Christopher's Addiction

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

These two young men acted out of a desire to impress Richie Aprile, whom they believed disliked their boss. The attempt went wrong; Christopher survived, but Sean was killed. Despite his double life as an informant (which applies to Sal Bonpensiero in the text), Christopher resumes his loyal soldier role after recovering from the shooting. He actively participates in crew activities, such as tracking down the escaped Matthew Bevilaqua, whom Tony and Christopher then shoot to death together. The narrative highlights his position within the hierarchy but does not cover themes of addiction, rehabilitation, or substance-related character development.

In Their Own Story

In the wake of the botched hit by Bevilaqua and Gismonte, Christopher Moltisanti reasserts his place in the organization. Following his recovery from the shooting, he demonstrates renewed loyalty to Tony Soprano. When Matthew Bevilaqua escapes custody, Christopher joins Tony in hunting him down. The two locate the fugitive, and together they execute him, ending the threat posed by the younger associates who had jeopardized the crew's security. This act solidifies Christopher’s standing as a capable soldier, temporarily overshadowing the internal turmoil caused by other betrayals within the family.

Reader's Guide

The source provides limited information regarding Christopher Moltisanti’s personal struggles beyond his survival of an assassination attempt. It confirms he is a soldier in the Soprano crew and that he backed Tony's rise to caporegime following Johnny Boy Soprano’s death in 1986 (via Sal Bonpensiero’s loyalty). The text mentions that Christopher was shot by Bevilaqua and Gismonte but does not detail any subsequent addiction issues, treatment attempts, or the specific substance involved. Therefore, a guide on managing his addiction cannot be constructed from this source, as the necessary details are absent.

Did You Know?

• Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero was originally known simply as "Pussy" because he started out as a cat burglar.
• In the tie-in video game, it is revealed that Salvatore Bonpensiero has an illegitimate son named Joey LaRocca.
• Samson Moeakiola portrays a young version of Big Pussy in the 2021 prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark.
• Salvatore Bonpensiero was caught by the FBI in 1995 while dealing heroin.
• Richie Aprile was killed by Janice Soprano after an argument regarding his son's possible homosexuality, during which he had punched her in the mouth.

Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero: The Tragic Informant

Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero is portrayed by Vincent Pastore and serves as a longtime close friend and mob enforcer to Tony Soprano. He is also close with Paulie Gualtieri and Silvio Dante. Originally a cat burglar known for his agility, he earned the nickname "Pussy," later distinguishing himself as "Big Pussy" against Gennaro "Little Pussy" Malanga. Sal operates an auto body shop with his brother Edward "Duke" Bonpensiero and has a wife, Angie, and three children. Facing potential life in prison after being caught dealing heroin to pay for his children's college education, he became an FBI informant between 1995 and 1998, working with Agent Skip Lipari. His double life was exposed when Tony found a wire in a cigar box during a search of Sal's home.

The Downfall and Execution

After confirming his suspicions through a dream where Sal appeared as a talking fish—a reference to the Mafia saying "sleep with the fishes"—Tony Soprano organized a hit on a boat with Silvio Dante and Paulie Gualtieri. During a final toast, Tony questioned Sal about a rumored prostitute in Puerto Rico. Sal admitted he had "fucked up." The trio then shot Bonpensiero to death, wrapped his body in plastic bags secured with chains and weights, and dumped it into the ocean. To protect the family, they told Sal's friends and family that he had entered the witness protection program.

Richie Aprile: The Outdated Enforcer

Richard "Richie" Aprile, played by David Proval, is the older brother of former boss Jackie Aprile Sr. and a former capo in the DiMeo crime family who served ten years in prison. Upon release, he felt entitled to a higher rank under Tony Soprano but found himself subordinate. His resentment led to violent acts, including ramming Peter "Beansie" Gaeta with his car and crushing his legs. Richie also harbored animosity toward Christopher Moltisanti due to Christopher's violence against Richie's niece, Adriana La Cerva. When Christopher was shot by Bevilaqua and Gismonte in an attempt to please Richie, Richie refused to help the attackers and chased them off with a baseball bat.

Legacy and Narrative Echoes

Salvatore Bonpensiero’s legacy continues through dreams and flashbacks experienced by Tony Soprano after his death. The prequel film "The Many Saints of Newark" features Samson Moeakiola as a young Bonpensiero, exploring his origins. Tie-in video games reveal he had an illegitimate son named Joey LaRocca. Richie Aprile’s story ends when he is killed by Janice Soprano during an argument over his son's possible homosexuality; she shoots him twice after punching him in the mouth. Tony and his crew then dismember Richie's body at Satriale's.