Top 10 Deaths on The Sopranos

At its core, this show is about Tony balancing his duties to his family with his duties to the mob. Few episodes demonstrate this better than “College.” On a college road trip with Meadow, Tony happens to cross paths with an ex-member of the DiMeo family, “Febby” Petrulio. Entering the witness protection program after serving as an informant, Petrulio now goes by Fred Peters. Taking a break from parenting, Tony tracks Petrulio down and garrotes him from behind. Although Petrulio was a one-shot character, his death reflects a facet of mob life: no matter where you go, the mob always catches up to you. This doesn’t just apply to Petrulio, but also Tony, who can’t go a few days with his daughter without whacking someone.

Vito is another character who couldn’t escape his former life, but unlike Petrulio, we came to empathize with Vito over multiple seasons. A closeted homosexual, Vito is forced to go on the run after being outed. For a brief period, he’s free to find love with a cook affectionately nicknamed Johnny Cakes. This isn’t happily ever after for Vito, as he heartbreakingly leaves his lover and tries to slip back into his New Jersey life. It’s not that simple, however. Phil Leotardo, his wife’s cousin, is infuriated to learn that Vito is gay and orders his death. Although Tony makes arrangements, “Fat Dom” and Gerry Torciano beat him to it. Vito committed numerous crimes, but being himself wasn’t one of them, making his death especially tragic.

Bobby was sadly among the many casualties that Season Six brought us. Despite being a criminal, Bobby was one of the show’s most sympathetic characters. He only committed one murder - which is low for this show - and was always faithful to his wives. Bobby was perhaps too kindhearted for the mob world, but at least he died doing what he loved most: shopping for model trains. If only Bobby had his phone on hand, he would’ve gone to a safe house instead. The last pleasant sight he sees is a Blue Comet train. The hope that this new toy represents is dashed as Bobby is gunned down, much to the horror of the audience, the fellow patrons, and the little folks on a train set.

Richie wasn’t the first significant character to get axed off, but his murder demonstrated just how unpredictable “The Sopranos” can be. We find Richie at his most despicable during a dispute with Janice, who argues that her fiance should accept his son whether he’s gay or not. Richie responds with a punch, pushing Janice to the edge. As Janice goes for a gun, the hungry Richie isn’t at all fazed. Likewise, the audience doesn’t expect Janice to go through with it. That makes it all the more jaw-dropping when Janice shoots Richie mid-sentence, followed by another fatal shot to the chest. One minute you’re at a wedding dress fitting. The next, you’re calling your brother to take care of your fiance’s body. Mob life, right?

Vito’s fate is just one of the reasons to loathe Phil Leotardo. We had to wait until the final episode for Phil to get his comeuppance, but better late than never. What’s more, Phil couldn’t have died in a more satisfyingly painful manner. At first, Phil’s demise seems straightforward enough as he says goodbye to his wife and grandchildren at a gas station when Walden Belfiore sneaks up on him. Even if Phil had survived the two bullets, the Mrs. still would’ve made the fatal mistake of not putting the SVU in park. Although we don’t see what happens to Phil’s head, the sound alone is enough to make us cringe in delight. It’s easily the best product placement for Ford that we’ve ever witnessed.

Ralph was such a destructive character that he was bound to face lethal retaliation eventually. We’re kind of surprised that he survived as long as he did. For all the human lives that Ralph took, it’s a racehorse’s demise that proves to be his undoing. It’s never confirmed if Ralph burned Pie-O-My’s stable to collect the insurance, but Tony presumes he’s guilty. Tony decides to confront Ralph and - in typical “Sopranos” fashion - things escalate quickly. Before Tony knows it, he’s standing over Ralph’s dead body and enlisting Christopher to help clean up the mess. We love how Tony initially plays innocent in front of Chris, although it’s obvious what happened. The only thing more obvious is that Ralph was wearing a toupee this whole time.

In any dead pool, Steve Buscemi’s characters are always a safe bet. Tony Blundetto is no exception. Tony B.’s death is etched in stone after he whacks Joey Peeps and Billy Leotardo. One way or another, Tony Soprano knows that his cousin is a dead man. Thus, he decides to do the deed himself, sparing Tony B. from a slower, even bloodier demise while also keeping the peace. Although it’s the best solution that Tony can think of, that doesn’t make this hit any easier. Tony B. was a member of his biological family and his crime family, the two things that Tony cares about the most. It’s tough watching him go, even if it was a little confusing having two Tonys around.

Cats may have nine lives, but the same doesn’t go for cat burglars. After Richie died in the previous episode, it became clear that no character was off-limits. Where Richie’s death caught us off guard, Sal’s demise had been building ever since he was revealed to be a rat. Tony has a difficult time coming to grips with this betrayal, but he ultimately accepts that his friend needs to sleep with the fishes. Lured to a boat, Sal’s worst fears are confirmed as he’s taken below deck. As a sign of their comradery, Tony gives him a final drink and a moment to share a dirty anecdote. Tony doesn’t allow him to sit down as they open fire, though. At least they avoided his face… anyway, four dollars a pound.

“Big Pussy” wasn’t the last FBI informant who met a gut-wrenching end. Unlike most of the other characters on this list, Adriana didn’t have blood on her hands. In the DiMeo crime family, though, being a mole is the deadliest sin imaginable. After Adriana confesses to Christopher, his loyalty to the family trumps his love for her. Silvio picks up Adriana, telling her that Chris attempted to take his life. In his own way, Silvio also tells Adriana that Chris will be fine after they put her six feet under. As they go for a drive, the look on Adriana’s face suggests that she knows what’s coming. Nevertheless, nothing can prepare Adriana when Silvio pulls over and drags her out of the car before firing.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Mikey Palmice, “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”
He Couldn’t Outrun This Fate

Matthew Bevilaqua, “From Where to Eternity”
We Think One Bullet Would’ve Done the Trick

John “Johnny Sack” Sacramoni, “Stage 5”
Bullets Didn’t Get Him, But Cancer Did

Dominic “Fat Dom” Gamiello, “Cold Stones”
An Unconventional Last Meal

Being the final season, we knew that any prominent character could die. Christopher’s death still broke all the rules, however. Where most major deaths occur during an episode’s climax, this one happens towards the beginning. It comes out of nowhere, much like the car accident that leaves Chris in such a dire state. The crash doesn’t claim Chris’ life, but his drug addiction does. Seeing a destroyed baby seat in the back, Tony realizes that Chris’ daughter would’ve died if she was there. For years, Tony looked after and defended his nephew, even when he was at his worst. Knowing that Chris will never get clean, though, Tony gives little Caitlyn a chance to live by suffocating her father. TV deaths don’t get more harrowing.