Top 20 Devastating Deaths on The Sopranos

“Denial, Anger, Acceptance”
Though Christopher Moltisanti was never the model of wisdom and good decision-making, he was practically a sage compared to his friend, Brendan Filone. In the first season, Christopher and Brendan get into some trouble after hijacking a truck. But while Christopher learns his lesson, Brendan decidedly does not. A subsequent stick-up has fatal consequences. And Brendan is caught off-guard by Mikey Palmice while taking a bath. The mix of tranquility and brutality in this brief scene is mesmerizing. Brendan’s time on “The Sopranos” was brief, but it was memorable all the way to the end.

“For All Debts Public and Private”
We may never actually see Christopher's father, Dickie Moltisanti at any point during The Sopranos' television run. But the impact of his death on his son is greatly felt. After being told by Tony that his father died at the hands of cop and part-time hitman Detective Lieutenant Barry Haydu, Chris seeks to avenge him. He accosts Haydu in his home, taunting him as he’s bound to his stairwell. The just-retired detective vehemently denies any involvement with or even knowledge of Dickie, and the show keeps this deliberately ambiguous. No matter what the answer is, this episode shows what an empty pursuit seeking revenge is.

“University”
Death scenes on “The Sopranos” already have a tendency for being grim and disturbing. But this one is especially harrowing. Tracee was a dancer at the Bada Bing who was involved with volatile mobster Ralph Cifaretto, whose child she’s also carrying. An argument in the parking lot turns violent, culminating in Ralphie savagely beating Tracee to death. The sound is devastating, as is Ralph’s utter lack of concern or remorse about what he’s done. Tony immediately retaliates, and if it wasn’t for his status as a made man, Ralph might not have survived much longer. But none of this should distract from the tragedy of a young life being cut short in such a senseless manner.

“Soprano Home Movies”
This death is less about who dies and more about who’s responsible. In the episode, “Soprano Home Movies,” we learn that Bobby Baccalieri has never been tasked with taking a hit out on someone. That changes after a game of Monopoly turns vicious, and Tony, never one to let things go, forces Bobby to knock off René LeCours, the brother-in-law of a Québécois gangster. The business reason being a substantial discount on expired prescription medication. But the personal reason is Tony showing how he can and will exert his authority at any sign of disrespect. Though Bobby clearly doesn’t want to go through with this, he also knows that he has no choice in the matter.

“Another Toothpick”
Speaking of Bobby, his father also found himself carrying out a hit at the behest of Tony Soprano’s ego. After Mustang Sally attacks Vito's brother, Bryan, his godfather, Bobby Sr. agrees to take him out. But the chain-smoker in poor health, with a recent lung cancer diagnosis. Tony refuses to budge, and Bobby Sr. carries out the hit. On the drive back, however, he’s seized by a coughing fit and crashes his car after being unable to retrieve his inhaler in time. It’s likely that he didn’t have very long to begin with. But Tony’s orders started a chain reaction leading to a particularly undignified death.

“Army of One”
DiMeo crime family boss Jackie Aprile Sr.'s life was taken by stomach cancer early in the series run. But he lived far longer and garnered much more respect than his son. While it seems like he might be able to avoid the family business through education, he can't stay out of trouble. After a botched attempt at robbing a card game, he goes into hiding. But isn’t long before Vito Spatafore catches him off-guard. Jackie Jr. is dead before he even has a chance to realize what’s happened. And this lack of alertness, along with many other shortcomings, exemplifies why Jackie Jr. wasn’t cut out for the world his father thrived in.

“Cold Stones”
“Fat Dom” is partially responsible for a tragic death we’ll learn about later in this list. And if you believe in karma, his death in the very same episode was a swift instance of the universe quickly making an example of someone. Of course, you could also attribute it to sheer arrogance. Visiting Silvio Dante and Carlo Gervasi, Dom begins running his mouth. And the already-tense situation reaches a boiling point. Both Silvio and Carlo unleash maximum fury. Dom might’ve not been the most memorable character on “The Sopranos.” But his death is one that we’ll never forget.

“From Where to Eternity”
Desperation for respect and recognition in the violent world of “The Sopranos” can quickly backfire on you, as Matthew Bevilaqua soon learns. Matthew, like his partner Sean Gismonte, was a low-ranking crew member trying to climb up the ladder. So, they attempt a very poorly planned hit on Christopher, leaving Sean dead and Matthew with a huge target on his back. He’s caught and left pleading for his life before Tony and Salvatore Bonpensiero. Briefly, he seems to think he’s received a reprieve. But right after, he’s crying out in desperation for his mother. It’s a heartbreaking moment that brought added dimension to what could’ve been a surface-level character.

“I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”
It might seem hypocritical, in a show full of unrepentant murderers and other criminals, to mourn some deaths and celebrate others. But Mikey Palmice wasn’t exactly someone who deserved to be grieved. As Junior Soprano’s Consigliere, he’s loyal to no end, including helping him plan a hit on his nephew, Tony. Unfortunately for Mikey, Tony survives. And Mikey is killed during a jogging excursion by Paulie Walnuts and Christopher, who’s also seeking vengeance for the death of Brendan. The two arguably go overboard in how much gunfire they unleash. But we can also understand just how much ire Mikey inspired in them.

“Stage 5”
Lupertazzi crime family boss Johnny Sack was rarely seen without a cigarette. So, it wasn’t surprising that he died from lung cancer. While serving a 15-year prison sentence, Johnny learns of his diagnosis, and any hope of living as a free man again is effectively dashed. Unlike most others on this list, he has the privilege of dying surrounded by loved ones, with his family gathered around to help ease his suffering. Not ready to say goodbye, his beloved wife Ginny offers him a cigarette. But immediately after, he’s gone. Being a mob boss, Johnny Sack arguably wasn’t a good person, but the poignancy of his death can’t be denied.

“College”
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.

“Cold Stones”
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 gay man, 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.

“The Blue Comet”

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.

“The Knight in White Satin Armor”
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?

“Made in America”
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 SUV 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.

“Whoever Did This”
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.

“All Due Respect”
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.

“Funhouse”
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.

“Long Term Parking”
Sal 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.

“Kennedy and Heidi”
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 substance use disorder 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.