Benny Fazio

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Benito Fazio, Jr. is a fictional character in the popular HBO television series The Sopranos. He is played by actor Max Casella. Benny is an associate in the DiMeo Crime Family under capo Christopher Moltisanti

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Season 3 1.2 Season 4 1.3 Season 5 1.4 Season 6

[edit] Biography

[edit] Season 3

Came out of county jail and began hanging out with friend Christopher Moltisanti and working with him. Benny works in the crew run by Paulie Gualtieri and later Moltisanti. He began working for Christopher just after Christopher became a made man in 2001 (season three of The Sopranos) and they quickly became close comrades. Benny's star began to rise due to his association with Christopher, as well as the fact that he is the godson of Soprano capo Larry Boy Barese.

In 2001 Benny and Chris often hung out at the Ooh-Fa pizza restaurant until Chris decided it was beneath him as a made man. This brought them into contact with Jackie Aprile, Jr. and his friends. Jackie informed them of an opportunity - a charity Jewel concert at Rutgers university. Benny accompanied Chris when he robbed the concert and fired at a security guard that caught the robbery in progress; no-one was hurt and Chris and Benny made a clean escape with Jackie driving.

[edit] Season 4

In 2002 Benny was awarded one of the no work carpenter jobs at the esplanade construction site and was often found there following this. His most important task to date is the killing of two would-be assassins contracted by Tony to whack New York boss Carmine Lupertazzi. Once Tony withdrew his support from the hit, Benny and Petey took out the would-be killers - two heroin dealers.

[edit] Season 5

Over time, Benny became a trusted associate and came to be known by boss Tony Soprano acting both as a driver and as a guard of his house during his separation with Carmela. Benny also worked with Christopher as part of Tony's scheme to get Feech La Manna sent back to prison - they delivered stolen goods to him and let him get caught by his parole officer.

However, in late 2004 Benny was seriously injured by New York capo Phil Leotardo. The crisis brought on by Tony Blundetto was reaching a head and Phil severely beat Benny to send a message to Tony. Phil knew Benny in his capacity as driver to Tony; Phil and Benny had been present together at meetings between Tony and Johnny Sack. Tony, feeling guilty about Benny's fractured skull, offered to get him his button once he recovered.

[edit] Season 6

By 2006 Benny appears to have recovered from the attack fully, although Tony's promise of a promotion does not seem to have come to fruition. His responsibilities have included driving acting boss Silvio Dante while Tony was in the ICU, guarding Tony's ICU room and chasing down Vito Spatafore to his goomara's beach house following the revelation that he was homosexual. Benny is partnered with Patsy Parisi in a business relationship with Angie Bonpensiero and is responsible for assisting her bodyshop business and handling money she invests in loansharking.

It has also been revealed that Benny is married to Jen Fazio with a son on the way. Benny had taken the newest hostess at Nuovo Vesuvio's, Martina, as his goomara, much to the irritation of the head chef Artie Bucco.

Benny is involved in Chris' credit card fraud scheme with Mohammed and Ahmed, using his relationship with Martina to get numbers used at Nuovo Vesuvio and selling them on through Soprano crew associate Murmur. Benny was responsible for paying Chris' tribute to Tony while Chris visited LA. Tony had Benny deliver the money straight to Artie to cover his tab at Artie's restaurant, unwittingly paying Artie back with money drained from his own business

AMEX investigate Vesuvio's role in credit card fraud, prompting Artie to identify Martina as the criminal in his staff. Benny gets a visit from Artie in the small hours after Martina reveals that he was behind his credit card problems. They argue and fight and Benny ends up in the ER. He is baying for blood on his release but Tony talks him down. Benny gets slight revenge after Artie insults him at a family dinner Tony insisted he organise at Vesuvio. Benny was there to celebrate his parent's anniversary (Benny Fazio, Sr. and Connie Fazio) and Artie made a thinly veiled reference to his affair with Martina in front of his family. Enraged, Benny followed Artie to the kitchen and held his arm in a pot of boiling tomato sauce, scalding him. Benny later attended Chris' belated bachelor party, also at Nuovo Vesuvio and hosted by Artie, but refrained from initiating further violence.

Benny was also able to exact some revenge for his beating by Phil Leotardo. Tony assigned Benny the task of watching Phil's wire room in Sheepshead Bay when the DiMeo crew bombed it. Benny was pleased to report to Tony that Phil arrived just before the explosion and was knocked down (but relatively unharmed) by the blast.