Junior Soprano

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Junior Soprano
First appearance	The Sopranos (episode 1.01)
Information
Aliases	Corrado John Soprano, Jr.
Gender	Male
Age	76
Occupation	Front Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family
Title	Puppet Boss
Family	Johnny Boy Soprano (brother) Ercoli "Eckley" Soprano (brother) Tony Soprano (nephew) Janice Soprano (niece) Barbara Soprano Giglione (niece) Livia Soprano (sister-in-law)
Relationships	Bobbi SanFillipo (ex-girlfriend) Catherine Romano (ex-girlfriend)
Portrayed by	Dominic Chianese
Created by	David Chase

Corrado John Soprano, Jr. (often called "Uncle Junior"), played by Dominic Chianese, is the mentor and part-time father figure for mob boss Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series, The Sopranos. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco Sisto.

[edit] Biography

Junior is actually Tony Soprano's uncle: Junior's younger brother was Giovanni Francis "Johnny Boy" Soprano, Tony's father. Both Junior and Johnny Boy dropped out of high school to join the DiMeo Crime Family. Junior and Johnny Boy were responsible for acquiring longtime Soprano asset, Satriale's Meat Market from the eponymous Mr. Satriale. Satriale had a gambling problem and eventually committed suicide, leaving the place in the Soprano brothers' hands because of his debts. Junior harboured some resentment towards his brother because he was made before him despite being the younger of the two. Junior always watched after Tony, but after Johnny Boy's death from emphysema, Junior became Tony's surrogate father. Junior acted as Tony's leader and mentor, helping him rise through the ranks. However Junior also had some resentment for Tony's fast ascendancy as a star of the family that he had spent his whole life working in.

Following the arrest of DiMeo family boss Eckley DiMeo in late 1995, Junior got into a trucking dispute with new acting boss Jackie Aprile. He fled to Boca Raton to avoid any repercussions but his nephew, Tony arranged a sit down through Soprano soldier Sal "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero to solve the problem.

Upon Jackie's death, Tony and Junior squabbled over control of the family. Brendan Filone, an associate of Tony's crew, was killed by Junior's right hand man, Mikey Palmice. Junior planned to kill "Little Pussy" Malanga in Vesuvio, a restaurant owned by Tony's friend, Artie Bucco. Tony tried to prevent this, eventually resorting to fire bombing the restaurant to force its closure so the hit would happen elsewhere.

Eventually, they reached a compromise. Although Junior technically became the boss, Tony really ran the show, using Junior as a front to distract law enforcement with the agreement of the other caporegimes. In addition, poor health coupled with being under house arrest for federal racketeering charges have limited Junior's ability to run anything.

Junior and Tony argued again when Tony made reference to Junior's sexual relationship with a longtime friend, prompting Junior to end the association. Tony also upset Junior by placing his mother, Livia Soprano, into the Green Grove retirement community. Resentful, Livia tried to take advantage of both of their grudges and gave Junior the go ahead to kill Tony. She prompted the action by revealing Tony's visits to Dr. Melfi, a therapist. However, the hit failed and Tony used the situation to cut Junior out of the loop in the family almost completely by arranging for Junior's top trigger men, Mikey Palmice and Chucky Signore to be assassinated. Junior was arrested on federal racketeering charges at the same time.

This cut Junior's ability to pull another attack and sent his former crew into turmoil. Junior's underboss, Beppy Sasso, was arrested at the same time as Junior. Junior's replacement capo, Philly "Spoons" Parisi, couldn't keep his mouth shut about the conflict between Tony and his Uncle and also Livia's involvement, so Tony had him killed. Finally, Tony moved two soldiers from Junior's crew, Patsy Parisi and Gigi Cestone, over to his crew. This left Junior the aging Murf Lupo as capo and Beppy Scerbo and Bobby Baccalieri AKA Bobby Bacala, as soldiers. Through Bobby, Tony informed Junior that while he could keep the title of Boss, almost all of his businesses were forfeited, and Tony would only let him keep a 5% tribute, which would be (barely) enough to live on.

Soon, Junior was released from jail and placed under house arrest while awaiting trial, after his attorney convinced the judge that Junior was much sicker than he actually was. While he was under house arrest, Soprano captain Richie Aprile was released from prison, and actively sought Junior's friendship. Soon, Junior found himself at the epicenter of a growing power struggle between Richie and Tony, with Richie wishing to assume Tony's position as "street boss." Junior was extremely conflicted over which side to favor, but eventually decided that while Tony could be selfish and impulsive, Richie simply did not have the respect of the family members, and his violent and brutish tendencies could mean the end of the family itself. Junior finally told Tony of Richie's plans against him. Grateful for the warning, Tony doubled Junior's percentage of his former businesses, and the two (more or less) buried the hatchet.

During this time, Bobby Bacala became Junior's replacement right-hand man and closest confidant. Bobby accompanied Junior on hospital visits during his battles with stomach cancer, which he eventually overcame. Junior tried to warn Bobby not to get involved with his niece, Janice, after the death of Bobby's wife, but Janice persisted and Bobby and Janice eventually got married.

Junior found various ways to get around his house arrest - using his doctor's office to conduct business (until the feds placed an agent there posing as a nurse) and attending as many funerals and family functions as possible.

Although Tony considered him to be arrogant and incompetent as a boss, he has often turned to Junior as the voice of experience. Although Junior has survived cancer and prison, the toll of a series of 'mini-strokes' and the confinement of house arrest has since left him confused, depressed, and increasingly dependent on family care and support.

In season six of The Sopranos, Junior's dementia has worsened over the two year interval, as he becomes paranoid that his long-deceased enemy, "Little Pussy" Malanga, is after him. Tony, however, refuses to put his uncle in a nursing home, feeling obligated to care for Junior himself with the aid of his sisters and Bobby. The decision proves nearly fatal. Tony arrives at Junior's house one evening and finds that his uncle is missing his false teeth. Tony sends Junior upstairs to look for the missing teeth while Tony prepares dinner for his uncle. When Junior hears Tony's voice from downstairs telling him that dinner is ready, his dementia kicks in once again. Junior descends the stairs and, believing his nephew to be Malanga, shoots Tony in the abdomen. Panicking, Junior runs upstairs, hiding away in his bedroom closet while Tony struggles to dial 911 before losing consciousness.

Junior was arrested and taken into Federal custody over the shooting, but his lawyer secured him a release into a mental institution, claiming he is currently unfit to stand trial. Tony is apparently unaware of this, having refused all contact with, or even mention of, his uncle since the shooting. Junior remains confused and distressed by proceedings and denies that he could have deliberately attacked his own nephew. Junior's dementia has progressed to such a state that when his grand-nephew A.J. Soprano visited him with the intention of killing him as revenge, Junior did not recognize the danger he was in.

Preceded by Giacomo "Jackie" Aprile, Sr.	Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family 1999–2000	Succeeded by Tony Soprano
Preceded by New Title	Capo of the Junior Soprano Crew c. 1960–2002	Succeeded by Bobby Baccalieri, Jr.

[edit] External link

• HBO Profile: Corrado "Junior" Soprano