When HBO’s legendary mob drama debuted in 1999, it redefined television through the complex life of New Jersey boss Tony Soprano. While the show famously cemented the legacies of James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, it also functioned as an unintentional incubation chamber for future Hollywood royalty. Long before they were winning Oscars, topping the Billboard charts, or leading their own hit sitcoms, these twenty performers were just fresh faces in the Soprano family orbit.
The Pop Icon and the Action Heroes
Lady Gaga Before she was a global phenomenon, a teenage Stefani Germanotta appeared in Season 3 as a high schooler smoking by a swimming pool. Looking back, Gaga has been self-critical of her performance, noting that she had not yet learned how to truly listen in a scene. She famously described her onscreen giggle as a “fake laugh” that lacked the authenticity she would later bring to her Oscar-nominated roles.
Michael B. Jordan Now known for leading the Creed and Black Panther franchises, a very young Jordan made a brief appearance in Season 1. He played one of the kids harassing a young Tony Soprano in a flashback. This small part preceded his iconic turn as Wallace in The Wire and his eventually becoming a box office powerhouse.
Paul Dano Long before he was facing off against Batman as the Riddler, Dano appeared in Season 4 as Patrick. He played a friend of A.J. Soprano who spent his time poking fun at the family’s mob ties and eventually tagging along for a disappointing trip to Satriale’s instead of the Bada Bing.
The Broadway and Comedy Giants
Lin-Manuel Miranda The mastermind behind Hamilton had a tiny, unhelpful role as a hotel bellhop in Season 6. Miranda recalls being so nervous that he visibly looked down at his floor marks. However, he often praises James Gandolfini for being incredibly gracious and staying late to finish the scene with a then-unknown actor.
Tony Hale Before he became the lovable Buster Bluth on Arrested Development, Hale appeared in Season 3 as a nurse administering chemotherapy to Uncle Junior. He recalls his hands shaking violently during the scene due to genuine nerves about working on such a massive production.
Will Arnett Another Arrested Development alum, Arnett played FBI agent Mike Waldrup in Season 4. His character was married to the undercover agent who befriended Adriana La Cerva, a plotline that eventually led to one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the series.
Aasif Mandvi The future Daily Show correspondent appeared in Season 6 as Dr. Abu Bilal. He was the physician tasked with telling mobster Phil Leotardo that his chest pains were just gas, right before Phil suffered an actual, near-fatal heart attack.
HBO Legends and Drama Heavyweights
Michael K. Williams Shortly before he became the legendary Omar Little on The Wire, Williams appeared in the Season 3 finale. He played Ray Ray, a man living in the housing projects who provided a temporary, unsuccessful refuge for the doomed Jackie Aprile Jr.
Cristin Milioti Though she recently starred in The Penguin, Milioti’s mob connections began in Season 6 as Catherine Sacrimoni. Interestingly, she was cast by director Steve Buscemi, who discovered her while she was working at a local coffee shop he frequently visited.
Michael Kelly The House of Cards veteran played FBI agent Ron Goddard in the final season. Sporting significantly more hair than his later roles, he worked alongside Agent Harris to investigate potential terror cells in New Jersey.
Guillermo Diaz Before his long runs on Weeds and Scandal, Diaz had a Season 1 cameo as a nursery worker. He famously tried to sell Tony Soprano an eco-friendly pesticide, a pitch that Tony predictably rejected.
The Shondaland and Procedural Stars
Chandra Wilson A year before she began her multi-decade run as Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy, Wilson appeared in an anger management class alongside Tony’s sister, Janice. Their characters bonded briefly before Janice’s inevitable toxic behavior ruined the moment.
Katie Lowes The Scandal star appeared in Season 6 as a wedding guest named Gillian. She memorably criticized the seafood for having toxins while simultaneously smoking a cigarette. Lowes recalls the cast being incredibly welcoming to her family when they visited the set.
Emily Wickersham The future NCIS lead played Rhiannon, a girlfriend of A.J. Soprano in the show’s final season. The two bonded during their time at a treatment clinic and remained together through the infamous series finale.
Character Actors and Comedians
Mike Epps One of the comedian’s earliest roles was in the second episode of the series. Epps played a car thief’s associate who was hunted down by Paulie Walnuts. At the time, Epps was just 21 years old and thrilled for the paycheck.
Judy Reyes Before she was the heart of Scrubs, Reyes played a companion of Paulie Walnuts in Season 2. Her character, Michelle, was the one who suggested Paulie visit a psychic after he became haunted by visions of the afterlife.
Grace Van Patten Currently the star of Tell Me Lies, Van Patten made her screen debut as a child in Season 6. She played the daughter of mobster Eugene Pontecorvo, a role she landed partly because her father, Tim Van Patten, was one of the show’s primary directors.
Bokeem Woodbine Woodbine portrayed the rapper Massive Genius in Season 1. His character attempted to help Adriana with her music career while subtly trying to win her away from Christopher Moltisanti. Woodbine would later find major acclaim in the second season of Fargo.
Rebecca Wisocky Now a standout on the sitcom Ghosts, Wisocky played a legal attorney prosecuting Johnny Sack in Season 6. It was one of her first major television credits before a long career of guest starring roles.
Chris Diamantopoulos Known for Silicon Valley, the actor played Jason Barone in the final season. He is famous for an onset anecdote involving Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts). Sirico reportedly used a real lead pipe instead of a rubber one during a rehearsal, giving the actor a genuine taste of the mob life.
