The sopranos was a program that has left its mark on the history of TV. It was one of HBO’s biggest successes to date, both critically and commercially, and its protagonist’s villainous blueprint is one that continues to be copied by networks to this day (see hugely popular shows like Succession or you for relevant examples). Many of those involved, including writers and others behind the scenes, were pretty much given their choice of projects after the success of the show.
For example, Matthew Weiner was one of the writers and became an executive producer of The sopranos in its final seasons. This opened the doors and created opportunities for him to do Mad Men (2007 – 2015) a few years later. Some actors have also been working on great projects since the last episodes of the legendary series aired. Let’s check out some other great movies and shows featuring cast members of The sopranos.
10 Enough Said (James Gandolfini)
Enough said is a drama/comedy directed by Nicole Holofcener that tells the story of Eva, a divorced masseuse (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who meets Albert (Gandolfini) and Marienne (Catherine Keener) at a party through mutual friends. As the plot progresses, Marienne becomes a client and good friend, and Eva begins to fall for Albert, only to later discover that he is Marienne’s ex-husband. After watching James Gandolfini as he tried to deal with mafia problems, his family and his own mental issues, this movie is a nice romantic comedy so we can understand the softer side of this talented actor.
The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and was well received. It was also released on James Gandolfini’s birthday and received a few award nominations for the performances and screenplay – a great option to watch if you’re looking for Gandolfini at his best after Sopranos.
9 Nurse Jackie (Edie Falco)
Edie Falco, who is known for playing Carmela Soprano, Tony’s wife, starred in her own show from 2009 to 2015. Nurse Jackie. Released at the moment on the channel show time, it tells the story of Jackie Peyton, a hard-working nurse dealing with her drug addiction and trying to balance her work-life routine.
With seven seasons, Edie Falco received an Emmy Award for the show as Outstanding Comedy Actress, and the show received a total of 24 nominations. It was well reviewed by audiences and critics, with 87% and 81% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively.
8 The White Lotus (Michael Imperioli)
The great Michael Imperioli has been in the spotlight lately. After playing Christopher Moltisanti in The sopranosplayed the American actor in the last season of Mike White’s The White Lotus. Now set in Sicily, Italy, this award-winning drama features another group of wealthy people who decide to vacation at a resort hotel.
Imperioli plays Dominic Di Grasso, a Hollywood man who took his son and father to get in touch with their Italian heritage. They deal with sexual issues and his family and try to reach out to their family in their hometown. We follow the lives and complex relationships of those tourists along with the hotel staff and some of the city’s guests, and their stories intertwine and collide throughout the season. With an excellent cast, the show is a must-watch and a huge HBO hit, now entering its third season set in Thailand.
7 Lilyhammer (Steven Van Zandt)
Steven Zandt is an actor, musician, DJ and producer. He starred in Silvio Dante The sopranos, his first acting role. Then they moved on and starred in a few works, but in 2011 Zandt co-wrote, produced and starred as Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer. Produced by Netflix in collaboration with NRK, a Norwegian broadcaster, it tells the story of a city with the same name as its title, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
With roots in Silvio Dante in The Sopranos, Tagliano is an ex-mafia member who participates in a witness protection program and goes to Norway in an attempt to escape the person he testified against. The show was canceled after three seasons, but it’s an excellent reprise if you miss Dante in action.
6 Goodfellas (Tony Sirico)
Tony Sirico brought Paulie Gualtieri to life on screen. He initially auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior, but agreed to play Walnuts on the condition that his character “didn’t turn into a rat.” But apart from this show, he acted in several other mafia movies like Goodfellas (1990), The Godfather (1972), Love and Money (1982), Innocent Blood (1992), Bullets Over Broadway (1994) and more.
In Good day, Martin Scorsese’s great classic set in the 1960s and 1970s, where we see the story of Henry Hill, a small-time gangster who tries to climb the mafia hierarchy with his two friends; Sirico plays Tony Stacks. A small role that came before he was cast as Paulie Walnuts, but had a major impact on it nearly seven years later.
5 Tadpole (Robert Iler)
Robert Iler started his acting career just a year earlier The sopranos got its first season in 1998. He played AJ Soprano, son of Tony and Carmella. With a few small appearances in shows like Law & authority And Dead zonehe was also inside deadpool from 2003.
In tadpole, Iler played Charlie, Oscar Grubman’s (Aaron Stanford) best friend and confidant. This coming-of-age movie tells the story of a teenager who tries to win the love of his stepmother, believing she is her true love. Instead, he gets her best friend, Diane, to become interested in him. The film received the Directing Award for Gary Winnick at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
4 Entourage (Jamie-Lynn Sigler)
Tony Soprano’s daughter, Meadow Soprano, is played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler. She started her career in the show, spent several months on Broadway and then moved to television. In 2008, she appeared as herself in the series Entourage. The show tells the story of two friends, Vinny and Eric, trying to break out in Hollywood. With his brother and friends, they explore their friendship and the way of life in Los Angeles.
Produced by Mark Wahlberg and with the plot inspired by his life events, the show has numerous guest stars such as Jon Favreau, Armie Hammer and Jessica Alba. Jamie-Lynn Sigler is a recurring character who appears in season five, playing himself and dating one of the characters, Turtle.
3 Rizzoli & Islands (Lorraine Bracco)
Tony Soprano’s famous psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco. The actress had her breakthrough Goodfellas (1990) after playing Henry’s wife and being nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress. Because of this, when she auditioned for The sopranos, showrunner David Chase wanted her to audition for the role of Carmela, Tony’s wife. However, she thought that the role of Dr. Melfi would be more challenging and insisted.
After the show was over, she co-starred in a crime drama series named Angie Harmon Rizzoli & Islands. Based on the novels of the same name by Tess Gerritsen, it tells the story of a detective and a doctor who work together to solve cases and catch a serial killer. With seven seasons, the show was well received and even got the People’s Choice Awards for Sacha Alexander in 2916 as Favorite Cable TV Actress.
2 The Blacklist (Aida Turturro)
Tony Soprano’s older sister, Janice, is played by Aida Turturro. After being in the show, she has made many appearances in comedies such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 – 2021) And What We Do in the Shadows (2019 – present). She is also a recurring character in the crime series The blacklist as Heddie Hawkins, for four seasons as an accountant for Smokey Putnam in season 5, later working for Reddington (James Spader).
The blacklist is a crime show starring Spader and Megan Boone and tells the story of Raymond Reddington and Elizabeth Keen. Reddington is the FBI’s most wanted man and one day decides to make himself his own on one condition: that Detective Keen be the one to question him. Together, he begins to give her other criminals on his blacklist, with an intricate plan that will see Elizabeth try to discover why he is doing all that.
1 Boardwalk Empire (Dominic Chianese)
Junior Soprano, or Uncle Junior, was played by Dominic Chianese. He started his acting career in theater and his film career started when he was cast The Godfather (1974) and starred in several movies with Al Pacino over the years, The Godfather Part II (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), …And Justice for All (1979)And Looking for Richard (1996).
On television, Chianese was a recurring character in Boardwalk Empire, playing Mr. Whitlock in seasons 2, 3 and 4, a retired lawyer and poker broker. Produced by HBO, the show is set in 1920s Atlantic City and tells the story of a political figure who rises to power and comes to terms with his personal and political lifestyle. At the same time, he tries to evade government investigations into illegal activities and connections to the mafia. The final season jumps to the 1930s, close to the end of the Prohibition Act that was in effect during those years.