Sopranos’ Deaths Ranked: You Won’t Believe #1!

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Boasting more than 90 on-screen deaths, this groundbreaking series delved into television violence by portraying a universe of mafia intrigue and assassination. The show often depicts death, often sudden and tragic, as an inherent aspect of the underworld, thus preparing viewers to anticipate occasional murders in each installment.

In The Sopranos, death serves to heighten tension and significantly impact the narrative, whether it’s sudden or foreshadowed. Each significant character’s demise plays a pivotal role in advancing the storyline or marking the climax of a storyline or character development. Here is a list of major deaths in The Sopranos arranged chronologically.

Death: Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”

From the outset of “The Sopranos,” Christopher Moltisante was a volatile character, responsible for the series’ initial violent act in the pilot episode. In their competition for the waste disposal contract at Triborough Towers, the DiMeo crime family’s Barone Sanitation and Kolar Bros. Sanitation found themselves at odds. To demonstrate their determination, Chris devised a plan to send a powerful message to the Kolar brothers. He enticed Emil Kolar, nephew of Kolar Bros. manager, to Satriale’s with an offer of cocaine.

Through playful banter, Chris repeatedly teased Emil by nicknaming him “Email.” However, a tragic event occurred when Chris shot and instantly killed the rival manager’s nephew at the back of his head. Yet, Emil Kolar did not meet his end there. It remains unclear whether this was Moltisante’s first kill or not, but Emil seemed to haunt Chris in his dreams, taking on a vengeful spirit that may have fueled Chris’ spiraling drug addiction throughout the series. The most heart-wrenching aspect of the story is that no one commanded Chris to assassinate Emil Kolar; he did so with the hope of advancing within the organization.

Death: Season 1, Episode 3: “Denial, Anger, Acceptance”

From the moment Brenan Filone, Chris’s friend and associate of the DiMeo crime family, appeared, he was eager to face trouble. He was known for his cockiness, arrogance, and not being the sharpest tool in the shed. Regularly, Filone would involve Christopher in conflicts with Junior Soprano, which only served to widen the divide between Tony and Junior due to their frequent mishaps.

In desperation over the unskilled duo, Junior seeks guidance from Livia Soprano, who ultimately triggers the sequence of events leading to Filone’s demise. Meanwhile, in his solitary dwelling, Mikey Palmice breaks in and fatally shoots Filone through the eye while bathing, with Junior as a witness. This incident fuels growing animosity between Junior and Tony. However, Chris escapes charges for a staged execution but later demands vengeance upon discovering Filone’s lifeless body.

Death: Season 1, Episode 4: “Meadowlands”

Tony Aprile Sr. and Jackie Aprile Jr., having grown up side by side, maintained a close bond even as they delved into criminal activities. Despite Jackie assuming the role of de facto head of the DiMeo crime family, their friendship remained robust. In the first season, when Jackie received a cancer diagnosis, Tony felt a mix of sorrow and irritation beneath the surface. As the disease consumed him, Jackie became preoccupied with his impending mortality and the cancer gnawing at him from within.

Jackie’s unexpected demise not only stirred up unsettling musings about mortality within Tony, but it intensified the strife between him and Uncle Junior. To postpone conflicts for a while, Tony surrendered leadership of the DiMeo clan to Junior. However, Eckley DiMeo and Jackie Aprile had envisioned Tony stepping into Jackie’s shoes. Despite Junior holding the title of “acting” boss, Tony truly wielded power behind the scenes. The intricate bond he shared with Junior and the loss of his confidant, Jackie, pushed Tony Soprano deeper into despair and unease as a result.

Death: Season 1, Episode 5: “College”

Tony Soprano ends up killing Fabian Petrulio in a violent manner, as it turns out that he had been living under the witness protection program. Since Petrulio was an informant for the mob, Tony felt compelled to mete out justice personally. This unexpected act took place during a diversion from his planned college tour with Meadow. The brutal and close-quarters nature of this murder presented a bold choice by the writers on The Sopranos.

During a time when TV was unaccustomed to characters like Tony Soprano, who broke ground as a murderous anti-hero, the executives behind “The Sopranos” were concerned that David Chase might alienate Tony’s fan base with such a brutal portrayal. However, they were proven wrong as Tony’s dark character, along with those of Dexter Morgan and Walter White, helped establish “The Sopranos” as one of the most groundbreaking shows in television history. The pivotal murder scene involving Petrulio served as a key turning point in this transformation.

Death: Season 1, Episode 13: “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”

In the world of the mafia, the word “informant” can instantly create an atmosphere of intense anger and suspicion. An informant is someone who breaks the trust of their “clan” by revealing secrets. Such actions are considered punishable by death. Jimmy Altieri was a character in Season 1 of The Sopranos, but his betrayal ultimately led to his demise at the hands of Silvio and Christopher. His body was found on the street with a toy rat placed inside his mouth, serving as a chilling warning for anyone considering similar actions.

To this very moment, fans continue to argue about whether Jimmy truly was an FBI informant or if he was set up by Salvatore Bonpensiero. The scene where Jimmy attempts to coax Tony down to the basement for business talks raises suspicions, and it’s notable that he didn’t explicitly deny anything. It’s plausible that both Jimmy and Salvatore were informants, with Jimmy being apprehended first.

Death: Season 1, Episode 13: “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”

As a dedicated fan of “The Sopranos”, I found myself stepping into the shoes of Mikey Palmice during the show’s first season. Caught up in a deadly plot to eliminate Tony Soprano under Junior Soprano’s orders, my actions set off a chain of events that would ultimately lead to my demise. Chris and Paulie relentlessly pursued me through the woods before bringing an end to my life with lethal bullets.

The void left by my death significantly weakened Junior’s crew, creating an opportunity for Tony Soprano to assert his dominance. By strong-arming Junior and taking charge of most of his business, Tony and his associates grew exponentially more powerful.

Apart from enhancing the storyline, Mikey’s demise provides a humorous yet intense finale for the initial season of The Sopranos. Instead of showing immediate concern about their dangerous situation, Paulie and Chris are preoccupied with scratching bug bites while they spray bullets at Mikey in the shower. This moment encapsulates the dry wit that The Sopranos incorporated into its violent mobster milieu, creating a fitting culmination.

Death: Season 2, Episode 9: “From Where to Eternity”

In the second season of “The Sopranos,” Matthew Bevilaqua made his debut as a partner in crime to low-rank associate Sean Gismonte of the DiMeo crime family. He subsequently joined the Soprano crew, taking orders from Christopher. Yet, neither Matthew nor Sean appreciated the way they were being handled by their superiors, due to a series of setbacks. Every situation involving them turned out to be problematic.

Ultimately, they chose to undertake an unauthorized assassination attempt on Christopher in order to win over Richie Aprile’s confidence. Unfortunately, not only did their plan to kill Chris fall through, but they were also turned away by Richie. In the ensuing events, Chris shot and killed Sean in self-defense, while Matt fled but was later located and brutally executed by Tony and his associates.

Death: Season 2, Episode 12: “The Knight in White Satin Armor”

In a heated dispute, Janice Soprano ends up fatally shooting her fiancé, Richie Aprile, who had violently attacked her. Known for his brutal mob activities, Richie harbored a grudge against Tony Soprano due to his own narcissistic feelings of inferiority. Prior to his demise, he instigated conflicts with Tony, prompting Tony to devise a plan to eliminate Richie.

Nevertheless, Janice ends up killing Richie before Tony’s group could act, leading them to dispose of Richie’s remains and send Janice to Seattle as a precaution. Richie served as an early demonstration of the violent and destructive nature typical of mobsters in “The Sopranos”, making it challenging for viewers to feel compassion towards his demise.

Death: Season 2, Episode 13: “Funhouse”

On Tony’s boat, Tony, Silvio, and Paulie end up fatally shooting Salvatore Bonpensiero. This occurred following their discovery that Sal was a confidential FBI informant. Vin Makazian, a crooked police detective, had previously informed Tony about Sal’s betrayal, but Tony hesitated to accuse and eliminate one of his closest associates. Upon finding a wire in Sal’s home, Tony comes to the conclusion that action is necessary. Subsequently, he disposes of Sal’s body at sea following the act of taking his life.

The scene where Sal dies is one of the most emotionally impactful moments in the show. After Sal’s murder, Tony, Silvio, and Paulie are all left grappling with his loss. In their dreams and memories, Sal continues to haunt them. As the first member of Tony’s close associates to be killed for betraying the crew, Sal’s death came as a shock and was felt by many fans as an untimely end for a beloved character.

Death: Season 3, Episode 2: “Proshai, Livushka”

In the world of movie-loving enthusiasts like myself, I’d rephrase it as follows: During the third season of “The Sopranos,” I, Livia Soprano, suffered a stroke after repeatedly plotting to harm my son, Tony. Being a character known for her animosity towards him due to his decision to place me in a nursing home, I collaborated with Junior Soprano to orchestrate a hit on Tony. However, Tony found out and planned to end my life by smothering me with a pillow. Sadly, before he could act, I had another stroke that eventually took my life, not the one that occurred initially.

Livia consistently displays cruelty and hostility towards Tony over the course of his life, which significantly contributes to the psychological and emotional issues he grapples with throughout the series. Moreover, she exerts a detrimental and damaging impact on others, and even after her demise, her past mistreatment lingers as a haunting presence in Tony’s mind, tormenting the mob boss long after her passing.

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2025-05-15 03:40