“The Sopranos” is widely considered to be the tipping point that kicked off TV’s golden age. David Chase’s HBO drama about a mob boss who struggles with his mental health premiered in January of 1999 and went on to revolutionize small-screen programming. Following in the footsteps of “Oz” and “Sex and the City,” the hour-long drama ushered in a new era of Sunday Night television still thrives today. Often named the greatest show of all time, “The Sopranos” was unique for presenting complex characters and storylines not held to traditional network schedules and content standards. It was violent and vulgar, with many characters eradicating the line between hero and villain. At times funny, horrific, thrilling, and even heartbreaking, the story of Tony Soprano and his family never feels anything less than real.
The strength of “The Sopranos” lies in its depth of characterization, thanks in no small part to its full roster of accomplished actors. Although Tony is the unquestionable centerpiece, each episode is nearly bursting with the fascinating people who live in his periphery. Its casting was almost too perfect, to the degree that some of the show’s most memorable stars struggled to escape the mafia shadow once the show wrapped in 2007. But given the stellar acting chops of the entire ensemble, many more went on to land outstanding roles . Let’s catch up with some of our favorite wiseguys and girls to see how they fared after notoriously cut to black.
Tony Soprano is not only the main character, but the heart of the show. Husband to Carmela and father to Meadow and Anthony Jr. (A.J.), the de facto head of the DiMeo crime family wins our hearts in the first episode with his fondness for the ducks behind his house and his all-too-relatable battle with panic attacks and depression. Although he will test those sympathies throughout the show’s six-season run with his violent tendencies and womanizing, he is one of the most complex and beloved characters in the history of television.
It’s difficult to overestimate just how large a shadow the Sopranos patriarch holds over the television landscape. With James Gandolfini’s legendary performance anchoring one of the greatest shows of all time, the threat of typecasting in future roles looms large. Nicole Holofcener’s “Enough Said” wisely doesn’t try to contradict this persona, presenting a character in a similar phase of life. Albert is a divorced father of a college-bound daughter also trying to figure out the next phase of his life. It’s easy to see Tony in Albert, but his softer lifestyle — not to mention Gandolfini’s chemistry with another beloved TV icon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus — helps us see a kinder side of the alternately loving and menacing man. The pairing of two actors from the Armando Iannucci comedy universe (him from “In the Loop” and her from “Veep”) is a treat as well. Released four months after Gandolfini’s death, this sweet film showcases his softer side, and remains a fitting way to say goodbye.Already known for her Oscar-nominated performance as Karen Hill in Martin Scorsese’s seminal “Goodfellas,” Bracco was the perfect fit for the role of Tony’s long-time therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Once again playing the voice of reason to an erratic mobster, Dr. Melfi provides emotional support and a sounding board for the anxious criminal. Although the relationship threatens her code of professional ethics and occasionally her life, she continues to treat Tony through all six seasons of the show’s run. Dr. Melfi finally ends her association with Tony in the penultimate episode, having decided she will be unable to help him and has perhaps even played a hand in his criminality by allowing him to justify his illegal actions. Bracco earned multiple Emmy nods for her performance, often nominated alongside her co-stars.
