In the real world, Cosa Nostra bosses rarely do the killing themselves. Unless necessary, the Don stays in the shadows and leaves the dirty work to those still aiming to prove themselves. Most assassination jobs are often carried out by street soldiers, a well-thought-out strategy meant to shield the Don from any trouble with law enforcement. Some mafia families are also known to have designated hitmen.
However, things were different in The Sopranos. Tony got his hands dirty 8 times on the show, but rarely for a petty reason. Still, these kills reminded us that even though the DiMeo crime family leader was a cool character, he was a violent criminal who should never be celebrated. Interestingly, he never got into serious trouble for these killings (at least on-screen). Tony was always a smart character and never slept in a jail cell throughout the series. Whether he was whacked in the series finale remained a mystery until very recently, when creator David Chase revealed that the cut to black was Tony’s lights being turned off.
Febby Petrulio
“College” (Season 1, Episode 5)
At the start of the series, Tony seems like the most harmless dad you’ll ever meet. He banters with his family and goes to therapy, hence he comes off as just another suburban family man. In the episode, “College,” he drives his daughter to Maine to look for a college, and when she asks him whether he is in the mafia, he gets honest. What a nice dad! That’s until he spots a “rat” at a gas station and transforms into a walking pesticide.
Chucky Signore
“I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano” (Season 1, Episode 13)
Tony’s next victim on the show is Chucky, a soldier in Junior’s crew. During the feud between Tony and Junior, Chucky is tasked with looking for hitmen from out of town, but the two men prove incompetent and Tony survives. After learning about the plan, Tony surprises Chucky as he is on his runabout boat at the marina in Jersey City. Tony pretends to have caught a large fish, only to pull a gun out of its mouth and fire at Chucky multiple times.
Matthew Bevilaqua
“From Where to Eternity” (Season 2, Episode 9)
The recently paroled Richie Aprile never hides his disdain for Christopher, describing him as having a “nose like a canopy.” Upon noticing this, up-and-coming gangster, Matthew Bevilaqua (Lillo Brancato Jr.), and his partner Sean Gismonte (Chris Tardio) decide to appease the experienced mobster by offering to whack Chris. They fail, though their attempt leaves Christopher bedridden, and when Tony learns about it, he takes action.
Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero
“Funhouse” (Season 2, Episode 13)
Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero had been an FBI informant from ‘as far back as he could remember.’ The show reveals that he began to ‘sing’ in 1995, but it would take a combination of a house search, a dream, and word from Detective Vin Makazian, for Tony to truly become convinced that his old friend was an FBI informant. Devastated, Tony, Paulie, and Silvio took Pussy out on a boat ride where they shot him.
Ralph Cifaretto
“Whoever Did This” (Season 4, Episode 9)
Of all the whacked people, Ralph is the one fans are unlikely to feel pity for. He might have been the family’s highest earner, but he often dished out insensitive remarks and had no tinge of remorse inside him. Ralph became irredeemable when he killed his girlfriend, Tracee, outside the Bada Bing, and when Tony suspected that he might have been involved in Pie Oh My’s death, he strangled him to death.
Tony Blundetto
“All Due Respect” (Season 5, Episode 13)
Tony Soprano’s cousin, Tony Blundetto, puts him in a lot of trouble when he kills Phil Leotardo’s younger brother, Billy. Knowing Phil’s men will eventually find Tony B and subject him to the most painful death, he decides to whack the man himself. Tony grabs a shotgun, surprises Tony B at Uncle Pat’s abandoned farm in upstate New York, and shoots him.
Willie Overall
“Remember When” (Season 6, Episode 15)
Tony “made his bones” by murdering the bookmaker, Willie Overall, on Labor Day 1982 and burying him inside the basement of a house. In “Remember When,” it’s revealed that FBI informant Larry Barese has told the authorities where the body was buried. Tony and Paulie are thus forced to lie low. Relief comes when they learn that Larry lied the FBI that Tony’s close buddy, Jackie Aprile, killed Willie.
Christopher Moltisanti
“Kennedy and Heidi” (Season 6, Episode 18)
Once a promising mobster who Tony believed would lead the DiMeo crime family into the future, Christopher sinks deeper and deeper into drug addiction as the show progresses. In “Kennedy and Heidi,” he causes the car to swerve and roll as he is driving Tony from a meeting. Angry, Tony decides to pinch the young Capo’s nose for several minutes, causing him to die of asphyxiation.
