The Sopranos Guest Stars You Forgot About

Over the course of The Sopranos' decorated run at HBO, there were a ton of celebrity guests who made appearances on the celebrated series in one-off and recurring roles.

Throughout the drama's six seasons, you might spot then-up-and-comers who've since become stars, like Lady Gaga, Michael B. Jordan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Chandra Wilson in small roles. Meanwhile, there were also several already established actors, musicians, and television personalities who appeared in the series as themselves, like Annette Bening, Jon Favreau, and Ben Kingsley. 

Click through to revisit the famous faces who came into contact with the family on The Sopranos, including information on their characters and which episodes these celebs can be seen in. 

Mike Epps portrayed Jerome, a gay man who was confronted by Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Sal (Vincent Pastore) after stealing a car from A.J.'s teacher. 

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 2: "46 Long"

John Heard appeared in several episodes as Vin Makazian, a detective-for-hire who performed various investigatory services for Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). Heard was nominated for an Emmy for his guest role on the series.

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 4: "Meadowlands"
Season 1, Episode 6: "Pax Soprana"
Season 1, Episode 9: "Boca"
Season 1, Episode 11: "Nobody Knows Anything"
Season 5, Episode 11: "The Test Dream"

Scandal's Guillermo Diaz appeared as a salesperson in the gardening department where Tony shopped. 

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 4: "Meadowlands"

Steve Buscemi might've had a lengthier arc as cousin Tony Blundetto, but his brother Michael Buscemi appeared in The Sopranos first, as Lewis Pantowski, a police detective who helps tail Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) alongside Vin. 

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 4: "Meadowlands"

Before he'd become a One Chicago favorite, Brian Geraghty briefly appeared as a deli clerk who ran afoul of Christopher (Michael Imperioli). 

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 8: "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti"

Bokeem Woodbine starred as a rapper named Massive Genius.

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 10: "A Hit Is a Hit"

The Big Bang Theory star Kevin Sussman appeared in The Sopranos as Kevin, a guy who worked for Chris at his lousy stock-selling office. 

Appeared in:
Season 2, Episode 1: "Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office"

Terminator 2 star Robert Patrick starred as David Scatino, an old friend of Tony's who dug himself into gambling debt with the Sopranos after a high-stakes poker game. He had to give his son's car over to Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) to help dig himself out of trouble.

Appeared in:
Season 2, Episode 6: "The Happy Wanderer"
Season 2, Episode 10: "Bust-Out"
Season 2, Episode 13: "Funhouse"

Frank Sinatra Jr. was a celebrity guest at the card table.

Appeared in:
Season 2, Episode 6: "The Happy Wanderer" 

Among the other major players at the fateful card game was rocker David Lee Roth. 

Appeared in:
Season 2, Episode 6: "The Happy Wanderer"

Michael B. Jordan appeared in a Season 1 flashback sequence as one of three kids who chased young Tony Soprano for throwing his trash on the ground. It was one of Jordan's first screen roles, before his breakthrough turn on HBO's other hit drama, The Wire. 

Appeared in:
Season 1, Episode 7: "Down Neck"

Jon Favreau starred as a version of himself in Season 2. As in real life, Favreau was a famous director who took a look at Christopher's script and ran afoul of him after stealing a plotline from Chrissy's story of real-life mafia experiences.

Appeared in: 
Season 2, Episode 7: "D-Girl"

Alicia Witt also starred in the episode as Amy Safir, a Hollywood executive connected to Jon Favreau who hooked up with Christopher despite being in a relationship with his cousin. 

Appeared in: 
Season 2, Episode 7: "D-Girl"

Before Nurse Jackie brought Dominic Fumusa together on-screen with Edie Falco, he briefly appeared in The Sopranos as another of her Moltisanti cousins -- this time, one that lived in LA. 

Appeared in: 
Season 2, Episode 7: "D-Girl"

Twilight and The Haunting of Hill House star Elizabeth Reaser briefly appeared in the series as a character named Stace.

Appeared in: 
Season 2, Episode 7: "D-Girl"

Janeane Garofalo appeared as herself in the same episode, shown filming a movie scene which Christopher got to watch and weigh in on. 

Appeared in: 
Season 2, Episode 7: "D-Girl"

Sandra Bernhard appeared as herself in the episode as well.

Appeared in: 
Season 2, Episode 7: "D-Girl"

Before he became known for his gossip blog, Perez Hilton earned a credit for appearing as a student in Season 3.

Appeared in:
Season 3, Episode 3: "Fortunate Son"

Charles S. Dutton appeared as Officer Wilmore.

Appeared in:
Season 3, Episode 5: "Another Toothpick"

She'd eventually become an international pop sensation and Oscar-winning singer, but Lady Gaga first appeared as one of A.J. Soprano's (Robert Iler) classmates who trashes their teacher's things in the school's pool.

Appeared in:
Season 3, Episode 9: "The Telltale Moozadell"

In the Heat of the Night star Crystal Fox appeared briefly as a nurse in The Sopranos.

Appeared in:
Season 3, Episode 11: "Pine Barrens"

Saw star Tobin Bell appeared in The Sopranos Season 3 as Major Zwingli, a leader of the military school Carmella (Edie Falco) and Tony  consider sending A.J.  to as a result of his behavior. 

Appeared in:
Season 3, Episode 13: "Army of One"

Will Arnett appeared as Mike Waldrup in the first two episodes of Season 4. His character was an FBI agent who also happened to be the husband of undercover agent Deborah Ciccerone (Lola Glaudini), who'd befriended Adriana La Cerva (Drea de Matteo) to infiltrate the mafia.

Appeared in:
Season 4, Episode 1: "For All Debts Public and Private"
Season 4, Episode 2: "No Show"

Montel Williams portrayed a version of himself in The Sopranos, a TV host who got into an argument with an Italian American spokesperson after he dismissed the plight of African Americans. 

Appeared in: 
Season 4, Episode 3: "Christopher"

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse's Alex Rice appeared briefly as Maggie Donner.

Appeared in:
Season 4, Episode 3: "Christopher"

Paul Dano portrayed Patrick in Seasons 4 and 5. Patrick was a friend of A.J. Soprano who inquired about Tony's mob connections and was obsessed with The Godfather.

Appeared in:
Season 4, Episode 6: "Everybody Hurts"
Season 5, Episode 13: "All Due Respect"

Bruce Altman starred as a guy who learned the hard way that you can't drive a hard bargain with Tony Soprano, portraying the owner of a waterside piece of real estate that Tony needed to cancel the purchase of and was willing to go to extremes to procure that dissolution of the contract. 

Appeared in:
Season 4, Episode 13: "Whitecaps"

The Sopranos executive producer and writer Matthew Weiner made a couple of cameos in The Sopranos as a TV mob expert named Manny Safier.

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 1: "The Two Tonys"
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"

Oscar-nominated actor Robert Loggia had a break multi-episode arc as Feech La Manna, an old school member of the DiMeo family who, after being released from prison, attempted to get back into business but had some trouble respecting the new boss.  

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 1: "Two Tonys"
Season 5, Episode 2: "Rat Pack"
Season 5, Episode 3: "Where's Johnny?"
Season 5, Episode 4: "All Happy Families"

David Strathairn is best known for his work in movies like Lincoln and Good Night, and Good Luck. But he also had a multi-episodic role as Robert Welger, a teacher at A.J.'s school who engages in a romantic relationship with Carmela. 

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 4: "All Happy Families"
Season 5, Episode 6: "Sentimental Education"
Season 5, Episode 10: "Cold Cuts"

Supernatural's Adam Rose appeared as Todd, a friend of A.J. Soprano. 

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 4: "All Happy Families"

Tim Daly had the somewhat meta role of J.T. Dolan, a struggling screenwriter who buddied up to Christopher in rehab. Their friendship was authentic for some time -- that is, until J.T. wound up in the family's debt, and everything was downhill from there. Daly was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his performance on the show.

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 7: "In Camelot"
Season 6, Episode 3: "Mayham"
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"
Season 6, Episode 17: "Walk Like a Man"

Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson appeared in a memorable Season 5 scene as Evelyn Greenwood, a woman who sparred with Janice (Aida Turturro) in anger management class.

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 10: "Cold Cuts"

Annette Bening had one of the most intriguing celebrity cameos of all, as she appeared to Tony in a dream dinner sequence packed with metaphors about his "family." 

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 11: "The Test Dream"

Fans might know Michael Zegen for his work in Boardwalk Empire and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but The Sopranos fans saw him first as a partygoer in Season 5. 

Appeared in:
Season 5, Episode 13: "All Due Respect"

Ron Leibman, who was known for his work in many other films and movies, appeared for a multi-episode arc as Dr. Lior Plepler, who treated Tony after he was shot by his uncle. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 2: "Join the Club"
Season 6, Episode 3: "Mayham"
Season 6, Episode 4: "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh"

Hal Holbrook portrayed John Schwinn, a patient Tony befriended in the hospital. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 4: "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh"

Long before she'd become known for her work in Scandal, Katie Lowes could be seen as Gillian in The Sopranos as accompanying A.J. Soprano to the Sacrimonis' daughter's wedding. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 5: "Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request"

Cristin Milioti appeared as Catherine Sacrimoni, the second daughter of Johnny and Ginny Sack.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 5: "Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request"
Season 6, Episode 10: "Moe n' Joe"
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"

Orange Is the New Black and Better Things star Alysia Reiner appeared as Linda Vaughn.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 5: "Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request"

Orange Is the New Black star Selenis Leyva had a small role as Jill Dibiaso, the mistress of Vito Spatafore (Joseph R. Gannascoli). 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 6: "Live Free or Die"

Wilmer Valderrama starred as himself in an episode in which Christopher gets jealous of celebrities who get to gather swag at gift lounges. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 7: "Luxury Lounge"

Ben Kingsley also appeared as himself, entertaining Christopher's script and then finding out the hard that the mafia is hard to shake, no matter how many Oscars line your trophy shelf. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 7: "Luxury Lounge"

Lauren Bacall also appeared as herself in the Hollywood episode. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 7: "Luxury Lounge"

ER and The Good Wife star Julianna Marguiles appeared in four episodes of The Sopranos as Julianna Skiff, a real estate agent who works with Tony and subsequently engages in a romantic, albeit drug-fueled relationship with Christopher. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 8: "Johnny Cakes"
Season 6, Episode 9: "The Ride"
Season 6, Episode 12: "Kaisha"
Season 6, Episode 18: "Kennedy and Heidi"

Stranger Things star Cara Buono briefly appeared in the series as Kelli, who married Christopher after Adriana's death. 

Appeared in: 
Season 6, Episode 9: "The Ride"
Season 6, Episode 10: "Moe n' Joe"
Season 6, Episode 12: "Kaisha"
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"
Season 6, Episode 17: "Walk Like a Man"
Season 6, Episode 18: "Kennedy and Heidi"
Season 6, Episode 19: "The Second Coming"

Comedy actor Aasif Mandvi portrayed Dr. Abu Bilal, an ER doc who treated Phil Leotardo after a heart scare.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 12: "Kaisha"

Devious Maids and Once Upon a Time star Dania Ramirez starred in several episodes as Blanca, a single mother who became girlfriend to A.J. Soprano. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 12: "Kaisha"
Season 6, Episode 13: "Soprano Home Movies"
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"
Season 6, Episode 16: "Chasing It"
Season 6, Episode 17: "Walk Like a Man"

Maulik Pancholy is known for his work in shows like 30 Rock and animated series like Sanjay and Craig, but he also appeared as Dr. Ajit Gupte in The Sopranos. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"

Sydney Pollack portrayed Warren Feldman, an oncologist-turned-murderer who offered Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) a second opinion on his cancer diagnosis.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"

Geraldo Rivera portrayed -- who else? -- himself in The Sopranos.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"

Daniel Baldwin appeared as the leading actor who portrayed Sally Boy in Christopher's movie Cleaver.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"
Season 6, Episode 18: "Kennedy and Heidi"

Actor Christopher McDonald, who is known for his work in movies like Happy Gilmore and Dutch, appeared as Eddie Dunne as the sponsor to Christopher.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 14: "Stage 5"

Before Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda became a superstar, he appeared in The Sopranos Season 6 as a bellman. It was one of his earliest on-screen acting roles.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 15: "Remember When" 

Prolific TV and movie star Ken Leung appeared in The Sopranos' final season as Carter Chong, a patient who befriended Junior (Dominic Chianese) at the mental treatment center.

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 15: "Remember When"

Nancy Sinatra also starred as herself, performing a rousing rendition of "Bossman" during Phil Leotardo's (Frank Vincent) promotion party. 

Appeared in:
Season 6, Episode 16: "Chasing It"