The Sopranos' Memorable Guest Appearances Over 6 Seasons: From Lady Gaga to Michael B Jordan

Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli & Vincent Pastore. Anthony Neste/Getty Images

In January 1999, The Sopranos made its debut on HBO and over its six-season span, it launched the careers of actors who would later rise to stardom.

The late James Gandolfini played the role of Tony Soprano, the New Jersey mob boss, throughout the iconic show. Viewers welcomed Tony and his family - Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) and their children Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and A.J. (Robert Iler) - into their lives on a weekly basis until the divisive series finale aired in 2007.

While Tony conducted business in the tri-state area, viewers encountered some familiar faces portraying side characters, even though they were not well-known at the time. Lady Gaga made her acting debut in a 2001 episode of The Sopranos as one of A.J.'s school friends, credited as "Girl at Swimming Pool No. 2."

In December 2021, Gaga admitted to Entertainment Weekly that when she looks back on a particular scene, she can see exactly what she did wrong. She acknowledged that she didn't know how to listen in the scene and that her laughter seemed forced. While she labeled herself as a "non-specific actor" on The Sopranos, Gaga has since developed her acting skills and has landed roles in successful movies like A Star Is Born and The House of Gucci, in addition to her music career.

Check out who else made a surprise guest appearance on The Sopranos: Will Arnett also made a cameo on the show, and during a 2019 appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, he joked about wanting people to forget what he looked like when he portrayed an FBI agent in the series.

Mike Epps

Epps starred as Jerome in season 1, episode 2, titled “46 Long,” of The Sopranos.

Michael B. Jordan

Before he was Wallace on The Wire, Jordan had a small role in The Sopranos. He appeared as Rideland Kid in season 1, episode 7, “Down Neck.”

Brian Geraghty

The Big Sky actor had a small role as the Counter Boy in season 1, episode 8, “The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti.”

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Tony Hale

In season 3, episode 7 of The Sopranos titled “Second Opinion,” Hale portrayed a nurse and remembered feeling extremely anxious and trembling during the filming of the scene. In a 2022 SiriusXM interview, the actor revealed, "On The Sopranos, my anxiety would manifest in my hands, causing them to shake. I was playing a nurse oncologist to Uncle Junior, and I vividly recall my hands violently shaking as I was about to insert a tube into his arm."

Elizabeth Reaser

She appeared briefly as Stace in season 2, episode 7, titled “D-Girl.”

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Lady Gaga

Just call her Girl at Swimming Pool No. 2. Gaga appeared in season 3, episode 9, titled “The Telltale Moozadell.”

Michael K. Williams

The late actor appeared as Ray Ray in The Sopranos season 3 finale, “Army of One.”

Will Arnett

Arnett’s Sopranos stint was a two-episode arc in the fourth season where he played Mike Waldrup, an FBI agent.

Paul Dano

Dano played A.J.’s friend Patrick Whalen during various episodes in season 4.

Chandra Wilson

The Grey’s Anatomy star played the role of Evelyn Greenwood in season 5, episode 10, titled “Cold Cuts.”

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Julianna Margulies

Margulies had a brief role as realtor Julianna Skiff, whom Tony was having an affair with, during the show’s sixth season.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda

The actor was a guest star in season 6, episode 15, titled “Remember When.” He made a brief appearance as a bellman at a hotel.

Miranda recounted a story about Gandolfini staying late into the night to deliver his lines, despite not being obligated to do so, in Judd Apatow's 2022 book Sicker in the Head. "He stayed and did the scene for the scared Puerto Rican kid in the bellhop outfit," Miranda said of Gandolfini.