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Rather than ignore the fact that its genre is pretty well-trodden, David Chase decided to reference the mob drama as much as possible in The Sopranos .
It made countless references to The Godfather - which Tony's mob were big fans of - it had a gangster film within a film (Cleaver), and used mostly Italian-American actors, with Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) saying he would only feature so long as his character didn't turn out to be a "rat".
The show also gave a slightly fourth wall-breaking nod to Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas , employing tons of actors from it and often in similar roles.
The actress who played Karen's mother played Carmela's mother...many actors who were part of a crew in Goodfellas were also part of one in The Soprano s...the film and the show even shared an actor who played Scorsese in the HBO series.
Show all 39 1 /39Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Lorraine Bracco as Dr Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Michael Imperioli as Spider in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tobin Bell as Major Zwingli in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tobin Bell as a parole officer in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Sirico as Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Sirico as Tony Stacks in Goodfellas
Copyright © 1990 Warner Bros. Inc. Credit: © 1990 Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Pyxurz.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Vincent as Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Vincent as Billy Batts in Goodfellas
Copyright © 1990 Warner Bros. Inc. Credit: © 1990 Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Pyxurz.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Vincent Pastore as Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Vincent Pastore as Man with Coatrack in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Suzanne Shepherd as Mary DeAngelis (Carm's mother) in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Suzanne Shepherd as Karen's Mother in Goodfellas
Copyright © 1990 Warner Bros. Inc. Credit: © 1990 Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Pyxurz.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Albanese as Uncle Pat Blundetto in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Albanese as Mob Lawyer in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Darrow as Larry Boy Barese in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Darrow as Sonny Bunz in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Lip as Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Lip as Frankie The Wop in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Pellegrino as Bureau Chief Frank Cubitoso in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Pellegrino as Johnny Dio in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Chuck Low as Shlomo Teittleman in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Chuck Low as Morris Kessler in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Paul Herman as Beansie Gaeta in The Sopranos. Was also Dealer in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Nicole Burdette as Barbara Soprano Giglione in The Sopranos. Was also Carbone's Girlfriend in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Marianne Leone as Joanne Moltisanti in The Sopranos. Was also Tuddy's Wife in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Daniel P. Conte as Faustino 'Doc' Santoro in The Sopranos. Was also Dr. Dan in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts John 'Cha Cha' Ciarcia as Albie Cianflone in The Sopranos. Was also Batts' Crew #1 in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Angela Pietropinto as Helen Barone in The Sopranos. Was also Cicero's Wife in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Susan Varon as Susan in Goodfellas. Was also Joan Gillespie in The Sopranos.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Adonis was Guest #1 in The Sopranos and Anthony Stabile in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Nancy Cassaro was Joanne Moltisanti in The Sopranos and Joe Buddha's Wife in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Victor Collichio was Joe in The Sopranos and in Henry's 60's crew in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Anthoy Alessandro was a waiter in The Sopranos and in Henry's 60's crew in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Gaetano LoGiudice was Bada Bing Patron in The Sopranos and in Herny's 60s Crew in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Vito Antuofermo was Bobby Zanone in The Sopranos and Prizefighter in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Gene Canfield was Police Officer in The Sopranos and Prison Guard in Booth in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Anthony Caso was Martin Scorsese in The Sopranos and Truck Hijacker in Goodfellas
In total, they shared a whopping 27 actors. Though that still isn't as many as Orange is the New Black shares with Law and Order
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