The Sopranos is widely praised for its complex yet captivating plot, but another pillar that makes the show such a strong tower is the cast. The critically acclaimed HBO series has a long list of well-written characters, each of them leaving a lasting impression on the viewer even when they are subjected to "early exits."
The people roaming around New Jersey, New York, and Italy, are numerous in this incredible tale, so it might be hard to pick out favorites. Luckily, Ranker makes it easier to establish the characters that are adored the most. Since the website relies on fan votes, the list can be considered an accurate representation of Ranker's view of which The Sopranos characters are the very best.
Furio Gunta
Furio impresses Tony during the New Jersey Don's visit to Italy to do business with Annalisa Zucca, one of the best mob bosses in The Sopranos. He brings him back to America with him where he grows to be one of DiMeo crime family's most feared enforcers. But when he falls in love with Tony's wife, Carmela, he goes on the run to avoid getting killed.
Among the mobsters on the show, Furio is one of few well-mannered ones. He addresses everyone politely and can always be relied upon to complete a task without botching it. Furio is also wise enough to hold off on sleeping with Carmela (even though she is into him) as he is aware this will only create bigger problems. His loyalty is unrivaled too and it's what makes him change his mind about killing Tony so that he can be with Carmela, as advised by his uncle.
Dr. Jennifer Melfi
The psychiatrist Dr. Melfi takes in Tony as one of her patients when the mob boss begins having panic attacks in the first season. They have numerous seasons throughout the show, during which he shares the most secretive details about his life.
Dr. Melfi's best pieces of advice benefit Tony a lot. He not only manages to control his temper but also starts treating members of his family better than he used to. The psychiatrist is also shown to be the only person that doesn't fear Tony. On the few occasions when Tony has had bursts of anger, Dr. Melfi has remained calm and asked him to behave himself.
Johnny Sack
Sack starts out as the Underboss of the Lupertazzi crime family before rising to the position of Don. Sadly, his stint at the helm doesn't last long. He is arrested when the family's Consigliere gives information about him to the FBI.
Sack distinguishes himself as the only Lupertazzi member who is friendly to Tony and his crew. He normally has sensible discussions with Tony while his colleagues keep opting for violence. Additionally, Sack is a dedicated family man. He adores his wife Ginny and supports her in her struggles with obesity, even referring to her as "Rubenesque." When she is insulted by Ralph, he is more than ready to kill for her. The mob boss also worships his daughter so much that he sheds tears at her wedding, even though doing so is considered a sign of weakness in the mob.
Carmela Soprano
Carmela met Tony in high school and has been with him ever since. She and Tony face marital problems that stem from his infidelity but she never stops loving him.
Carmela is totally aware of her husband's illegal dealings and is more than happy to enjoy the proceeds, something that makes her one of the best mob wives in The Sopranos. She is shown to be the perfect homemaker too and is always a great mother to their two children, Meadow and A.J. Carmela isn't one to take disrespect either and that's why she briefly breaks up with Tony after learning just how long his list of mistresses is.
Adriana La Cerva
The long-time girlfriend of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti, is seen as a darling by every member of the family. Unfortunately, her life takes a turn for the worst when the FBI arm-twists her into becoming an informant.
As a character, Adriana is mostly used to highlight the struggles of women in relationships. She is revealed to be unable to have children, something that creates conflict between her and Christopher. She is frequently subjected to domestic violence too but remains strong. Additionally, Adriana is very loyal to the family and that's why she refrains from giving the FBI any meaningful information that might cause anyone trouble. Her loyalty later becomes her undoing because she is shot by Silvio after confessing to Christopher that she is an informant.
Bobby Baccalla
Bobby starts out as Junior Soprano's soldier but switches sides after his life is spared in the war between Junior and Tony. He then rises to be the Underboss of the family but is killed during the New York Vs New Jersey mob war.
Bobby is undoubtedly the nicest mobster on the show. He is humble, shy, and takes all kinds of offensive jokes thrown at him. He doesn't tolerate disrespect to his family and that's the reason he brutally beats up Tony when he insults his wife. In the process, he proves himself to be one of the best fighters in The Sopranos.
Junior Soprano
Junior is embroiled in a bitter feud with his nephew Tony at the start of the series but is forced to take a step back when most of his capable men get whacked. Junior's troubles are further worsened by health complications and scrutiny from the FBI.
While Junior can be mean and ruthless, he is reasonable too. Even though he doesn't like Tony, he refuses to participate in Richie Aprille's plot to overthrow him. As an old-timer, he has enough experience to know the best decision to make at any given time. Later in the series, Tony is seen turning to him for advice on a number of occasions.
Silvio Dante
Silvio serves as the Consigliere of the DiMeo crime family and the Head of Operations at the popular mob hangout joint, the Bada Bing strip club. When Tony gets shot in the final season, he briefly serves as acting boss.
Many things stand out about Silvio, including his fashion sense, which is unmatched by any other character. Additionally, his pop culture knowledge has made him a constant source of entertainment too as he enjoys mimicking Michael Corleone from The Godfather trilogy. And as the most level-headed member of the family, he has always provided a clear sense of direction when everything looked bleak.
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher is seen by Tony as his future successor but messes up his own prospects by failing to get over his drug addiction problems. Eventually, Tony is forced to kill him.
Christopher enjoys fluid character development throughout the show. He rises from an 'unmade' guy to a Capo in just a few years. And apart from being a mobster, he also ventures into Hollywood where he gets to make his own movie titled Cleaver. Christopher is also at the center of some iconic episodes in the series such as "Pine Barrens."
Tony Soprano
The boss of the DiMeo crime family proves to be an extremely capable leader during his time at the helm. He also tries hard to juggle work, family life, and his numerous mistresses.
Tony is extremely intelligent. Despite being under constant FBI scrutiny, he never gets arrested. And in a profession full of violent and vindictive people, he never gets killed, at least not on screen. It's hinted that he died after the controversial cut-to-black in the series finale. Moreover, Tony is very logical in his decision-making, something that helps him avoid getting into unnecessary conflict.