The Sopranos is a popular crime drama and one of HBO’s most successful TV shows. Many critics and viewers even consider The Sopranos the best TV series of all time. And with six seasons and almost 90 episodes, The Sopranos has featured several talented guest-stars. Actors like Cristin Milioti played important roles in more than one episode of The Sopranos.
However, some actors guest starred in The Sopranos only once, like Annette Bening or The Wire’s Michael Kenneth Williams. Others, like Jon Favreau or Sir Ben Kingsley, had small roles and played a fictionalized version of themselves for a single episode. In a few cases, some actors appeared in the series before becoming international stars. For these reasons, it’s possible fans might not remember all the talented actors who have appeared in The Sopranos.
1 Annette Bening Appeared in One of Tony Soprano’s Dreams
The iconic Annette Bening had a unique guest-starring role in The Sopranos. In Season 5, Episode 11, titled “The Test Dream,” Bening plays a version of herself playing Mrs. DeTrolio. As Tony checks himself into a hotel, he falls asleep and has a vivid dream where he sees Annette Bening as Finn DeTrolio’s mother.
Annette Bening is a prolific actress who’s received several awards. Some of her most prominent roles include Carolyn Burnham in American Beauty and Dr. Nicole “Nic” Allgood in The Kids Are All Right. Bening is also part of the MCU, appearing in Captain Marvel as Supreme Intelligence and Mar-Vell / Dr. Wendy Lawson.
2 Chandra Wilson Clashes With Janice Soprano in an Anger Management Class
Chandra Wilson, known for her iconic role of Dr. Miranda Bailey in Grey’s Anatomy, made an appearance in The Sopranos in Season 5, Episode 10, titled “Cold Cuts.” Wilson plays Evelyn Greenwood, one of the participants of the anger management class Janice Soprano attends after she gets arrested.
Chandra Wilson also had appearances in shows like Law & Order: SVU and Sex and the City before starring in the beloved medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Wilson has also directed a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and has played Dr. Miranda Bailey in over 400 episodes.
3 Tobin Bell Was the Administrator at the Military School Where Tony Takes A.J.
Tobin Bell Sopranos’ character is Major Zwingli, the administrator at Hudson Military School, who informs Tony and Carmela about the school’s rigorous program.
A.J. doesn’t want to go to military school and suffers a panic attack, which eventually disqualifies him to join Hudson.
Tobin Bell gained international success as John Kramer / Jigsaw in the Saw horror franchise. Before the first Saw film made its debut, Bell appeared in The Sopranos in Season 3, Episode 13, titled “Army of One.” In this episode, A.J. Soprano is expelled from high school and Tony decides to send him to military school, where they meet Tobin Bell as Major Carl Zwingli.
Tobin Bell is now a horror icon, starring in nine of the ten films in the Saw franchise. He’s also had roles in popular television shows like The X Files, 24, and Criminal Minds. Tobin Bell reprized his role of Jigsaw in Saw X, released in 2023.
4 Lady Gaga Was One of A.J.’s Classmates
Lady Gaga is a talented singer and actor who’s found incredible international success. But when she was still only known as Stefani Germanotta, she made her acting debut on The Sopranos. In Season 3, Episode 9, titled “The Telltale Moozadell,” Lady Gaga plays one of A.J.’s classmates who break into their high school’s pool before vandalizing the place.
In recent years, Lady Gaga has received recognition for her acting in films such as A Star is Born and House of Gucci. Lady Gaga is currently set to star in the sequel to 2019’s Joker, Joker: Folie à Deux, where she will portray Harley Quinn.
