Editing The Sopranos (section)

===Casting===
[[File:SopranosKuwaitUSO.jpg|thumb|[[James Gandolfini]] (right) and [[Tony Sirico]] (left) visit the U.S. Air Force during a [[USO]] visit to [[Kuwait]] in 2010]]
Many of the actors on ''The Sopranos'' are Italian American from the [[New York metropolitan area]], like the characters they portray, and many appeared together in films and television series before joining the cast of ''The Sopranos''. The series has [[Goodfellas–The Sopranos cast overlap|27 actors in common]] with the 1990 [[Martin Scorsese]] gangster film ''[[Goodfellas]]'', including main cast members [[Lorraine Bracco]], [[Michael Imperioli]], and [[Tony Sirico]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/50-useless-but-genius-facts-about-goodfellas |title=50 genius facts about GoodFellas |work=ShortList |access-date=December 6, 2013 |date=February 11, 2011 |archive-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205114330/http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/50-useless-but-genius-facts-about-goodfellas |url-status=live }}</ref>

The casting directors were [[Georgianne Walken|Georgianne Walken and Sheila Jaffe]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/07/26/sopranos-casting-call-turns-mob-scene/|title=''Sopranos'' casting call turns into a mob scene|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Ed|last=Tahaney|date=July 26, 2000|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113225140/https://ew.com/article/2000/07/26/sopranos-casting-call-turns-mob-scene/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-04-09/coronavirus-quarantine-talking-sopranos-podcast-michael-imperioli-steve-schirripa|title=How two 'Sopranos' wise guys launched a podcast from their coronavirus quarantine|website=Los Angeles Times|first=Margy|last=Rochlin|date=April 9, 2020|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527174153/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-04-09/coronavirus-quarantine-talking-sopranos-podcast-michael-imperioli-steve-schirripa|url-status=live}}</ref> The main cast was put together through a process of auditions and readings. Actors often did not know whether Chase liked their performances or not.<ref name="vanity"/> Michael Imperioli beat out several actors for the part of [[Christopher Moltisanti]]; he said that Chase had "a poker face, so I thought he wasn't into me, and he kept giving me notes and having me try it again, which often is a sign that you're not doing it right." Chase said that he wanted Imperioli because of his performance in ''Goodfellas.''<ref name="vanity"/>

[[James Gandolfini]] was invited to audition for the part of [[Tony Soprano]] after casting director Susan Fitzgerald saw a short clip of his performance in the 1993 film ''[[True Romance]]''.<ref name="vanity"/> Lorraine Bracco played the role of mob wife Karen Hill in ''Goodfellas'', and she was originally asked to play the role of [[Carmela Soprano]]. She took the role of [[Jennifer Melfi|Dr. Jennifer Melfi]] instead because she wanted to try something different and felt that the part of the highly educated Dr. Melfi would be more of a challenge for her.<ref name="vanityfair"/> [[Tony Sirico]] had a criminal history,<ref name="sirico1">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-15-ca-379-story.html |title=A Real Tough Guy : Tony Sirico's rap sheet: 28 arrests and 27 acting jobs |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Patrick |last=Goldstein |date=July 15, 1990 |access-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195059/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-07-15/entertainment/ca-379_1_tony-sirico |url-status=live }}</ref> and he signed on to play [[Paulie Gualtieri|Paulie Walnuts]] so long as his character was not to be a "[[informant|rat]]".<ref name="sirico2">{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2007/06/will_tony_flip_is_paulie_a_rat.html |title=Will Tony Flip? Is Paulie a Rat? 'New York' Staffers Predict the 'Sopranos' Finale, Part II |publisher=Vulture |date=June 8, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111033109/http://www.vulture.com/2007/06/will_tony_flip_is_paulie_a_rat.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Sirico had originally auditioned for the role of [[Junior Soprano|Uncle Junior]] with [[Frank Vincent]], but [[Dominic Chianese]] landed the role.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Tony Sirico's Criminal Past Prepared Him To Play Paulie Walnuts On 'The Sopranos'|url=https://uproxx.com/tv/the-sopranos-paulie-walnuts-facts/|website=Uproxx|first=Christian|last=Long|date=August 24, 2015|access-date=February 23, 2018|archive-date=August 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812151400/https://uproxx.com/tv/the-sopranos-paulie-walnuts-facts/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Dominic Chianese, Lorraine Bracco and Tony Sirico, May 2000 (2).jpg|thumb|[[Dominic Chianese]], [[Lorraine Bracco]] and Tony Sirico at the 2000 [[Peabody Awards]] ceremony.]]
Chase was impressed with [[Steven Van Zandt]]'s humorous appearance and presence after seeing him induct [[The Rascals]] into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1997, and invited him to audition.<ref name=casting>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-sopranos-david-chase-interview-oral-history-james-gandolfini-steven-van-zandt-lorraine-bracco-20-year-anniversary-1202532570/|title=David Chase & 'The Sopranos' Gang Look Back 20 Years Later: Part I|website=Deadline|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612192738/https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-sopranos-david-chase-interview-oral-history-james-gandolfini-steven-van-zandt-lorraine-bracco-20-year-anniversary-1202532570/|url-status=live}}</ref> Van Zandt, a guitarist in [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s [[E Street Band]], had never acted before. He auditioned for the role of Tony Soprano, but HBO felt that the role should go to an experienced actor, so Chase wrote a new part for him.<ref name="vanityfair">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/04/sopranos-oral-history |title=The Family Hour: An Oral History of ''The Sopranos'' |magazine=Vanity Fair |first=Sam |last=Kashner |date=April 2012 |access-date=December 6, 2013 |page=2 |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211115438/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/04/sopranos-oral-history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=casting/> Van Zandt eventually agreed to star on the show as [[consigliere]] [[Silvio Dante]], and his real-life spouse [[Maureen Van Zandt|Maureen]] was cast as his on-screen wife [[Gabriella Dante|Gabriella]].<ref name="vanzandt1">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-hit-man-in-more-ways-than-one/ |title=A Hit Man In More Ways Than One |work=CBS News |date=March 18, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211224744/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-hit-man-in-more-ways-than-one/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vanzandt2">{{cite web |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/person/steven-van-zandt/biography.html |title=Steven Van Zandt biography at Yahoo |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=November 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708071159/http://tv.yahoo.com/person/steven-van-zandt/biography.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vanzandt3">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/arts/television/10cart.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |title=One Final Whack at That HBO Mob |last=Carter |first=Bill |work=The New York Times |date=June 10, 2007 |access-date=November 27, 2007 |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111043519/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/arts/television/10cart.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |url-status=live }}</ref>

The cast of the debut season of the series consisted of largely unknown actors, with the exception of Bracco, Chianese, and [[Nancy Marchand]], but many cast members were noted for their acting ability and received mainstream attention for their performances.<ref name="vanity"/><ref name="bury">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/04/06/set-sopranos-finale/ |title=Burying the Sopranos |access-date=October 7, 2007 |last=Wolk |first=Josh |date=April 6, 2007 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=October 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009041307/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20033896,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequent seasons saw established actors [[Joe Pantoliano]], [[Robert Loggia]], [[Steve Buscemi]], and Frank Vincent<ref name="HBOcastcrew"/> join the starring cast, along with well-known actors in recurring roles such as [[Peter Bogdanovich]], [[John Heard (actor)|John Heard]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-heard/credits/158009 |title=John Heard Credits |access-date=December 6, 2013 |work=TV Guide |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211193555/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-heard/credits/158009 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Robert Patrick]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-patrick/bio/172325 |title=Robert Patrick Biography |access-date=December 6, 2013 |work=TV Guide |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211191727/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-patrick/bio/172325 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Peter Riegert]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/PROFILE-Peter-Riegert-From-pickles-to-Pinter-2876807.php |title=Profile: Peter Riegert |access-date=September 5, 2008 |newspaper=SFGate.com |first=Cynthia |last=Robins |date=September 18, 2001 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104024540/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/PROFILE-Peter-Riegert-From-pickles-to-Pinter-2876807.php |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Annabella Sciorra]],<ref name="HBOcastcrew"/> and [[David Strathairn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/david-strathairn/biography.html |title=David Strathairn Biography |access-date=September 5, 2008 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]] |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921230652/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/david-strathairn/biography.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Numerous well-known actors appeared in one or two episodes, such as [[Lauren Bacall]], [[Daniel Baldwin]], [[Annette Bening]], [[Polly Bergen]], [[Sandra Bernhard]], [[Paul Dano]], [[Charles S. Dutton]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/20824/Charles-S-Dutton/filmography |title=Charles S. Dutton Filmography |access-date=September 5, 2008 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220221802/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/20824/Charles-S-Dutton/filmography |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Jon Favreau]], [[Janeane Garofalo]], [[Hal Holbrook]], [[Tim Kang]], [[Elias Koteas]], [[Ben Kingsley]], [[Linda Lavin]], [[Ken Leung]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/ken-leung/biography.html |title=Ken Leung Biography |access-date=September 5, 2008 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]] |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010150507/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/ken-leung/biography.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Julianna Margulies]], [[Sydney Pollack]], [[Wilmer Valderrama]], [[Alicia Witt]], and [[Burt Young]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-television-sopranos-idUSN0930398420070409 |title=Sopranos finale begins on downbeat note |access-date=September 6, 2008 |author=Richmond, Ray |author-link=Ray Richmond |date=April 9, 2007 |work=Reuters |archive-date=November 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114150837/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/04/09/us-television-sopranos-idUSN0930398420070409 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ray Liotta]], who was eventually cast as two of the Moltisanti brothers in ''[[The Many Saints of Newark]]'' film [[prequel]], was approached by Chase at one point to appear in the third or fourth seasons of the show, but the plan did not work out.<ref name="LiottaScreenRantInterview">{{Cite web |last=Tsang |first=Christopher |date=September 24, 2021 |title=Ray Liotta Says He Never Turned Down Role In The Sopranos |url=https://screenrant.com/sopranos-ray-liotta-role-offer-response/ |access-date=October 2, 2021 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925003216/https://screenrant.com/sopranos-ray-liotta-role-offer-response/ |url-status=live }}</ref>