Sopranos Star Reveals How He Knew His Character Was Dying

The actor who played Bobby ‘Bacala’ Baccalieri on the Sopranos, Steve Schirripa, has revealed how he learned of his character’s death. The series featured crime leader, Tony Soprano as he struggles to manage a business and personal life while dealing with mental health.

Tony was effectively performed by James Gandolfini who was joined by Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Lorraine Bracco, and Steve himself. The series is created by David Chase and has garnered a large fan base during its six-season run on HBO.

The Many Saints of Newark prequel film brought back The Sopranos to the spotlight after a 14-year hiatus. Tony’s formative years are explored in the film especially his bond with his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti. The movie was a flop at the box office and also premiered at HBO Max on the same day. This led to many people streaming The Many Saints of Newark instead.

However, the film boosted The Sopranos’ streaming stats on HBO Max which propelled the series to the top of the service’s most-watched list. The Many Saints of Newark prompted long-time fans to explore the series while also introducing it to the new generation.

With The Sopranos’ resurgence in popularity, more information regarding the programme has surfaced. Schirripa was questioned about “The Blue Comet,” the final episode before the series finale, in which his character dies, in a recent interview with THR. “The show’s over, so all bets are off,” Schirripa said. Chase, according to Schirripa, would always pull actors aside at table reads to inform them of their characters’ deaths. Schirripa, on the other hand, appears to have gotten preferential treatment. Chase informed him of the news before the script read-through, or, as Schirripa put it, “it was like a real hit in that moment.”

“And I thanked him for changing my life.”

“There were nine episodes left. The show’s over, so all bets are off. If I would have been killed off in seasons two, three, or four, I would have been devastated because you’re not only out of work, you’re no longer with your friends. It was unusual the way I found out. Usually, David Chase took the actor aside at readthrough and gave the news. For me, it was about 11 a.m. in January and my phone rang. David said, ‘I’m on my way over.’ So I knew something was up. He arrived and said, ‘I guess you know why I am here.'”

Steve further added, “It was like a real hit in that moment. I said, ‘How’s it going to happen?’ and he said, ‘In a train store.’ And I said, ‘I hope you’re happy with what I did.’ And he said, ‘Very.’ And I thanked him for changing my life. I remember Jim [Gandolfini] saying, ‘Wow. I’ve never heard of him coming to anyone before. You should be flattered.’ And I was.”

Fans were upset when Bobby died on the show as he had grown to be a beloved character. Gandolfini’s remark to Steve demonstrated the cast and crew’s admiration for both the performer and the role. Even more unexpected, Schirripa revealed that his death scene was shot on February 14th, 2007. Bobby’s death was a memorable moment for The Sopranos, despite the fact that it was ultimately sad.

Schirripa has been involved in a number of other Sopranos-related projects. Talking Sopranos, which he co-hosts with fellow castmate Imperioli, is a podcast in which they examine the series in-depth and share behind-the-scenes details. In addition, Schirripa and Imperioli co-wrote Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos, providing fans with even more fodder to chew on. Since the programme ended, a lot has transpired, but it’s evident that The Sopranos hasn’t faded from the cultural consciousness.