The Sopranos has guest-starred several talented actors, but fans might not remember some actors who had minor roles in the iconic HBO series.
The Sopranos is a popular crime drama and one of HBO’s most successful TV shows. Many critics and viewers even consider The Sopranos the best TV series of all time. And with six seasons and almost 90 episodes, The Sopranos has featured several talented guest-stars. Actors like Cristin Milioti played important roles in more than one episode of The Sopranos.
However, some actors guest starred in The Sopranos only once, like Annette Bening or The Wire’s Michael Kenneth Williams. Others, like Jon Favreau or Sir Ben Kingsley, had small roles and played a fictionalized version of themselves for a single episode. In a few cases, some actors appeared in the series before becoming international stars. For these reasons, it’s possible fans might not remember all the talented actors who have appeared in The Sopranos.
Updated on January 29, 2024, by Florencia Aberastury: The Sopranos debuted 25 years ago and made history for HBO, becoming one of the best and most influential TV shows of all time. We’ve updated this list with more details about some of the popular celebrities who guest-starred in The Sopranos throughout the years, as well as to bring the article up to current CBR standards.
10. Michael Kenneth Williams Helped Jackie Jr. Hide from the DiMeo Family
Michael Kenneth Williams has appeared in numerous HBO projects, including The Wire, Broadwalk Empire and Lovecraft Country. In The Sopranos, Williams guest-starred as Ray Ray in the Season 3 finale, “Army of One.” Ray Ray is the host of a housing project and agrees to help Jackie Jr. when Jackie needs to hide from the DiMeo crime family after a failed robbery.
After his minor role in The Sopranos, Michael K. Williams starred in HBO’s The Wire as Omar Little. His portrayal of Omar Little earned Williams critical acclaim, and the character became William’s breakout role. Michael Kenneth Williams also had a recurring role in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and in the beloved sitcom Community.
9. Ken Leung Was a Patient at Wycoff
Ken Leung is a prolific actor with several roles under his belt, which include movies like Rush Hour, Red Dragon, and Saw. And in 2007, Leung appeared in The Sopranos Season 6, Episode 15, titled “Remember When.” In this episode, Ken Leung plays Carter Chong, a patient at Wycoff, a psychiatric center where Junior Soprano stays.
After The Sopranos, Ken Leung gained international recognition as Miles Straume in Lost. Currently, Leung is set to appear as Commander Zhao in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
8. Michael B. Jordan Chased a Young Tony Soprano Down the Street
Michael B. Jordan is one of The Sopranos’ guest stars that many might not remember. Jordan was only 12 when he appeared in T he Sopranos, so it’s no surprise fans don’t remember. The Sopranos was actually Michael B. Jordan’s first acting credit, where he played one of the kids heckling a young Tony Soprano in a flashback scene.
After appearing in The Sopranos, Michael B. Jordan landed a recurring role in the first season of HBO’s The Wire as Wallace. The Wire earned him early recognition, together with roles in All My Children and Friday Night Lights. Some of Michael B. Jordan’s most popular roles in recent years include Donnie Creed in the seventh Rocky film Creed and Erik Killmonger in the MCU’s Black Panther.
7. Cristin Milioti Was the Younger Daughter of Johnny Sack
Before becoming the titular Mother in How I Met Your Mother, Cristin Milioti had a small recurring role in The Sopranos. Milioti portrayed Catherine Sacrimoni, the daughter of John “Johnny Sack” Sacrimoni. Milioti appeared as Catherine in three episodes of The Sopranos during Season 6.
Cristin Milioti gained popularity thanks to her portrayal of Tracy in How I Met Your Mother and the Tony Award-winning musical Once. In film, Milioti had roles in The Wolf of Wall Street and Fargo and starred alongside Andy Samberg in Palm Springs.
6. Jon Favreau Played a Fictionalized Version of Himself
Actor and director Jon Favreau appeared in The Sopranos as a fictionalized version of himself in Season 2, Episode 7, titled “D-Girl.” In this episode, Christopher Moltisanti wants to show his script to his cousin’s fiancé, who is working on a film with Jon Favreau. Christopher and Favreau share lunch, and Christopher tells Favreau a story. However, Christopher is upset when he realizes Favreau used his story for a script.
Before his cameo in The Sopranos, Jon Favreau played Pete Becker in Friends, a millionaire who is interested in Monica. He currently plays Happy Hogan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jon Favreau has also directed several popular films, including the classic Christmas movie Elf and Iron Man.
5. Ben Kingsley Refuses a Part in Christopher’s Film
Sir Ben Kingsley is also one of The Sopranos guest stars who played himself. This time, Kingsley’s guest-starring role happens during Season 6, Episode 7, titled “Luxury Lounge.” Christopher is in LA to cast for the film Cleaver and meets Sir Ben Kingsley, who refuses a part in the film. However, Kingsley soon realizes it’s not easy to say no to the mafia.
Sir Ben Kingsley is an award-winning actor who has received critical acclaim for films such as Gandhi and Schindler’s List. Kingsley has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Trevor Slattery in Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is set to reprise his role as Trevor Slattery in the upcoming miniseries Wonder Man.
4. Lady Gaga Was One of A.J.’s Classmates
Lady Gaga is a talented singer and actor who’s found incredible international success. But when she was still only known as Stefani Germanotta, she made her acting debut on The Sopranos. In Season 3, Episode 9, titled “The Telltale Moozadell,” Lady Gaga plays one of A.J.’s classmates who break into their high school’s pool before vandalizing the place.
In recent years, Lady Gaga has received recognition for her acting in films such as A Star is Born and House of Gucci. Lady Gaga is currently set to star in the sequel to 2019’s Joker, Joker: Folie à Deux, where she will portray Harley Quinn.
3. Tobin Bell Was the Administrator at the Military School Where Tony Takes A.J.
Tobin Bell gained international success as John Kramer / Jigsaw in the Saw horror franchise. Before the first Saw film made its debut, Bell appeared in The Sopranos in Season 3, Episode 13, titled “Army of One.” In this episode, A.J. Soprano is expelled from high school and Tony decides to send him to military school, where they meet Tobin Bell as Major Carl Zwingli.
Tobin Bell is now a horror icon, starring in nine of the ten films in the Saw franchise. He’s also had roles in popular television shows like The X Files, 24, and Criminal Minds. Tobin Bell reprised his role of Jigsaw in Saw X, released in 2023.
2. Chandra Wilson Clashes With Janice Soprano in an Anger Management Class
Chandra Wilson, known for her iconic role of Dr. Miranda Bailey in Grey’s Anatomy, made an appearance in The Sopranos in Season 5, Episode 10, titled “Cold Cuts.” Wilson plays Evelyn Greenwood, one of the participants of the anger management class Janice Soprano attends after she gets arrested.
Chandra Wilson also had appearances in shows like Law & Order: SVU and Sex and the City before starring in the beloved medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Wilson has also directed a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and has played Dr. Miranda Bailey in over 400 episodes.
1. Annette Bening Appeared in One of Tony Soprano’s Dreams
The iconic Annette Bening had a unique guest-starring role in The Sopranos. In Season 5, Episode 11, titled “The Test Dream,” Bening plays a version of herself playing Mrs. DeTrolio. As Tony checks himself into a hotel, he falls asleep and has a vivid dream where he sees Annette Bening as Finn DeTrolio’s mother.
Annette Bening is a prolific actress who’s received several accolades. Some of her most prominent roles include Carolyn Burnham in American Beauty and Dr. Nicole “Nic” Allgood in The Kids Are All Right. Bening is also part of the MCU, appearing in Captain Marvel as Supreme Intelligence and Mar-Vell / Dr. Wendy Lawson.
