The American crime drama “The Sopranos,” a landmark in the genre, is widely regarded for its realism. Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) struggle with mental illness while also caring for his family and running a criminal organization provided some of the most riveting drama in television history. In this article, we will read about Who Is The Sopranos Based On?
“The Sopranos,” widely regarded as one of the best TV dramas of all time, is clearly based on real events.
There have been several movies about the mob over the years, among the best being “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas,” but none of them have caught the overwhelming terror of organized crime quite like “The Sopranos.”
“Respect is earned, not given.”
As depicted in the critically acclaimed HBO series, this maxim serves as the foundation for the actual Cosa Nostra. Respect is vital, but it can be tricky to earn when you have to juggle competing demands from your own loved ones and the mafia family you run.
When it comes to showing the inner turmoil of a mobster trying to keep it all together, “The Sopranos” absolutely shines. What’s so amazing about it? Not everything about it is made up.
Right this way, you can meet the man who served as the idea’s inspiration.
Who Is The Sopranos Based On?
The similarities between Vincent Palermo, a former New Jersey crime boss, and Tony Soprano are striking.
He was born on June 4, 1944, and grew up in a conventional American-Italian household in Brooklyn, New York. Working at a New Jersey fish market gave him the moniker “Vinny Ocean,” which he used when he married into the DeCavalcante crime family.
He soon became involved in loansharking, illicit gambling, and even racketeering as he advanced in the ranks of the New Jersey mafia.
Similar to Tony Soprano, he rose up the ranks to capo status. After Palermo was implicated in the murder of a real estate developer named Fred Weiss, he was granted his own team of soldiers. Like Tony Soprano, he rose to power inside the DeCavalcante family and eventually became its de facto boss.
It was obvious that there was a connection even among the gang members. In FBI recordings, members of the DeCavalcante family can be heard discussing the program:
“Whoa, Sopranos, what is this f****** thing? Seriously, who the hell are they? Are we supposed to look like that? The more shows you watch, the more people you notice… You can get pork at the nearby shop. Yes, you’re in New Jersey, right? They’ve got an open-air bar over there. Jesus.”
Four men were convicted of murder, racketeering, extortion, unlawful gambling, bribery, and organized crime based in part on recordings of them discussing the HBO series “The Sopranos.”
Wiggles, a strip club that Palermo owned, was the model for “The Sopranos”‘ Bada Bing!
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The Only People You Can Count On Are Your Family, As The Saying Goes
Tony Soprano puts his family first and foremost; he adopted his wife’s first cousin once removed and raised him as his own. Tony’s friendship with Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) is a significant aspect of “The Sopranos” and is based on the real-life crime boss Vincent Palermo.
Source: NY Post
He was a dedicated father and protector of his daughters, taking them to Brownies every week and watching “Annie” on a weekly basis. Also, he became godfather to a troubled teen called Richard and let him stay with his family on weekends so that Richard could complete his Catholic sacraments.
The parallels between their respective criminal families are also striking.
Similarly to “The Sopranos'” DiMeo crime family, the DeCavalcante clan fought amongst itself for control. Like in real life, the show’s portrayal of Junior Soprano as the DiMeo criminal leader is largely symbolic.
This was the same as the DeCavalcante crime family, which Giovanni Riggi led from prison. However, by the mid-1990s, Palermo had taken over as head of the organization.
The death of a disgraced crime boss should be conclusive proof that Vincent Palermo is the actual Tony Soprano if it wasn’t already.
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