The world of cinema and television has become so intricately interconnected that it is no surprise to see actors exist in dual universes. Goodfellas and The Sopranos are prime examples of this. While made a decade apart, these two masterpieces are so closely linked that it is almost as if they are distant cousins who just get each other despite having met only once. And briefly. Stream Goodfellas on Hulu.
Goodfellas
- Release Date
- September 12, 1990
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Runtime
- 145
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas was released in 1990. The movie blew us away with its documentary-style look at life in the mob. It was violent, utterly compelling, and featured some of the best dialogue in the history of cinema. On the other hand, The Sopranos premiered on HBO in 1999 to reinvent crime television in the best possible ways. It followed Tony Soprano as he balanced the family business while dealing with his duties as a father.
Both works are hyper-realistic in terms of portraying organized crime and family dynamics. But what’s really wild is how many A-list stars these projects share. Seemingly, almost half the cast of Goodfellas went on to appear in multiple small and big roles on The Sopranos. It is as if the movie and show are two parts of the same crime saga, connected by great performances. Stream The Sopranos on Max.
Here are 27 Goodfellas actors who also appeared in The Sopranos.
27 Frank Adonis
Season 2, Episode 11 – “House Arrest”
Like Conte, Frank Adonis too played dozens of tough guy roles and had credits in Scorsese’s Raging Bull and Casino. A role he’s perhaps more recognized for, however, is a real-life figure named Anthony Stabile in Goodfellas. Stabile was a part of the crew at the Bamboo Lounge introduced in Henry’s voice-over scene. He belonged to the Gambino crime family and was an associate of Paul Vario.
In just a few scenes, he showcased his chameleon-like ability to disappear into the character and leave lasting impressions. He never had enough screen time on The Sopranos, though, as he simply was an unnamed guest in Season 2’s episode titled “House Arrest.”
26 Gene Canfield
Season 1, Episode 13 – “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”
Gene Canfield is more skilled at playing authority figures than anything else. After earning an important acting credit in Goodfellas as a prison guard controlling Henry and the boys when they are supposed to serve time behind bars, Canfield went on to appear in movies like Meet Joe Black, Scent of a Woman and Murder by Numbers.
Somewhere along the way, he was remembered to star in The Sopranos season 1, where he plays a police investigator. Even in the television series, he was a righteous and morally right man.
25 Marianne Leone
9 Episodes Throughout the Series
An esteemed American screenwriter and essayist, Marianne Leone’s longest television role was playing Christopher Moltisanti’s mother on The Sopranos. As Joanne, she wasn’t exactly motherly or empathetic towards Christopher. Often seen with Tony while trying to bring Christopher out of his drug addiction, Joanne would care little when he got beaten up. But Chris’ death came as a shock to her and left her utterly devastated.
As for her role in Goodfellas, Marianne Leone appeared only briefly as the wife of Tuddy Cicero, Paulie’s brother, but her sharp and hardened presence was enough to linger in the viewers’ minds.
24 Tony Sirico
74 Episodes Throughout the Series
Few actors vanish into their roles as completely as Tony Sirico, who electrified both classics with his magnetic presence. Sirico was a mild scene stealer in Goodfellas as Tony Stacks, a background gangster seen associating with the lovable and reckless Pauli Cicero in the beginning of the movie.
During the production of The Sopranos, Sirico had auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior with Frank Vincent. Instead, his seamless acting and raw charisma landed him a significant role as one of the show’s most beloved Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri.
As one of Tony’s chief henchmen, Paulie was an interesting fellow who had supernatural experiences and a tough guy spirit. He was also the most ruthless and competitive.
23 Anthony Alessandro
Season 2, Episode 4 – “Commendatori”
Moving on with actors who captured a lot in little fleeting moments, we have Anthony Alessandro. Known for his roles in movies like Jacob’s Ladder and Rescue Me, Alessandro was among the many members of Henry’s crew in Goodfellas that managed to get authentic reactions.
He shared the screen with Joe Pesci, who played Tommy DeVito, and Christopher Serrone, who played a younger Henry. As for his appearance in The Sopranos, Alessandro got himself a small part as a waiter in Season 2.
22 Vincent Pastore
25 Episodes Throughout the Series
On The Sopranos, Vincent Pastore became a fan favorite as Salvatore Bonpensiero. His early acts had affectionately earned him the nickname ‘Big P*ssy’ but it took him a while to add to the status of an important soldier in Tony’s crew. Starting off as a DiMeo capo associate and becoming a “made man” sometime after. However, when financial instability hit, Sal became an FBI informant, eventually enraging Tony and being whacked.
In contrast, Pastore had a fairly insignificant role in Goodfellas, where he was seen moving a rack of fur coats at the Bamboo Lounge alongside Henry. Still, Pastore breathed humanity into both his roles and was testament to how a small amount of screen time can also leave an impact.
21 John Ciarcia
13 Episodes Throughout the Series
The crime genre is vast and sweeping, but it rarely ever happens that an actor would reprise a role from a movie into a television series. Changing the name and the complex exterior dynamic may help, but the impact left by their presence on screen is just as striking.
Such is the case with John Ciarcia, who, with his introspective gaze and outstanding screen presence, followed Frank Vincent’s Billy Batts in Goodfellas when he went on to play Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos. Ciarcia served as the head of Leotardo’s organized crime syndicate, Albie Cianfalone, and appeared in a total of 13 episodes throughout the series.
20 Tony Lip
11 Episodes Throughout the Series
As the old-school boss of the Lupertazzi crime family, Tony Lip brought his warm eyes and natural charm and made The Sopranos resonate with fans far beyond its primary characters. Lip played Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. and often operated out of his social clubs and restaurants in New York City, never letting the limelight shine on him. Despite the generation gap with Tony, the two never had any major confrontations and were always respectful.
As opposed to Lip’s peaceful and stable character in The Sopranos, his run in Goodfellas was a little multidimensional and brief. He played real-life gangster Frank “Frankie The Wop” Manzo and was introduced in an iconic scene featuring Henry.
19 Nicole Burdette
5 Episodes Throughout the Series
Nicole Burndette, too, finds grace and ease in immersing herself in nuanced roles. Her presence in Goodfellas was marked only shortly. She played the unnamed girlfriend of Frankie Carbone. However, in The Sopranos, she was an essential supporting character, Barbara Giglione, Tony’s youngest and most sorted sister.
Despite living apart with her two children with her husband and having no part in her brother’s mafia business, Barbara stayed in touch with Tony and her other siblings throughout the series.
18 Victor Colicchio
Season 1, Episode 2 – “46 Long”
Having worked with the likes of actor Michael Imperioli and director Spike Lee, Victor Colicchio possessed a great understanding of nuance and drama. His stint in Goodfellas was very short; he was a member of Henry’s ’60s crew.
But even then, Colicchio had a tough and impactful presence. On The Sopranos, Colicchio appears in the second episode of Season one as Joe, a mechanic at DiMeo soldier Salvatore Bonpensiero’s body shop. He gives Salvatore a description of the man driving a car they’re in search of.
17 Nancy Cassaro
Season 2, Episode 9 – “From Where to Eternity”
It is quite obvious by now that there are few female characters in Goodfellas and The Sopranos with pronounced screen time, or even a memorable character credit. Nancy Cassaro falls in the category of wives of Goodfellas, playing the spouse of Joe Buddah.
In The Sopranos as well, her charismatic presence was tiny. She was the first actress to play Christopher’s mother, Joanne Moltisanti, and was only seen in one episode of The Sopranos, “From Where to Eternity.”
16 Frank Albanese
4 Episodes Throughout the Series
His notable credits include crime classics and gangster dramas like Goodfellas, The Godfather, and The Sopranos. Naturally enough, Frank Albanese has an inclination towards playing complex and conflicted personalities. In Goodfellas, Albanese had a powerful turn as a mob lawyer, introduced first when Henry Hill was arrested.
Even in The Sopranos, he brought soulfulness and grit as Pat Blundetto, a former soldier and member of the DiMeo crime family. Now retired and living in Florida, he’s addressed by Tony as “Uncle Pat” even though the two are not related by blood. Albanese appears in four episodes, where he visits Tony and lends him the wisdom and experience he gained during his years in the business.
15 Tobin Bell
Season 3, Episode 13 – “Army of One”
Entering the industry in the late 1970s, Tobin Bell possesses a natural skill for playing intimidating villains, and his John Kramer/Jigsaw in the Saw franchise is proof enough. In Goodfellas, Bell has a memorable cameo as a parole officer.
When looking at his appearance in The Sopranos, Bell only made small gestures and left lingering gazes as Major Carl Zwingli, the principal of Hudson Military Institute. In “Army of One,” the finale episode of season three, Zwingli tries to convince Tony and Carmela to enroll their son into military school, but is unsuccessful.
14 Susan Varon
Season 6, Episode 9 – “The Ride”
Before her remarkable appearance as Josie in Daredevil and impressive shows like Broadwalk Empire, Susan Varon made several cameos in television shows. She also made her feature film debut with Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, where she was among the few characters having nothing to do with the mafia. She’s simply credited as a background character called Susan.
Extending herself toward David Chase’s iconic HBO series, Varon imparted both humor and heart in the one episode in The Sopranos where she played a real estate agent navigating houses with Christopher and Kelli.
13 Vito Antuofermo
2 Episodes Throughout the Series
A professional boxer before he transitioned into acting, Vito Antuofermo happened to have enough humanity and complexity to lend to his characters. Goodfellas allowed Antuofermo a neat passage into the industry, and in the movie, he played a fighter who competed for money.
On the other hand, he was much more raw and hilarious in The Sopranos. Antuofermo is first seen in Season 2, Episode 11, “House Arrest,” as Bobby Zanone, the owner of a garbage transfer company. Interestingly enough, the company is a front for the Aprile crew to move drugs. Bobby is also remembered for ordering his workers to dump trash on the driveway of a deli in response to a customer complaint.
12 Daniel P. Conte
3 Episodes Throughout the Series
Despite being a chosen collaborator in a bunch of Martin Scorsese films, including Casino and Raging Bull, Daniel P. Conte is more prominent for his term in The Sopranos.
He plays a supporting antagonist, Faustino “Doc” Santoro. As an old-school mobster in the Lupertazzi crime family, he often engages in power struggles with Phil. Violent and conniving, Doc would humiliate Phil every chance he got. Contrary to the villainous role, Conte only appeared in Goodfellas as a character named Dr. Dan.
11 Angela Pietropinto
Season 6, Episode 4 – “The Fleshy Part of the Thigh”
An Award-winning actress and founder of The Manhattan Project Theater Company, Angela Pietropinto began her acting career at the age of 12, and since then has appeared in several roles. Her deep eyes hold a complexity and charm that only betters with age.
She is also among the long list of Goodfellas actors that made a cameo in David Chase’s The Sopranos. In the former, she was Paulie Cicero’s wife and in the latter, Pietropinto shows up in Season 6, Episode 4, “The Fleshy Part of the Thigh.”
10 Paul Herman
5 Episodes Throughout the Series
Known for his dramatic role in Silver Linings Playbook, Paul Herman is also a long-time collaborator in Martin Scorsese films. Just like he authentically slips into any role he’s given, in Goodfellas, he played the “Pittsburgh Connection,”, where Henry and Karen go for their cocaine.
Herman had a comparatively larger role in The Sopranos, where he made appearances in a total of five episodes as Peter “Beansie” Gaeta. Beansie was a small-time drug dealer who grew in prominence and skill when he started working under DiMeo capo Richie Aprile. After being promoted, caught, jailed, and becoming a restaurant owner, Beansie was once beaten up by Aprile.
9 Anthony Caso
Season 1, Episode 2 – “46 Long”
Perhaps one of the most interesting characters on The Sopranos, Anthony Caso managed to draw attention by just being present for some fleeting moments. As an actor and stunt double with hypnotic eyes and an innate ability to captivate, Caso made an appearance in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas as a simple truck hijacker grifting alongside Jimmy.
In The Sopranos, however, he played Martin Scorsese himself, as he attends a nightclub ripe with celebrities in New Jersey in The Sopranos season 1, episode 2, “46 Long.” Michael Imperioli’s Christopher has a brief interaction with him where he calls out to Scorsese and says he loved his underappreciated movie, Kundun.
8 Gaetano LoGiudice
4 Episodes Throughout the Series
Also a part of Henry’s ’60s crew in Goodfellas, Gaetano LoGiudice was a simple man before he was introduced into the world of acting by his brother. His captivating facial expressions and vocal nuance got him ahead.
In The Sopranos, he had a bigger role than just a cameo, as he played a couple of roles. He was a patron at the Bada-Bing, a nightclub frequented by the Soprano Crew for conducting business meetings. LoGiudice was also a casino guest and a funeral attendee, and he infused these minor roles with a distinct draw.
