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| “ | Teddy Roosevelt once gave an entire speech with a bullet lodged in his chest. Some things are just a matter of duty. | „ |
| ~ Uncle Junior's philosophy. |
| “ | Ahh! Your sister's c*nt!! | „ |
| ~ One of Junior's most common exclamations. |
| “ | Your father never had the makings of a varsity athlete. | „ |
| ~ Junior Soprano to A.J. Soprano, taunting Tony; his most famous quote. |
Corrado John "Junior" Soprano, Jr., more commonly known as Uncle Junior, is one of the main antagonists of the HBO television series The Sopranos and the overarching antagonist of its 2021 prequel film The Many Saints of Newark.
He is a caporegime in the DiMeo Crime Family and the uncle of Tony Soprano. Junior had a younger brother, Johnny Boy Soprano. Junior and Johnny's father was an honest man, but his sons had no interest in following in his footsteps, deciding to drop out of the school in order to join the mob. He is also the leader of his own crew which is later taken over by Bobby Baccalieri, who acts as his caretaker while under house arrest. Overtime, Junior goes through various illnesses including stomach cancer (which he beats) and dementia which ruins his mind by the end of the series.
During Tony's childhood Junior was kinder to him than his own father but Tony's quick ascension in the ranks began to cause friction between them. While he begins as an opponent to Tony during the first season, overtime they reconcile and Junior acts as a sort of advisor, despite him technically being the head of the family with Tony only being the street boss. However, despite his friendship with Tony, he still has some conflict with him due to his aggressive and egotistical nature.
In the show, he was portrayed by Dominic Chianese, who also played Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II, and by Rocco Sisto as his younger self in the show's flashbacks. In the film, he was portrayed by Corey Stoll, who also played Yellowjacket/M.O.D.O.K. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Personality[]
Junior can initially come off as a charming, friendly, funny, and congenital. Although he rarely shows it, he clearly cares about his brother Johnny, and even his mentally-disabled brother, Ercole. He also cared initially cared about fellow mobster, Dickie Moltisanti, saying that he considered the two of them ‘brothers.’
Junior and his brother, Giovanni "Johnny Boy" Soprano were raised by an honest, hard-working father, yet had no desire to imitate their father, and joined the DiMeo Crime Family. rose through the ranks, and, by the time of 1967, were already leading a crew with Johnny being a captain. Junior was in his brother’s shadow well after Johnny’s death, and would forever remain resentful of that face.
Junior as an individual is arrogant, impertinent, proud, stubborn, petty, vain, insecure, conservative and old-school. Having no children and constantly living under the shadow of his brother, Junior desired to maintain the image of a tough, unyielding and respected mobster even as he entered his old age. He saw fellow mobsters, friends and family alike as rivals and was rutheless in his desire to rise through the ranks of the DiMeo family, which put him at odds with other members like Johnny, Dickie, and eventually his nephew, Tony.
His relationship with his brother’s son, Tony, was much more complex. Junior was initially kinder and more compassionate towards Tony than Tony’s own father, Johnny, playing catch with him and taking his to football games. He looked out for Tony and is the one responsible for his rise through the ranks as his nephew grew up.
However, the relationship between the two of them would strain after Tony began competing with him over business ventures. Despite still caring about him, Junior began to see his nephew as a rival and grew upset at his popularity within the DiMeo family, despite Tony loving Junior. After Brendan Filone, a friend of Christopher Moltisanti, who was Tony’s nephew, killed one of the drivers at Comely Trucking, Junior was furious and insulted, as that was his business. Tensions between Tony and him were rising and it looked like a war between the two crews might have broken out, but the death of Jackie Aprile, Sr. allowed Tony to placate Junior’s pride by offering him the position of boss of the DiMeo family, something that Junior had always wanted.
Junior’s insecurity is revealed even more once he obtains his position as boss of the family.
Biography[]
Season 1[]
In the pilot Junior plans to have Little Pussy Malanga killed at Vesuvio, a restaurant owned by Tony's childhood friend Artie Bucco. Tony asks him not to do this as it would ruin Artie's reputation but Junior, stubbornly refuses and Tony eventually resorts to fire-bombing the place, angering Junior.
When Tony's apprentice Christopher Moltisanti and his friend Brendan Filone highjack from Comley Trucking Junior becomes infuriated as he is paid to protect Comley. Under the suggestion of Tony's mother Livia, he has Brendan killed by Mikey Palmice but spares Chris due to his close relationship with Tony.
Tony and Junior seem to be on the verge of a mob war but things are resolved when Tony agrees to let him replace the now deceased Jackie Aprile as boss. Unbeknownst to Junior this is so Tony can control the family behind his uncle's back and allow him to take the heat of a federal investigation.
Junior decides to tax Hesh Rabkin out of spite against Tony as the two have a close friendship. Hesh brings the matter to Tony's attention who then had Johnny Sack come and present a proposition to Junior. Tony persuades Junior to share his money equally among the capos.
Around this time he learns that his tailor's young grandson has died of an overdose as a result of being sold drugs by DiMeo associate, Rusty Irish. Disgusted by Rusty selling drugs to children Junior has him murdered. Junior learns from Livia that Tony is attending therapy but decides to protect his nephew's secret.
Junior and Tony had another problem when Tony poked fun at his uncle during a golf game over rumors of him performing oral sex on his girlfriend Bobbi, leading to their break-up which leaves him emotionally devastated.
After learning from Livia that Tony had been holding meetings behind his back he concluded his nephew was planning a move against him and reluctantly ordered his death. When Donnie Paduana made a joke about Tony's mother wanting him dead, Junior thought Donnie may make jokes about him in the future and has Mikey kill him.
When Tony discovers Junior's involvement in the attempted murder he arranges a hit on his uncle but Junior is spared when he is arrested for unrelated racketeering charges. The FBI offer him a deal if he rats out his nephew but Junior refuses out of pride.
Season 2[]
Junior is placed under house arrest, awaiting his trial after his lawyer Harold Melvoin convinces the the judge Junior was much sicker than he actually was. Nearly all of Junior's business was took over by Tony who only allowed him to keep a 5 0/0 tribute which would be barely enough to live on.
Junior got annoyed when Green Grove community director Fred Capuano implied he and Livia had an affair. He told this to Tony who had Capuano killed which may have been what Junior intended the whole time.
While under house-arrest Junior came into Contact with Catherine Romano, the wife of a dead cop that was implied to be a corrupt underling of Junior's though he tried to spare her feelings by assuring her this was not the case.
Junior is approached by Richie Aprile who asks his support to take out Tony to which Junior agrees. However he later decides to tell Tony as he realizes Richie doesn't have the support needed to take over, claiming he'd been lying to Richie and acting out of loyalty to Tony the whole time. Grateful for the tip-off Tony increased his percentage to 7.5 0/0.
Season 3[]
Junior attends Livia's funeral where he attempts to make peace with Tony's wife Carmela but she rebuffs him. He also greets Tony's kids warmly and asks them how they've been.
It is revealed Junior has stomach cancer, During this time he is supported by his devoted assistant Bobby Baccala. When an inattentive doctor ignored Junior's calls Tony intimidated the doctor into replying to his Uncle.
Eventually Junior overcame the cancer.
Season 4[]
Junior shows little sympathy for Bobby when his wife Karen dies, as it causes him to neglect work and forget to intimidate a union official. Despite this he shows concern when Bobby gets involved with his niece Janice and warns him off her
When Christopher's drug addiction spirals out of control Junior advises Tony to get rid of him but his nephew rejects his advice.
He avoids being found guilty at his trial by having Eugene Pontecorvo intimidate a juror.
Season 5[]
Junior begins to show signs of dementia when he repeats that Tony "does not have the makings of a varsity athlete" at dinner. Tony thinks Junior is just insulting him and declares his uncle dead to him. When he is later told about dementia from the doctor treating Junior he goes to reconcile, asking why Junior can never say something good and if he loves him, causing both men to tear up.
Season 6[]
| “ | Tony: You don't know who I am, do you? Do you remember Johnny? Johnny Boy? Your kid-brother? This thing of ours. Junior: I was involved with that? |
„ |
| ~ Uncle Junior's last conversation with Tony, his memory having almost completely deteriorated. |
Junior's dementia has worsened and he begins to think Malanga is still alive and out to kill him but Tony refuses Janice's suggestion to put their uncle in a nursing home. One day when Tony is preparing a meal for him Junior thinks his nephew is Malanga and shoots him.
Junior is sent to a mental-institution and Tony refuses to help or have any contact with him. He is visited by Tony's son A.J. who attempts to kill in revenge for his father but fails. Tony pulls some strings to keep A.J. out of prison and tells him he's glad his son didn't have it in him to kill someone.
Within the walls of the institution Junior retained much of his old personality, bribing orderlies, organizing games and physically abusing rivals.
Janice comes to Tony asking him to help Junior out with finances as he will be sent out if he can't pay, prompting Tony to sarcastically offer his sister a 5-dollar bill.
In the last episode of the series Tony finally decides to visit Junior. Junior recognizes Tony as someone he used to play catch with but can't recall any other events in his life despite Tony's attempts to remind him. Tony walks away, holding back tears at the sight of his sick uncle. It is likely that Junior will spend the rest of his days in a mental institution as a shadow of the gangster he used to be.
External Links[]
- Uncle Junior on the The Sopranos Wiki
- Uncle Junior on the Wikipedia
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 Villains
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DiMeo Crime Family Lupertazzi Crime Family Vittorio/Zucca Camorra family Philadelphia Crime Family/Buscetta Crime Family Other | ||