The Sopranos cast and character guide: Who played whom in the classic crime drama and where are the stars now?

James Gandolfini in The Sopranos | Image via HBO Entertainment
James Gandolfini in The Sopranos | Image via HBO Entertainment

HBO’s The Sopranos is one of the highly acclaimed crime drama series. The popular series followed the story of Tony Soprano, a mafia boss, who struggles with panic attacks. In the series, while dealing with his depression, he tries to take care of his family and also be the boss of the crime family.

The ensemble cast that appeared in the HBO show is regarded as among the most celebrated casts, as their performances made the show a cult classic that is still a popular part of pop culture. Let’s explore the cast and characters guide of The Sopranos.


The Sopranos cast and character guide: Who played whom in the classic crime drama and where are the stars now?

The Sopranos | Image via YouTube/HBO
The Sopranos | Image via YouTube/HBO

The classic crime drama, The Sopranos, narrates the story of Tony Soprano and his deteriorating mental health due to his criminal job. The HBO series shows us how Tony deals with his mental health while also carrying on his criminal business afloat.

Here’s a list of the cast and character guide of The Sopranos:

1) James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano

Gandolfini’s name has become synonymous with his character Tony from the crime drama. He is first introduced as one of the leaders of the DiMeo crime family, and later becomes the Mafia boss of it. In the series, Gandolfini’s Tony suffers from depression, which affects his work as a mafia boss, and also while taking care of his family.

The American actor has won numerous Awards for playing the character of Tony Soprano, which is regarded as one of the most popular characters across TV shows. Other than the HBO show, Gandolfini has appeared in various films, TV shows, and even Broadway plays. From appearing in films such as Zero Dark Thirty, television films like 12 Angry Men, to plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Gandolfini’s versatility is unmatchable.

In 2013, the actor tragically died due to a heart attack. He was 51 at the time.


2) Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri

Sirico is remembered for his unapologetic and ruthless portrayal of Paulie Gualtieri in the classic crime drama. He is one of Tony’s henchmen, who is not afraid to joke about anyone and is one of the violent members of the crime family.

The American actor has appeared in various popular movies, such as Goodfellas and Wonder Wheel, among several others. The actor passed away at the age of 79 on July 8, 2022.


3) Edie Falco as Carmela

Falco played the wife of Tony, Carmela Soprano, in the series. Carmela is an intelligent character who tries to create an environment in their family life where Tony’s criminal activities do not affect her children. She is often seen as guilty of Tony’s activities, but is still considered one of Tony’s trusted allies.

Over the years, the veteran actress has appeared in movies such as Bullets Over Broadway and TV shows like Impeachment: American Crime Story. She will also be seen in the upcoming James Cameron film titled Avatar: Fire and Ash.


4) Steven Van Zandt as Silvio

The American actor portrayed the beloved character of Silvio in the crime drama. He is described as the right-hand man of Tony, with the help of whom he became one of the capos of the crime family. Unlike Tony’s other men, Silvio is calm and rational when it comes to solving challenging situations.

Apart from being an actor, Van Zandt is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted musician. He has also appeared in the Martin Scorsese film, The Irishman. In 2023, the 74-year-old actor and musician began a tour with his band and Bruce Springsteen titled Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour.

However, Van Zandt had to miss some shows in June 2025 due to his appendicitis surgery.


5) Lorraine Bracco as Jennifer Melfi

Bracco appears as one of the most important characters in the HBO series and also in Tony Soprano’s life. She played the character of Jennifer Melfi, the psychiatrist whom Tony begins to see after experiencing panic attacks. She gets intertwined in the criminal life of the Sopranos after being outed as Tony’s psychiatrist, which puts her life in danger.

From popular movies such as Goodfellas to TV shows such as Blue Bloods, the 70-year-old actress has appeared in numerous popular Hollywood projects. In 2025, Bracco also appeared in the heartwarming Netflix film Nonnas, where she played the character of Roberta.


6) Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti

Imperioli’s character, Christopher Moltisanti, is the young protégé of Tony in the series. He is one of the most impulsive and violent members of the crime family, whose actions often cause problems for the family.

He has appeared in films such as Goodfellas and Bad Boys. In TV shows, the American actor has appeared in other recent hot shows on HBO, The White Lotus, and played the character of Dominic Di Grasso in Season 2. He will also be seen in an upcoming film called The Housewife.


7) Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano Jr.

Iler appeared as Tony and Carmela’s son, Anthony/A.J. He does not adhere to rules and regulations and often gets into trouble. Like Tony, A.J. also experiences panic attacks in the series.

The 40-year-old actor has appeared in Law & Order episodes and films such as Daredevil. In 2025, Iler appeared in the dark comedy series, Bad Thoughts.


8) Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano

Chianese appeared as Corrado, also known as Junior, in The Sopranos. He is the crime boss of the DiMeo family, but struggles with insecurity due to power issues among other leaders of the crime family.

The veteran actor has been in several acclaimed films and TV shows, such as The Godfather Part II and Boardwalk Empire, among many others. He has been in the industry since 1952 and has been appearing in numerous shows, such as The Village, and films like Breathe Truth in 2024.


9) Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano

Sigler plays Meadow, Tony and Carmela’s daughter in The Sopranos. Unlike her brother, Meadow is depicted as a smart and intelligent character who excels in her academics. However, often struggles with her legacy and connection with criminal activities.

Sigler has appeared in shows such as How I Met Your Mother and Ugly Betty, among others. Her most recent appearance was on the thriller TV show, Big Sky.


Supporting cast and character guide of The Sopranos

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The Supporting cast and character guide of The Sopranos are as follows:

  • Vincent Pastore as Salvatore Bonpensiero
  • Nancy Marchand as Livia
  • Aida Turturro as Janice
  • Drea de Matteo as Adriana
  • Steve Schirripa as Robert Baccalieri
  • Kathrine Narducci as Charmaine Bucco
  • Vincent Curatola as John Sacrimoni

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Edited by Debashri Roy