The world of cinema and television has become so intricately interconnected that it is no surprise to see actors exist in dual universes. Goodfellas and The Sopranos are prime examples of this. While made a decade apart, these two masterpieces are so closely linked that it is almost as if they are distant cousins who just get each other despite having met only once. And briefly. Stream Goodfellas on Hulu.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas was released in 1990. The movie blew us away with its documentary-style look at life in the mob. It was violent, utterly compelling, and featured some of the best dialogue in the history of cinema. On the other hand, The Sopranos premiered on HBO in 1999 to reinvent crime television in the best possible ways. It followed Tony Soprano as he balanced the family business while dealing with his duties as a father.

Both works are hyper-realistic in terms of portraying organized crime and family dynamics. But what’s really wild is how many A-list stars these projects share. Seemingly, almost half the cast of Goodfellas went on to appear in multiple small and big roles on The Sopranos. It is as if the movie and show are two parts of the same crime saga, connected by great performances. Stream The Sopranos on Max.

Here are 27 Goodfellas actors who also appeared in The Sopranos.

27 Frank Adonis

Season 2, Episode 11 - "House Arrest"

Like Conte, Frank Adonis too played dozens of tough guy roles and had credits in Scorsese’s Raging Bull and Casino. A role he’s perhaps more recognized for, however, is a real-life figure named Anthony Stabile in Goodfellas. Stabile was a part of the crew at the Bamboo Lounge introduced in Henry’s voice-over scene. He belonged to the Gambino crime family and was an associate of Paul Vario.

In just a few scenes, he showcased his chameleon-like ability to disappear into the character and leave lasting impressions. He never had enough screen time on The Sopranos, though, as he simply was an unnamed guest in Season 2’s episode titled “House Arrest.”

26 Gene Canfield

Season 1, Episode 13 - "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano"

Gene Canfield is more skilled at playing authority figures than anything else. After earning an important acting credit in Goodfellas as a prison guard controlling Henry and the boys when they are supposed to serve time behind bars, Canfield went on to appear in movies like Meet Joe Black, Scent of a Woman and Murder by Numbers.

Somewhere along the way, he was remembered to star in The Sopranos season 1, where he plays a police investigator. Even in the television series, he was a righteous and morally right man.

25 Marianne Leone

9 Episodes Throughout the Series

An esteemed American screenwriter and essayist, Marianne Leone’s longest television role was playing Christopher Moltisanti’s mother on The Sopranos. As Joanne, she wasn’t exactly motherly or empathetic towards Christopher. Often seen with Tony while trying to bring Christopher out of his drug addiction, Joanne would care little when he got beaten up. But Chris’ death came as a shock to her and left her utterly devastated.

As for her role in Goodfellas, Marianne Leone appeared only briefly as the wife of Tuddy Cicero, Paulie’s brother, but her sharp and hardened presence was enough to linger in the viewers’ minds.

Related: Goodfellas: The Extensive Casting Process That Went On Behind the Scenes

24 Tony Sirico

74 Episodes Throughout the Series

Few actors vanish into their roles as completely as Tony Sirico, who electrified both classics with his magnetic presence. Sirico was a mild scene stealer in Goodfellas as Tony Stacks, a background gangster seen associating with the lovable and reckless Pauli Cicero in the beginning of the movie.

During the production of The Sopranos, Sirico had auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior with Frank Vincent. Instead, his seamless acting and raw charisma landed him a significant role as one of the show’s most beloved Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri.

As one of Tony’s chief henchmen, Paulie was an interesting fellow who had supernatural experiences and a tough guy spirit. He was also the most ruthless and competitive.

23 Anthony Alessandro

Season 2, Episode 4 - "Commendatori"

Moving on with actors who captured a lot in little fleeting moments, we have Anthony Alessandro. Known for his roles in movies like Jacob's Ladder and Rescue Me, Alessandro was among the many members of Henry’s crew in Goodfellas that managed to get authentic reactions.

He shared the screen with Joe Pesci, who played Tommy DeVito, and Christopher Serrone, who played a younger Henry. As for his appearance in The Sopranos, Alessandro got himself a small part as a waiter in Season 2.

22 Vincent Pastore

25 Episodes Throughout the Series

On The Sopranos, Vincent Pastore became a fan favorite as Salvatore Bonpensiero. His early acts had affectionately earned him the nickname ‘Big P*ssy’ but it took him a while to add to the status of an important soldier in Tony’s crew. Starting off as a DiMeo capo associate and becoming a “made man” sometime after. However, when financial instability hit, Sal became an FBI informant, eventually enraging Tony and being whacked.

In contrast, Pastore had a fairly insignificant role in Goodfellas, where he was seen moving a rack of fur coats at the Bamboo Lounge alongside Henry. Still, Pastore breathed humanity into both his roles and was testament to how a small amount of screen time can also leave an impact.

21 John Ciarcia