The Sopranos to "going straight" (to Tony's dismay), but also has an intense violent streak. Those in Tony's closest circle within the DiMeo crime family include Silvio Dante (Steven Van Zandt). Silvio is Tony's consigliere and best friend. He runs the family's strip club headquarters, and other businesses. Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri (Tony Sirico), a tough, short-tempered, aging soldier who is fiercely loyal to Tony and Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero (Vincent Pastore), a veteran gangster who runs an automotive body shop. Paulie "Walnuts" and "Big Pussy" (often called just, "Pussy") have worked with Tony and his father. Also in Tony's criminal organization are:
Paulie Gualtieri informing Johnny Sack of Ralph's joke about his wife. While Tony seriously considers murdering Paulie, he ultimately decides to spare his life. Seemingly out of "gratitude", Paulie sends Carmela a $2,000 espresso machine to replace her broken one. The overly expensive gift from Paulie causes Carmela to exclaim "what is wrong with that man," but Tony defends him, saying it was people like Paulie who allow Tony and Carmela to live the way they do. In "Walk like a Man," Paulie's nephew, Little Paulie, is beaten by Chris and thrown out a second-story window. A furious Paulie tears up Christopher's