Tony Soprano After that he also tells her that he murdered Big Pussy and his cousin Tony Blundetto. Following the dream, he acts differently to his friends and family, trying to see if they also feel relieved now that Christopher is dead. Following Gandolfini's death on June 19, 2013, Gandolfini's portrayal of Soprano was praised for its influence on subsequent other TV characters. "TV Guide" columnist Matt Roush stated, "Without Tony, there's no Vic Mackey of "The Shield", no Al Swearengen of "Deadwood", no Don Draper of "Mad Men"" (whose creator, Matthew Weiner, honed his craft as a writer on "The Sopranos").
Rat Pack (The Sopranos) Rat Pack (The Sopranos) "Rat Pack" is the 54th episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and is the second of the show's fifth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Alan Taylor, it originally aired on March 14, 2004. "* = credit only" During a meeting in a diner, contractor Jack Massarone presents Tony with a painting of the Rat Pack and tries to get Tony to discuss his political connections. It is revealed that Massarone has become an FBI informant and is wearing a wire. Soprano "capo" Ray Curto, another informant, visits FBI Headquarters to help