The Sopranos: What Each Lead Actor Has Done Since The Series Ended
The Sopranos' legacy endures through its impressive main cast of characters and actors. Here's what they've done since the HBO series ended in 2007.
The Sopranos remains one of the 21st century’s most iconic TV shows, and its legacy endures through the main cast’s collective resumes. The late James Gandolfini will always be remembered as Tony Soprano, of course, while other main performers have landed significant roles since the HBO series ended. So, what did they appear in after The Sopranos’ controversial final episode?
From 1999 to 2007, The Sopranos entertained HBO audiences with its stories of foul-mouth gangsters and their inner circle of friends. The show is fundamentally a mafia-centric series, but its various themes offer a complex portrait of modern-day family dynamics, whether it’s Tony’s domestic life or his professional experiences as the leader of the DiMeo crime family. Due to the sprawling narrative, various characters were introduced during The Sopranos’ six seasons, many of whom continue to resonate with viewers who experience the series for the first time or those who have returned for a complete re-watch.
The Sopranos’ main cast and characters are a major selling point for the Buddhism-inspired show. There are tough-talking male mobsters, along with independent-minded women with big personalities. Incidentally, The Sopranos’ inherent violence forces the audience to grapple with their interpretations of deeply flawed yet relatable characters. Here’s what the collective cast members have done since the final episode, “Made in America.”
James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini, who starred as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, sadly passed away at age 51 in 2013. After the HBO series ended, he appeared in several high-profile movies. Gandolfini portrayed Lieutenant George Miller in Armando Iannucci’s 2009 comedy In the Loop and starred alongside Denzel Washington the same year for Tony Scott’s The Taking of Pelham 123. Beyond those roles, he delivered a memorable performance as the aging hitman Mickey in Killing Them Softly, and reunited with The Sopranos’ creator, David Chase, for the 2012 drama Not Fade Away, and also appeared as a CIA Director in the Zero Dark Thirty. Gandolfini voiced Carol in Where the Wild Things Are and Bobby Eggs in Nicky Deuce. His son, Michael Gandolfini, stars as Young Tony Soprano in the 2021 movie The Many Saints of Newark.
Lorraine Bracco
Actress Lorraine Bracco remained busy after playing The Sopranos’ Dr. Jennifer Melfi. She appeared in Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 9, she narrated the TV series I Married a Mobster, and briefly collaborated with comedian John Mulaney for one episode of his short-lived 2014 series Mulaney. In the 2020s, Bracco landed roles in movies such as A Ring for Christmas and The Birthday Cake, but she’s become even better known in pop culture for portraying Dr. Janet in BoJack Horseman, Mayor Margaret Dutton in Blue Bloods, and Angela Rizzoli in Rizzoli & Isles.
Edie Falco
After co-starring as Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos, Edie Falco maintained industry momentum by portraying Celeste Cunningham in several episodes of 30 Rock, and then by landing a starring role in Nurse Jackie. She earned four Golden Globe nominations for her performance and won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Since then, Falco has portrayed Sylvia in Louis C.K.’s Horace and Pete, Leslie Abramson in Law & Order True Crime, and Hillary Clinton in American Crime Story. She also headlined the TV series Tommy as Abigail “Tommy” Thomas. Falco will portray General Ardmore in future Avatar movies, and has appeared in the films The Comedian, Megan Leavey, and Viper Club.
Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli has maintained a steady acting career after portraying The Sopranos’ Christopher Moltisanti. He briefly headlined the ABC series Life on Mars as Detective Ray Carling, and then returned to the network for a starring gig as Detective Louis Fitch in Detroit 1-8-7. Neither show lasted beyond one season. However, Imperioli did earn a recurring role as Ray Ray on the Showtime hit Californication. After that, he landed more prominent roles in television, including Odell Martin in Hawaii Five-0, Eddie in Alex, Inc., Edward Rizzuto in Project Blue Book, and Detective Michael Sellitto in Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector. Imperioli also played Jay Ford in The Last Full Measure and he played Angelo Dundee in One Night in Miami.
Dominic Chianese
Dominic Chianese, who played Junior Soprano on The Sopranos, has added significant roles to his resume since the HBO series ended. Fans of the FX hit Damages may remember him as Stuart Zedeck, while Boardwalk Empire enthusiasts may recognize him as Leander Cephas Whitlock. In the late 2010s, Chianese also appeared as Judge Michael Marx in The Good Wife and Enzo Napolitano in The Village. He’s set to portray the title character in Umberto D., a remake of Vittorio De Sica’s 1952 Italian Neorealism classic.
Vincent Pastore
Known for portraying Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in The Sopranos, Vincent Pastore left the show after the season 2 episode “Fun House.” Since then, he’s been one of the industry’s most prolific character actors of the 21st century. In the 2000s, Pastore had a short run as Lenny Pescatore on The Practice and portrayed Zach in the 2005 Guy Ritchie movie Revolver. He also voiced Luca in Shark Tale and appeared as General Hospital’s Maximus Giambetti for six episodes in 2008. Pastore voiced Big Pussy in two episodes of Animals., and also portrayed Fat Larry in the Hulu show Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
Steven Van Zandt
After portraying The Sopranos’ Silvio Dante, Steven Van Zandt starred in the very first Netflix Original, Lilyhammer. For three seasons, he headlined the show as Frankie “The Fixer” Tagliano, but then appeared in only a few productions afterward. Van Zandt voiced a diner owner in American Dad! season 11 and appeared as Wolfie in the 2018 Netflix movie The Christmas Chronicles. He also returned to the streaming service to play the singer Jerry Vale in Martin Scorsese’s 2019 crime movie The Irishman.
Robert Iler
In The Sopranos, A.J. feels pressure to live up to his father Tony’s standards. In real life, actor Robert Iler similarly struggled with expectations and only appeared in one episode of Law & Order season 19 after the HBO show ended. According to a 2020 report (via The Hollywood Reporter), Iler has been sober since 2013.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
After portraying Meadow on The Sopranos, Jamie-Lynn Sigler appeared as herself in 13 episodes of Entourage. She also had a brief run as Natalie in the ABC show Ugly Betty and later played Emily in Guys with Kids. In the late 2010s, Sigler voiced Rebeca in Elena of Avalor.
Tony Sirico
In the years after The Sopranos’ final episode, Tony Sirico – aka Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri – landed small roles in Chuck, Medium, and also the 2012 movie Jersey Shore Shark Attack. Then, his career picked up with a two-episode arc in Lilyhammer as Antonino “Father Tony” Tagliano and a role in Woody Allen’s 2016 movie Café Society. Sirico also voiced Vinny in Family Guy, along with Enzo Perotti in American Dad!
Aida Turturro
Aida Turturro, who played Janice Soprano in The Sopranos, appeared in several high-profile shows in the late 2000s and 2010s. First, she appeared as Sheryl Hawkins in ER and Bobbi Catalano in Medium. Turturro then showed up in one episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm season 8 as Gabby and reunited with The Sopranos’ Falco for Nurse Jackie season 4. During the latter half of the 2010s, she landed recurring roles as Judge Felicia Catano in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Heddie Hawkins in The Blacklist, and then appeared as Peti in the 2021 miniseries Kaljave gume.
Steve Schirripa
After portraying Robert “Bobby Bacala” Baccalieri in The Sopranos, Steve Schirripa landed two major roles in mainstream TV shows. He appeared in over 100 episodes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Leo Boykewich and later portrayed Anthony Abetemarco in Blue Bloods. Schirripa’s other roles include Vito in Jersey Boys and Nick in Wonder Wheel.
Drea De Matteo
Known as The Sopranos’ Adriana La Cerva, Drea de Matteo also played a prominent role in Desperate Housewives as Angie Bolen during the late 2000s. She then had a larger character arc as Wendy Case on Sons on Anarchy from 2008 to 2014, and later joined Shades of Blue for a recurring role as Tess Nazario. Post-Adriana La Cerva, De Matteo kept busy during the late 2010s and early 2020s, as she portrayed Barbara Nelson in A Million Little Things and Maya in Paradise City.
Other Notable The Sopranos Actors
Aside from The Sopranos’ main cast members, various other performers have gone on to appear in popular TV shows and movies. For example, Steve Buscemi appeared in 14 episodes of the HBO series as Tony Blundetto after previously starring in classics like Fargo and Reservoir Dogs. He eventually returned to HBO to headline Boardwalk Empire as Enoch “Nucky” Thompson. In addition, Peter Bogdanovich was already an iconic film-critic-turned-filmmaker when he played Dr. Elliot Kupferberg in The Sopranos, and later made headlines when he helped restore and release Orson Welles’ previously-unreleased film The Other Side of the Wind. As for Kathrine Narducci – The Sopranos’ Charmaine Bucco – she portrayed Frankie Lavarro in Power, Carrie Bufalino in The Irishman, and Olympia Gigante in Godfather of Harlem.
