Junior Soprano
Played by Dominic Chianese
Corrado Soprano, Jr, AKA Uncle Junior, and his younger brother Giovanni (AKA Johnny Boy), who was Tony's father, dropped out of high school, quickly affiliating themselves with the DiMeo crime family.
Junior was highly competitive with his little brother and resented Johnny Boy's success in the mob world. But despite the sibling rivalry, Junior always had a deep affection for his nephew. Junior has no children of his own - he's never been married - and spent a lot of quality time with Tony while he was growing up.
Eventually, Johnny Boy died of lung cancer and Dominic DiMeo was sent to prison for life. When acting boss Jackie Aprile succumbed to cancer as well, Junior took over. But he was perceived as high-handed and selfish, causing serious dissension in the ranks. Tony eventually stepped in and took charge, leaving Junior as a figurehead - and target for the Feds.
Once again upstaged by a younger relative, Junior was hurt and angry, and vulnerable to manipulation by Tony's mother, Livia. Nursing her own grudges against Tony, Livia convinced Junior to order a hit on her son. But the hit attempt failed, and Tony punished his uncle by severely curtailing his earning power and effectively cutting him out of his life.
Not long after that Junior was placed under house arrest on federal racketeering charges and diagnosed with his own case of cancer. Fortunately a hung (and tampered with) jury meant Junior's case was declared a mistrial, and he has since made up with Tony.
