They didn't accept the offers... Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the death scenes on “The Sopranos” that were the most memorable or had the greatest impact. Consider this your spoiler warning!
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00:00No, you gotta help me."
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the death scenes on The Sopranos that were
00:10the most memorable, or had the greatest impact.
00:14Consider this your spoiler warning.
00:15Why you never balance this off?
00:20Number 20.
00:21Brendan Filone
00:22Though Christopher Moltisanti was never the model of wisdom and good decision-making,
00:26he was practically a sage compared to his friend Brendan Filone.
00:30That's enough.
00:31No, wait.
00:32Call the ambulance.
00:33Scathed?
00:34Scathed.
00:35Scathed.
00:36In the first season, Christopher and Brendan get into some trouble after hijacking a truck.
00:46But while Christopher learns his lesson, Brendan decidedly does not.
00:50A subsequent stick-up has fatal consequences, and Brendan is caught off guard by Mikey Palmisi
00:55while taking a bath.
00:58The mix of tranquility and brutality in this brief scene is mesmerizing.
01:03Brendan's time on The Sopranos was brief, but it was memorable all the way to the end.
01:08Number 19.
01:10Detective Lieutenant Barry Haydu
01:11We may never actually see Christopher's father, Dickie Moltisanti, at any point during The
01:16Sopranos' television run, but the impact of his death on his son is greatly felt.
01:21Are you inferring that you didn't take cash from Jilly Ruffalo to whack my father while
01:26he was carrying a TV tray for me to watch TV?
01:29I don't know anybody named Ruffalo.
01:31After being told by Tony that his father died at the hands of cop and part-time hitman Detective
01:36Lieutenant Barry Haydu, Chris seeks to avenge him.
01:39He accosts Haydu in his home, taunting him as he's bound to a stairwell.
01:43You're being set up.
01:45He's lying to you, whoever he is.
01:50Wouldn't make any difference.
01:52What do you mean it wouldn't make any difference?
01:54He wants you dead.
01:55The just-retired detective vehemently denies any involvement with or even knowledge of
02:00Dickie, and the show keeps this deliberately ambiguous.
02:04No matter what the answer is, this episode shows what an empty pursuit seeking revenge is.
02:09Police?
02:10In a Ferrari?
02:12♪♪♪♪
02:16Number 18.
02:17Tracy
02:18Death scenes on The Sopranos already have a tendency to be grim and disturbing, but
02:23this one is especially harrowing.
02:25Ralphie, I love you.
02:28I love you too, baby.
02:31Tracy was a dancer at the Bada Bing who was involved with volatile mobster Ralph Cifaretto,
02:36whose child she's also carrying.
02:38An argument in the parking lot turns violent, culminating in Ralphie savagely beating Tracy
02:43to death.
02:44That's right.
02:45That's right.
02:46Get it all out.
02:48The sound is devastating, as is Ralph's utter lack of concern or remorse about what he's
02:53done.
02:54Tony immediately retaliates, and if it wasn't for his status as a made man, Ralph might
02:59not have survived much longer.
03:00I'm a made guy!
03:04But none of this should distract from the tragedy of a young life being cut short in
03:08such a senseless manner.
03:10Number 17.
03:11René Lecour This death is less about who dies and more
03:15about who's responsible.
03:16In the episode Soprano Home Movies, we learn that Bobby Bacaliere has never been tasked
03:21with taking a hit out on someone.
03:23Now come to think of it, you never popped your cherry in that regard, right?
03:27No.
03:28That changes after a game of Monopoly turns vicious, and Tony, never one to let things
03:33go, forces Bobby to knock off René Lecour, the brother-in-law of a Quebecois gangster.
03:38You'll take care of this, right?
03:45Sure.
03:46The business reason being a substantial discount on expired prescription medication.
03:50But the personal reason is Tony showing how he can and will exert his authority at any
03:55sign of disrespect.
03:57Though Bobby clearly does not want to go through with this, he also knows that he has no choice
04:02in the matter.
04:03Number 16.
04:04Bobby Bacaliere Sr.
04:06Speaking of Bobby, his father also found himself carrying out a hit at the behest of Tony Soprano's
04:11ego.
04:12After Mustang Sally attacks Vito's brother Brian, his godfather, Bobby Sr., agrees to
04:16take him out.
04:17I only stood up as a favor to his father.
04:18Well, I'm just saying, because this isn't the first time.
04:25I'll do whatever you gotta do.
04:28But the chain smoker is in poor health.
04:30With a recent lung cancer diagnosis, Tony refuses to budge, and Bobby Sr. carries out
04:36the hit.
04:37On the drive back, however, he's seized by a coughing fit and crashes his car after being
04:41unable to retrieve his inhaler in time.
04:56It's likely that he didn't have very long to begin with, but Tony's order started a
05:00chain reaction leading to a particularly undignified death.
05:04Number 15.
05:05Jackie Aprile Jr.
05:07DeMille crime family boss Jackie Aprile Sr.'s life was taken by stomach cancer early in
05:12the series' run, but he lived far longer and garnered much more respect than his son.
05:17I'm sorry.
05:18I'm sorry.
05:19Go back inside.
05:22While it seems like he might be able to avoid the family business through education, he
05:26can't stay out of trouble.
05:28After a botched attempt at robbing a card game, he goes into hiding.
05:31Yo, I think you're done for.
05:33We just started.
05:34But it isn't long before Vito Spadafore catches him off guard.
05:38Jackie Jr. is dead before he even has a chance to realize what's happened.
05:42And this lack of alertness, along with many other shortcomings, exemplifies why Jackie
05:47Jr. wasn't cut out for the world his father thrived in.
05:50Number 14.
05:52Dominic Fat Dom Gamiello Fat Dom is partially responsible for a tragic
05:57death we'll learn about later in this list.
05:59Hey, uh, sorry to hear about your boy.
06:02And if you believe in karma, his death in the very same episode was a swift instance
06:07of the universe quickly making an example of someone.
06:10Of course, you could also attribute it to sheer arrogance.
06:14Visiting Silvio, Dante, and Carlo Gervasi, Dom begins running his mouth.
06:18They found a hanky with Carlo's lipstick in his other pocket.
06:21And the already tense situation reaches a boiling point.
06:24Both Silvio and Carlo unleash maximum fury.
06:27Dom might have not been the most memorable character on The Sopranos, but his death is
06:31one that we'll never forget.
06:33Number 13.
06:34Matthew Bevilacqua Desperation for respect and recognition in
06:38the violent world of The Sopranos can quickly backfire on you, as Matthew Bevilacqua soon
06:43learns.
06:44Relax.
06:45I just want to talk to you.
06:46It was Sean.
06:47You gotta believe me.
06:48It was Sean.
06:49He got nuts.
06:51Matthew, like his partner Sean Gismonti, was a low-ranking crew member trying to climb
06:55up the ladder.
06:56Also, they attempt a very poorly planned hit on Christopher, leaving Sean dead and Matthew
07:01with a huge target on his back.
07:03He's caught, and left pleading for his life before Tony and Salvatore Bomponcero.
07:08Briefly, he seems to think he's received a reprieve, but right after, he's crying out
07:13in desperation for his mother.
07:14Oh, Bobby!
07:15Bobby, please!
07:16Tony, please!
07:17It's a heartbreaking moment that brought added dimension to what could have been a surface-level
07:23character.
07:24Number 12.
07:25Mikey Palmisi.
07:26It might seem hypocritical in a show full of unrepentant murderers and other criminals
07:30to mourn some deaths and celebrate others, but Mikey Palmisi wasn't exactly someone who
07:34deserved to be grieved.
07:36Yeah, okay, I think that I heard you already.
07:40Go take a mitol.
07:41As Junior Soprano's conciliary, he's loyal to no end, including helping him plan a hit
07:46on his nephew Tony.
07:48Unfortunately for Mikey, Tony survives.
07:56And Mikey is killed during a jogging excursion by Polly Walnuts and Christopher, who's also
08:01seeking vengeance for the death of Brendan.
08:03My friend Brendan, you shot him in his bathtub naked.
08:06No chance to run.
08:07No, I swear to God, it wasn't me, it was Junior, you hated that kid, it was him.
08:11The two arguably go overboard in how much gunfire they unleash, but we can also understand
08:16just how much I.R.
08:17Mikey inspired in them.
08:19Number 11.
08:20John, Johnny Sack Sacrimony.
08:23Super Tozzi crime family boss Johnny Sack was rarely seen without a cigarette, so it
08:27wasn't surprising that he died from lung cancer.
08:30While serving a 15-year prison sentence, Johnny learns of his diagnosis, and any hope of living
08:35as a free man again is effectively dashed.
08:38At this point, we're looking at stage four small cell carcinoma of the lungs.
08:41And there's no stage five.
08:43That's correct.
08:44Unlike most others on this list, he has the privilege of dying surrounded by loved ones,
08:48with his family gathered around to help ease his suffering.
08:51When he's not ready to say goodbye, his beloved wife Ginny offers him a cigarette.
08:54You want a cigarette, baby?
08:57But immediately after, he's gone.
08:59Being a mob boss, Johnny Sack arguably wasn't a good person, but the poignancy of his death
09:04cannot be denied.
09:06Number 10.
09:07Fabian Febby Petrullio.
09:09At its core, this show is about Tony balancing his duties to his family with his duties to
09:13the mob.
09:14Few episodes demonstrate this better than College.
09:16Oh yeah, did she like Bates?
09:19Anything to get her off of this Berkeley kick.
09:22On a college road trip with Meadow, Tony happens to cross paths with an ex-member of the DiMeo
09:26family, Febby Petrullio.
09:28Entering the Witness Protection Program after serving as an informant, Petrullio now goes
09:32by Fred Peters.
09:33He went into the Witness Protection Program, then they kicked him out.
09:36Now he goes to colleges and gets paid all kinds of money to talk about what a big bad
09:40mafioso he was.
09:42Taking a break from parenting, Tony tracks Petrullio down and garrots him from behind.
09:47Although Petrullio was a one-shot character, his death reflects a facet of mob life.
09:52No matter where you go, the mob always catches up to you.
09:55You took an oath, and you broke it.
09:58This doesn't just apply to Petrullio, but also Tony, who can't go a few days with his
10:02daughter without whacking someone.
10:05Number 9.
10:06Vito Spadafore.
10:07Vito is another character who couldn't escape his former life, but unlike Petrullio, we
10:11came to empathize with Vito over multiple seasons.
10:14A closeted gay man, Vito is forced to go on the run after being outed.
10:18Right.
10:19Sure.
10:20Say hi to your wife.
10:22I'm serious.
10:23I'm…
10:24Sal, please!
10:25Don't say nothing, Sal!
10:28For a brief period, he's free to find love with a cook affectionately nicknamed Johnny
10:32Cakes.
10:33This isn't happily ever after for Vito, as he heartbreakingly leaves his lover and tries
10:37to slip back into his New Jersey life.
10:40I know.
10:41Look.
10:42Not a word, not a note.
10:43What kind of person are you?
10:44I'm sorry.
10:45It's not that simple, however.
10:46Phil Leotardo, his wife's cousin, is infuriated to learn that Vito is gay and orders his death.
10:52One thing I do know, Vito has to be made to face his problems squarely.
10:57Although Tony makes arrangements, Fat Dom and Jerry Torchiano beat him to it.
11:01Vito committed numerous crimes, but being himself was not one of them, making his death
11:06especially tragic.
11:08Vito, he was found beat to death this morning in a motel in Fort Lee.
11:148.
11:15Bobby Baccalieri
11:16Bobby was sadly among the many casualties that Season 6 brought us.
11:20Despite being a criminal, Bobby was one of the show's most sympathetic characters.
11:24You know I never ask you for anything.
11:26You can tell Tony I'll do it myself if he wants.
11:29He only committed one murder, which is low for this show, and was always faithful to
11:33his wives.
11:34Bobby was perhaps too kindhearted for the mob world, but at least he died doing what
11:39he loved most, shopping for model trains.
11:41You never see a blue comet in that condition.
11:44I mean look at the coaches.
11:47Every window still lights up.
11:49That train still ran New York to A.C. Atlantic City would be a much different place today.
11:53If only Bobby had had his phone on hand, he would have gone to a safe house instead.
11:58The last pleasant sight he sees is a blue comet train.
12:01The hope that this new toy represents is dashed as Bobby is gunned down, much to the horror
12:06of the audience, the fellow patrons, and the little folks on a train set.
12:10Bobby's dead.
12:11He's shot.
12:12So's in the hospital.
12:13What happened?
12:14Could be several things.
12:16Number 7.
12:17Ritchie Aprile
12:18Ritchie wasn't the first significant character to get axed, but his murder demonstrated just
12:22how unpredictable the Sopranos can be.
12:25We find Ritchie at his most despicable during a dispute with Janice, who argues that her
12:29fiancé should accept his son whether he's gay or not.
12:32Ritchie responds with a punch, pushing Janice to the edge.
12:35And what if he was gay?
12:37What difference does it make?
12:41As Janice goes for a gun, the hungry Ritchie isn't all that phased.
12:47Likewise, the audience doesn't expect Janice to go through with it.
12:51That makes it all the more jaw-dropping when Janice shoots Ritchie mid-sentence, followed
12:55by another fatal shot to the chest.
12:57I'm in no mood for your-
13:03One minute you're at a wedding dress fitting.
13:05The next, you're calling your brother to take care of your fiancé's body.
13:08What do you mean you can't say?
13:09I can't say now, you think, think a minute, okay?
13:13All right, just stay right there, I'm gonna be right over.
13:17Mob life, right?
13:18Number six, Phil Leotardo.
13:20Vito's fate is just one of the reasons to loathe Phil Leotardo.
13:24We had to wait until the final episode for Phil to get his comeuppance, but better late
13:28than never.
13:29What's more, Phil couldn't have died in a more satisfyingly painful manner.
13:33Bye bye.
13:34Wave bye bye, grandpa.
13:36Bye bye, papa.
13:37Say bye bye.
13:38Bye bye.
13:39But first, Phil's demise seems straightforward enough, as he says goodbye to his wife and
13:43grandchildren at a gas station when Walden Belfiore sneaks up on him.
13:47Tell the goddamn pharmacist to call Dr. Iaconis, I should get a 60-day supply of the platinum.
13:53Even if Phil had survived the two bullets, the missus still would have made the fatal
13:57mistake of not putting the SUV in park.
14:00Although we don't see what happens to Phil's head, the sound alone is enough to make us
14:04cringe in delight.
14:05Oh my God!
14:06Oh my God!
14:07My baby!
14:09My baby!
14:10Somebody help!
14:11Help me!
14:12Please help!
14:13Somebody help me!
14:14Okay, okay.
14:15It is easily the best product placement for Ford we've ever witnessed.
14:22Number five, Ralph Cifaretto.
14:24Ralph was such a destructive character that he was bound to face lethal retaliation eventually.
14:29We're kind of surprised he survived as long as he did.
14:31For all the human lives that Ralph took, it's a racehorse's demise that proves to be his
14:36undoing.
14:38The fire marshal says it looks electrical.
14:42They found pieces of a blown-out light bulb in a stall, and the hay was a natural accelerant.
14:49It's never confirmed if Ralph burned Pio Mai's stable to collect the insurance, but Tony
14:53presumes he's guilty.
14:55Tony decides to confront Ralph, and in typical Sopranos fashion, things escalate quickly.
15:01Before Tony knows it, he's standing over Ralph's dead body and enlisting Christopher to help
15:05clean up the mess.
15:06Go to the drug store, get two pairs of surgical gloves, some bleach, come to our friend's
15:14house, a contractor.
15:16We love how Tony initially plays innocent in front of Chris, although it's obvious
15:21what happened.
15:22The only thing more obvious is that Ralph was wearing a toupee this whole time.
15:26I don't wear a hairpiece!
15:28Number four, Tony Blondetto.
15:30In any Deadpool, Steve Buscemi's characters are always a safe bet.
15:35Tony Blondetto is no exception.
15:37Tony B's death is etched in stone after he whacks Joey Peeps and Billy Leotardo.
15:41Turns out somebody got a look at the guy that did Joe Peeps.
15:44All they got so far, she's got a bad limp.
15:48One way or another, Tony Soprano knows his cousin is a dead man.
15:52Thus, he decides to do the deed himself, sparing Tony B from a slower, even bloodier demise
15:57while also keeping the peace.
15:59I want you to promise it'll be quick.
16:01I'm not gonna lie to you, Tony, I don't have to.
16:04But Phil's gonna do it, and he'll do it his way.
16:07Although it's the best solution Tony can think of, it doesn't make this hit any easier.
16:11Tony B was a member of his biological family and his crime family, the two things that
16:16Tony cares about the most.
16:22It's tough watching him go, even if it was a little confusing having two Tonys around.
16:27Number three, Salvatore Bumpensiero.
16:30This may have nine lives, but the same does not go for cat burglars.
16:35After Ritchie died in the previous episode, it became clear that no character was off
16:39limits.
16:40Whereas Ritchie's death caught us off guard, Sal's demise had been building ever since
16:43he was revealed to be a rat.
16:53Tony has a difficult time coming to grips with this betrayal, but he ultimately accepts
16:57that his friend needs to sleep with the fishes, lured to a boat.
17:01Sal's worst fears are confirmed as he's taken below deck.
17:07As a sign of their camaraderie, Tony gives him a final drink and a moment to share a
17:11dirty anecdote.
17:12Tony doesn't allow him to sit down as they open fire, though.
17:15At least they avoided his face.
17:20Anyway, four dollars a pound.
17:26Number two, Adriana LaServa.
17:28Sal wasn't the last FBI informant who met a gut-wrenching end.
17:31Unlike most of the other characters on this list, Adriana didn't have blood on her hands.
17:36In the DiMeo crime family, though, being a mole is the deadliest sin imaginable.
17:53After Adriana confesses to Christopher, his loyalty to the family trumps his love for
17:57her.
17:58Silvio picks up Adriana, telling her that Chris attempted to take his life, in his own
18:03way.
18:04Silvio also tells Adriana that Chris will be fine after they put her six feet under.
18:15As they go for a drive, the look on Adriana's face suggests that she knows what's coming.
18:21Yes, nothing can prepare Adriana when Silvio pulls over and drags her out of the car before
18:26firing.
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18:49Number 1.
18:50Christopher Moltisanti
18:51Being the final season, we knew that any prominent character could die.
18:55Christopher's death still broke all the rules, however.
18:58Whereas most major deaths occur during an episode's climax, this one happens towards
19:02the beginning.
19:03It comes out of nowhere, much like the car accident that leaves Chris in such a dire
19:07state.
19:18The crash doesn't claim Chris' life, but his substance use disorder does.
19:23Seeing a destroyed baby seat in the back, Tony realizes that Chris' daughter would've
19:27died if she'd been there.
19:28"...because I kept hearing, I'll lose my license."
19:37For years, Tony looked after and defended his nephew, even when he was at his worst.
19:42Knowing that Chris will never stop using drugs, though, Tony gives little Caitlin a chance
19:46to live by suffocating her father.
19:59TV deaths do not get more harrowing.
20:01What Soprano's death sticks with you the most?
20:04Let us know in the comments.
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