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​The Real-Life Gangsters That Hit Series 'The Sopranos' Was Based On

​The Real-Life Gangsters That Hit Series 'The Sopranos' Was Based On

In a twist that's even darker than Tony's tortured psyche, there's real-life inspiration behind the on-screen Soprano family.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Widely regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time, The Sopranos is the iconic American crime drama created by David Chase, which has long been praised for its sharp writing, impressive cast and slick stylisation - and for dealing with themes like violence, gender roles and Italian-American family culture in a smart, engaging way.

The show first hit our screens back in 1999 after a pilot was ordered a couple of years before, with its six seasons - which spanned 86 episodes in total - running until June 2007. During that time, it managed to scoop up 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes.

HBO

Revolving around the thuggish antics of Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, the show became famed not only for its twisted storylines of gang brutality and power play, but also for its comments on family dynamics, mental health and the dark underside to the American dream.

But, in a twist that's even darker than Tony's tortured psyche, there's real-life inspiration behind the on-screen Soprano family.

The character of Tony Soprano is said to have been inspired by DeCavalcante crime family boss, John 'The Eagle' Riggi - as detailed in an episode of the American Greed series, titled 'Mob Money'.

The DeCavalcante family made its money by racketeering, controlling a powerful division of the Laborers International Union of North America in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which helped push millions into mob coffers.

Riggi was released from federal prison in November 2012, after serving time for racketeering and murder, before he died in 2015 at the pretty impressive age of 90.

"This guy may be the last of the old time mob bosses for this region," said Lee Seglem, assistant director of the State Commission of Investigation.

"He outlived all the big names."

Seglem also added: "Under Riggi, the DeCavalcante family raised labor racketeering to something of an art form."

In an interview with New Jersey Monthly, David Chase also revealed that the HBO show was modelled partly on a Genovese family who ran mob operations in the Newark, New Jersey area.

Chase learnt of Ruggerio 'Richie the Boot' Boiardo and his relatives from relatives in Newark's North Ward.

He said: Chase said: "90 percent of [The Sopranos] is made up, [but] it's patterned after this [family]."

HBO

Along with his son, Anthony 'Tony Boy' Boiardo, Richie used 'waste management' as a cover for their activities, according to the Express. They even had an incinerator in the grounds of their huge mansion, which was used as their own private crematorium.

Once cremated, ashes were then apparently scattered across a vegetable patch, dubbed 'The Godfather's Garden'.

In a transcript of a FBI wiretap, Anthony 'Tony Boy' Boiardo once also described the killing of a victim referred to as 'the little Jew'.

An unidentified crony says: "As little as they are, they struggle."

Tony Boy responds: "The Boot hit him with a hammer. The guy goes down... and he comes up. So I got a crowbar."

The victim apparently writhing in agony, Tony Boy says: "What do you think he did to me? He spit at me."

It's pretty chilling stuff - but it's the gruesome reality behind many gangster TV films and movies like The Sopranos. Props to David Chase for taking such raw, grisly subject matter and turning it into one of the most compelling watches of the 20th Century.

Featured Image Credit: HBO

Topics: TV and Film, US Entertianment, TV