6 Creator David Chase9 Richard Maldone - Albert Barese
Played Bodyguard in 'The Godfather Part III'
DiMeo soldier Albert "Ally Boy" Barese makes his first appearance in "Knight in White Sating Armor," one of the most shocking episodes in The Sopranos, when he meets with Richie Aprile (David Proval). After his cousin, Lorenzo "Larry Boy" Barese (Tony Darrow), is indicted for racketeering with the other major players, Barese becomes the acting capo of his crew and appears in several episodes throughout the show.
In The Godfather Part III, a young Maldone plays one of Joey Zasa's (Joe Mantegna) bodyguards, but unfortunately, he doesn't receive credit for the role. According to The New York Post, Maldone earned his role on The Sopranos after he bypassed security during filming and boldly approached James Gandolfini, saying, "Someday, I'm going to play on this show."
8 John Aprea - Gene Conigilaro
Played Salvatore Tessio in 'The Godfather Part II'
In season one, episode 13, "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano," Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese) and several others are arrested by the FBI on racketeering charges. When Junior is behind bars, he's brought into an interrogation room, where he is offered immunity by U.S. Attorney Gene Conigilaro. Despite the current conflict between Junior and his nephew, he refuses to take the deal.
While Aprea's part in The Sopranos may be brief, he has a larger role in The Godfather Part II as a young Salvatore Tessio who didn't speak a word of English. In 1988, Aprea told The Shreveport Journal that playing a younger version of Abe Vigoda's character and sharing scenes with Robert De Niro was a "high point" in his career, and he is forever grateful to have worked with a legend like Coppola.
7 Vito Antuofermo - Bobby Zanone
Played Anthony Squgilaro in 'The Godfather III'
"House Arrest," one of the funniest episodes in The Sopranos, has one of the show's most memorable opening scenes. In it, a front for the Aprile crew, Zanone Bros. Private Carting, sends one of their trucks to dump a massive amount of trash in front of a business owned by a customer who complained about the pricing and service. When the gentleman calls in a rage, a DiMeo associate and owner, Bobby Zanone, answers the phone and is amused by the man's ranting and raving.
Antuofermo's appearance in The Sopranos is small, but some may recognize him from The Godfather Part III as Joey Zasa's enforcer, Anthony "The Ant" Squigilaro. Antuofermo and his family moved from Italy to the United States when he was 17 years old and established himself as a World Middleweight Boxing Champion. When his career slowed down in the 1980s, he started studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute.
6 Frank Albanese - Uncle Pat Blundetto
Played Hitman in 'The Godfather,' and Grand Marshal in 'The Godfather Part III'
In season 5, episode 10, "Cold Cuts," fans meet Uncle Pat Blundetto, who resides on a picturesque farm in upstate New York, which has recently been sold. Before the new owners can move in, Tony decides to send Christopher and Tony B (Steve Buschemi) to visit their uncle and also remove three bodies from his property without drawing attention to themselves.
Albanese was an American actor who was known for his mobster characters and appeared in both The Godfather and The Godfather Part III in minor roles. In The Godfather, Albanese plays the hitman who takes out the man and woman in bed during the film's final scene, considered one of the most iconic finales in cinematic history. Albanese returned to Coppola's franchise in The Godfather III as the Grand Marshal who leads the parade during the St. Gennaro feast.
5 Richard Bright - Frank Crisci
Played Al Neri in 'The Godfather,' 'The Godfather Part II,' 'The Godfather Part III'
When Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) refuses to drop the issue about Ralph mocking his wife, Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. (Tony Lip) hints to Tony to sanction a hit on Johnny. To avoid drawing suspicion to either of the families, Uncle Junior recommends to Tony to hire an old school mobster from Rhode Island, Lou "DiMaggio" Galina (Joseph Castellana), and his experienced crew for the job.
In season 4, episode 4, "The Weight," actor Richard Bright plays a gangster and long-time member of Galina's crew, Frank Crisci. Casting Bright as the imaginative Crisci was more than fitting for the actor, who is best known for his role as Michael Corelone's bodyguard, Al Neri, and appears in all three of The Godfather movies. Bright's character is remembered for being the last face Kay Corleone (Diane Keaton) sees as the door closes at the end of the first film and also for killing Fredo Corleone (John Cazale) in Part II.
4 Vittorio Duse - Don Zi Vittorio
Played Don Tommasino in 'The Godfather Part III'
"Commendatori" is among The Sopranos' most savage episodes. In it, Tony, Christopher, and Paulie (Tony Sirico) travel to Italy to negotiate with a local crime family in Naples about smuggling stolen high-end cars into Italy. When they join the family for dinner, Tony expects to speak to the boss, Don Vittorio. To his dismay, Vittroio is in poor health and relies on his daughter, Annalisa (Sofia Milos), who is acting boss of the family.
Italian actor and director Duse makes a minor appearance in The Sopranos as Don Vittorio, who, despite his character's confusion, provides a bit of comic relief to the rather tense scene. Duse made quite a name for himself in Italy, but outside the country, he's best known for taking on the role of Don Tommasino in The Godfather III. The character was originally played by Corrado Gaipa, but unfortunately, Gaipa passed away a year prior to the release of the third film.
3 Tony Sirico - Paulie Gualtieri
Played an Extra in 'The Godfather Part II'
Former wise guy Tony Sirico plays one of The Sopranos' most beloved characters, Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri, best known for the wings in his hair, velour tracksuits, and no-nonsense attitude. Before landing the role of Paulie on The Sopranos, Sirico had appeared in several notable films, including Goodfellas, Bullets Over Broadway, Gotti, and Cop Land. Before his credited roles, he was an extra in The Godfather II.
According to the podcast Talking Sopranos, Sirico became interested in acting while serving time behind bars. After his release, he met and studied under actor Michael Gazzo, best known for his role as Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II. Like any actor, Sirico started in bit parts, but one of his first gigs was playing an extra alongside his mentor, Gazzo, in the second film.
2 Tony Lip - Carmine Lupertazzi Sr.
Played Barzini's Henchman in 'The Godfather'
American actor Tony Lip is known for his mob boss roles in movies like Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco, but he's widely recognized for his portrayal as New York crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. Prior to his acting career, Lip worked as a bouncer at the Copacabana nightclub, and in 1962, he was hired as a bodyguard and driver for pianist, Don Shirley, which inspired the 2018 Oscar-nominated movie, Green Book.
One night in 1972, Lip met Coppola and casting director Louis DiGiaimo while working at the Copacabana. Thus, Lip made his feature film debut as a henchman for Emilio Barzini (Richard Conte) in The Godfather. Despite his brief screen time, it's pretty impressive that Lip made his first film appearance in one of the greatest films in history and went on to appear in other box office hits, including Raging Bull, Dog Day Afternoon. and The Pope of Greenwich Village.
1 Dominic Chianese - Corrado "Junior" Soprano
Played Johnny Ola in 'The Godfather Part II'
American actor and singer Dominic Chianese stars in The Sopranos as Tony's uncle and New Jersey boss, Corrado "Junior" Soprano. Early on in his career, Chianese appeared in a handful of off-Broadway plays and eventually studied with renowned acting coach Walt Witcover. Chianese went on to appear on Broadway in the 1965 production of Oliver! and made his television debut in the series East Side/West Side starring George C. Scott.
In 1974, Chianese earned his breakthrough role as Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, which led to a film career as well as working with his co-star, Al Pacino, in several plays and movies, including ...And Justice for All and Dog Day Afternoon. Aside from acting, Chianese is also a renowned singer and in "Army of One," one of the best Sopranos episodes, he performs the Italian love song, 'Core 'ngrato,' which many consider to be one of the series' most memorable moments.
All 6 seasons of The Sopranos are available to stream on Max.
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