The following is a list of notable Italian-American television characters.

To be included in this list, the character should be a main or frequently recurring character in a television series, and should have an article or section in Wikipedia. The character should be described as Italian-American in the text or categories.

Name Show Played by Description
John Abruzzi Prison Break Peter Stormare Mobster
Tony Almeida 24 Carlos Bernard Systems analyst; Italian and Portuguese
Frank Angelino Three's Company Jordan Charney Restaurateur; short-tempered
Jackie Aprile Jr. The Sopranos Jason Cerbone Mobster
Jackie Aprile Sr. The Sopranos Michael Rispoli Mobster
Richie Aprile The Sopranos David Proval Mobster
Rosalie Aprile The Sopranos Sharon Angela Mobster's widow
Chachi Arcola[1] Happy Days Scott Baio High school student
Bobby Baccalieri The Sopranos Steve Schirripa Mobster
Sal Banducci[2] 21 Jump Street Sal Jenco Police officer
Tony Banta[1] Taxi Tony Danza Cab driver, failed boxer
Vinnie Barbarino[1] Welcome Back, Kotter John Travolta Remedial high school student
Larry Barese The Sopranos Tony Darrow Mobster
Tony Baretta[3] Baretta Robert Blake Police detective
Frank Barone Everybody Loves Raymond Peter Boyle Retired bookkeeper; loud, reactionary
Marie Barone Everybody Loves Raymond Doris Roberts Passive-aggressive housewife
Ray Barone[1] Everybody Loves Raymond Ray Romano Sportswriter
Robert Barone Everybody Loves Raymond Brad Garrett Police officer
Luigi Basco[4] Life with Luigi J. Carrol Naish, Vito Scotti Sweet but gullible immigrant
Andrea Belladonna Samantha Who? Jennifer Esposito Attorney; party girl, "shoulder devil"
Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto The Bear Jeremy Allen White Gourmet chef, restaurateur
Tony Blundetto The Sopranos Steve Buscemi Mobster
Angie Bolen Desperate Housewives Drea de Matteo "loving but tough Italian woman"
Nick Bonetti Tequila and Bonetti Jack Scalia Police officer
Angie Bonpensiero The Sopranos Toni Kalem Mobster's wife
Big Pussy Bonpensiero The Sopranos Vincent Pastore Mobster
Alexandra Borgia Law & Order Annie Parisse Assistant district attorney
Johnny Bravo Johnny Bravo Jeff Bennett (animated) "muscular and boorish young man"
Artie Bucco The Sopranos John Ventimiglia Restaurateur; mobster's friend
Charmaine Bucco The Sopranos Kathrine Narducci Restaurateur; mobster's friend
Gina Calabrese Miami Vice Saundra Santiago Police detective
Tony Calabrese[2] Police Story Tony Lo Bianco Police detective
Al Calavicci Quantum Leap Dean Stockwell Admiral; womanizer
Tommy Carcetti The Wire Aidan Gillen Ambitious politician; womanizer
Dominick Carisi Jr. Law & Order Peter Scanavino Police detective
Lexie Carver Days of Our Lives Renée Jones Police officer; mobster's daughter
Theo Carver Days of Our Lives Kyler Pettis Mobster's grandson; autistic student
Anthony Ceccoli (Victor) Dollhouse Enver Gjokaj Veteran with PTSD
Phil Cerreta Law & Order Paul Sorvino Police detective
Ralph Cifaretto The Sopranos Joe Pantoliano Mobster
Lieutenant Columbo[3] Columbo Peter Falk Police detective; quirky, brilliant
Frank Costanza Seinfeld Jerry Stiller Businessman; angry, deranged
George Costanza[5] Seinfeld Jason Alexander Neurotic underachiever
Steve Crosetti Homicide: Life on the Street Jon Polito Police detective
Jackie Curatola Blue Bloods Jennifer Esposito Police detective
Ray Curto The Sopranos George Loros Mobster
"Fat Tony" D'Amico The Simpsons Joe Mantegna (animated) Mobster
Silvio Dante The Sopranos Steven Van Zandt Mobster
Remo DaVinci Mork & Mindy Jay Thomas Restaurateur
Jeanie DaVinci Mork & Mindy Gina Hecht Restaurateur
Frank DeFazio Laverne & Shirley Phil Foster Pizzeria owner
Laverne DeFazio[1] Laverne & Shirley Penny Marshall Bottlecapper
Anna Del Amico ER Maria Bello Physician
Mike Delfino Desperate Housewives James Denton Plumber, drug addict
Andrew DeLuca Grey's Anatomy Giacomo Gianniotti Physician
Dolly DeLucca That's Life Ellen Burstyn Housewife
Frank DeLucca That's Life Paul Sorvino Toll collector
Lydia DeLucca[1] That's Life Heather Paige Kent Working-class girl from New Jersey
Paulie DeLucca That's Life Kevin Dillon Police officer
Al Delvecchio Happy Days Al Molinaro Cook
Dominic Delvecchio[1] Delvecchio Judd Hirsch Police detective
Louie DePalma[6] Taxi Danny DeVito Cab dispatcher
Charlie DeSalvo Highlander: The Series Philip Akin Martial arts instructor
Daniel Desario[7] Freaks and Geeks James Franco Good-looking bad boy
André DiMera Days of Our Lives Thaao Penghlis Blackmailer
Chad DiMera Days of Our Lives Casey Jon Deidrick Businessman; mobster's son
Stefano DiMera Days of Our Lives Joseph Mascolo Mobster
Anthony DiNozzo NCIS Michael Weatherly Cocky field agent; movie buff; flirt
Renée DuMonde Days of Our Lives Philece Sampler Mobster's daughter, "evil home wrecker"
Manny Esposito[2] Cagney & Lacey Robert Hegyes Police detective
Nick Falco Law & Order Michael Imperioli Police detective
Connie Falconeri General Hospital Megan Ward, Kelly Sullivan Businesswoman; mobster's ex-girlfriend
Dante Falconeri General Hospital Dominic Zamprogna Police detective; mobster's son
Olivia Falconeri General Hospital Lisa LoCicero Businesswoman; mobster's mistress
Paul Falsone Homicide: Life on the Street Jon Seda Police detective
Anthony Fanelli The Fanelli Boys Ned Eisenberg Undertaker; nice guy[8]
Dom Fanelli The Fanelli Boys Joe Pantoliano Con man
Frankie Fanelli The Fanelli Boys Chris Meloni Bartender; handsome playboy
Ronnie Fanelli The Fanelli Boys Andy Hirsch College dropout
Theresa Fanelli The Fanelli Boys Ann Morgan Guilbert Widowed mother
Joe Fontana Law & Order Dennis Farina Police detective
Arthur Fonzarelli[1] Happy Days Henry Winkler Greaser, ladies' man
Frank Furillo[1] Hill Street Blues Daniel J. Travanti Police captain
Harry Garibaldi[2] Hill Street Blues Ken Olin Police detective
Mike Giardello Homicide: Life on the Street Giancarlo Esposito FBI agent; Italian and black
Tony Giuliano Night Court Ray Abruzzo Police detective
Furio Giunta The Sopranos Federico Castelluccio Mobster
Paulie Gualtieri The Sopranos Tony Sirico Mobster
Benjy Hawk Days of Our Lives Darrell Thomas Utley, Jim Lunsford Mobster's son
Megan Hathaway Days of Our Lives Miranda Wilson Mobster's daughter
Adriana La Cerva The Sopranos Drea de Matteo Mobster's girlfriend
Paul LaGuardia[2] Cagney & Lacey Sidney Clute Police detective
Phil Leotardo The Sopranos Frank Vincent Mobster
Janice Licalsi NYPD Blue Amy Brenneman Mob-connected, murderous police officer
Angelo Lombardi The Fanelli Boys Richard Libertini Priest
Dominic Luca[3] S.W.A.T. Mark Shera Police officer
Carmine Lupertazzi The Sopranos Tony Lip Mobster
Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr. The Sopranos Ray Abruzzo Mobster
Dave Malucci ER Erik Palladino Incompetent physician
Jennifer Mancini Melrose Place Alyssa Milano College dropout
Michael Mancini Melrose Place Thomas Calabro Physician; womanizer
John Manicote[2] Hawaii Five-O Glenn Cannon Attorney General
Anthony Marentino Sex and the City Mario Cantone Event planner
Zane Marinelli The Beat Mark Ruffalo Police officer
Massimo Marone The Bold and the Beautiful Joseph Mascolo Ruthless shipping magnate
Mario The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Lou Albano Plumber
Nick Marone The Bold and the Beautiful Jack Wagner Businessman
Billy Martin The Bronx is Burning John Turturro Yankees manager; Italian and Portuguese
Jennifer Melfi The Sopranos Lorraine Bracco Psychiatrist
Samantha Micelli Who's the Boss? Alyssa Milano Housekeeper's daughter; tough girl
Tony Micelli[1] Who's the Boss? Tony Danza Live-in housekeeper
Christopher Moltisanti The Sopranos Michael Imperioli Mobster
Lorna Morello Orange is the New Black Yael Stone Prison inmate from Boston
Donna Moss The West Wing Janel Moloney White House aide; Italian and Irish
Dino Ortolani Oz Jon Seda Mobster
Mikey Palmice The Sopranos Al Sapienza Mobster
Chucky Pancamo Oz Chuck Zito Mobster
Ernie "Coach" Pantusso Cheers Nicholas Colasanto Dimwitted but lovable bartender
Patsy Parisi The Sopranos Dan Grimaldi Mob accountant
Stacey Paterno Spin City Jennifer Esposito Secretary from Brooklyn
Nathan Petrelli Heroes Adrian Pasdar Senator with superpowers
Peter Petrelli Heroes Milo Ventimiglia Paramedic with superpowers
Sophia Petrillo The Golden Girls Estelle Getty Elderly widow
Tony Petrocelli[3] Petrocelli Barry Newman Defense lawyer
Donna Pinciotti That '70s Show Laura Prepon High school girl with a wry wit
Bob Pinciotti That '70s Show Tanya Roberts, Don Stark Jovial ladies' man
Eugene Pontecorvo The Sopranos Robert Funaro Mobster
Carmine Ragusa[1] Laverne & Shirley Eddie Mekka Boxer, dancer
Lionel Rizzo[3] Kojak Vince Conti Police detective
Jane Rizzoli Rizzoli & Isles Angie Harmon Police detective
Ann Romano[9] One Day at a Time Bonnie Franklin Divorced mother; "feisty"
Sal Romano[10] Mad Men Bryan Batt Art director; closeted
Roseanne Roseannadanna Saturday Night Live Gilda Radner Brash, tactless anchorwoman
Tony Roselli Remington Steele Jack Scalia Hunk[11]
David Rossi Criminal Minds Joe Mantegna FBI supervisory agent; Vietnam veteran
Frank Rossitano 30 Rock Judah Friedlander Mob-connected writer; slob
Alex Russo Wizards of Waverly Place Selena Gomez Teenage witch; Italian and Mexican
Tina Russo[2] Hill Street Blues Megan Gallagher Police detective
Johnny Sacrimoni The Sopranos Vince Curatola Mobster
Dominic Santini Airwolf Ernest Borgnine Aviator; war veteran
Jo Santini Airwolf Michele Scarabelli Aviator
Dicky Santoro[2] Brooklyn South Gary Basaraba Police sergeant
Father Guido Sarducci Saturday Night Live Don Novello Eccentric priest
Tony Scali The Commish Michael Chiklis Police commissioner; family man
Tom Scavo Desperate Housewives Doug Savant Advertiser, pizzeria owner
Peter Schibetta Oz Eddie Malavarca Mobster
Abby Sciuto NCIS Pauley Perrette Forensic scientist; upbeat Goth girl
Anthony Soprano Jr. The Sopranos Robert Iler Mobster's son
Carmela Soprano The Sopranos Edie Falco Mobster's wife
Janice Soprano The Sopranos Aida Turturro Mobster's sister
Junior Soprano The Sopranos Dominic Chianese Mobster
Livia Soprano The Sopranos Nancy Marchand Mobster's mother
Meadow Soprano The Sopranos Jamie-Lynn Sigler Mobster's daughter
Tony Soprano The Sopranos James Gandolfini Mobster
Ginnie Sorelli Related Jennifer Esposito Ambitious attorney; main character
Vito Spatafore The Sopranos Joseph R. Gannascoli Mobster
Alec Stone/D'Amico[2] New York Undercover Josh Hopkins Police detective; mobster's son
Sara Tancredi Prison Break Sarah Wayne Callies Prison physician; drug addict
David Toma[3] Toma Tony Musante Police detective
Mike Torello[2] Crime Story Dennis Farina Police detective
Carla Tortelli[6] Cheers Rhea Perlman Surly barmaid
Nick Tortelli Cheers Dan Hedaya Deadbeat dad
Nick Toscanni[12] Dynasty James Farentino Evil doctor
Joey Tribbiani[1] Friends Matt LeBlanc Dimwitted but lovable actor; ladies' man
Nona Valentine[2] Brooklyn South Klea Scott Police officer
Nick Vera Cold Case Jeremy Ratchford Police detective
Charlie Verducci Top of the Heap Joseph Bologna Scheming slum dweller
Vinnie Verducci Top of the Heap Matt LeBlanc Scheming slum dweller
Anthony Zacchara General Hospital Bruce Weitz Mobster; "homicidal maniac"
Claudia Zacchara General Hospital Sarah Brown Mobster; "a very, very sexual woman"
Johnny Zacchara General Hospital Brandon Barash Mobster's son, "bad boy with a good heart"
Dorothy Zbornak (née Petrillo) The Golden Girls Bea Arthur Substitute teacher
Larry Zito Miami Vice John Diehl Police detective

Others

The following characters are presumably (but not verifiably) meant to be Italian-American.

Name Show Played by Description
Nat Bussichio Murphy Brown Joe E. Tata Restaurateur
Jordan Catalano My So-Called Life Jared Leto Good-looking bad boy
Frank Fontana Murphy Brown Joe Regalbuto Reporter
Lionel Fusco Person of Interest Kevin Chapman Corrupt police detective
Danny Garibaldi Grand Hotel (TV series) Lincoln Younes Waiter; amateur sleuth
Jess Mariano Gilmore Girls Milo Ventimiglia Good-looking bad boy
Stan Rizzo Mad Men Jay R. Ferguson Art director
Jeff Rosso Freaks and Geeks Dave Allen Hippie guidance counselor
Peter Russo House of Cards Corey Stoll Corrupt, alcoholic congressman
Frankie Stecchino Boy Meets World Ethan Suplee High school bully
Elsbeth Tascioni The Good Wife Carrie Preston Quirky lawyer
Donald Twinkacetti Perfect Strangers Ernie Sabella Mean landlord

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Laurino, Maria (December 24, 2000). "From the Fonz To the Sopranos, Not Much Evolution". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Martone, Eric (2016). "Italian Americans and Law Enforcement in Popular Culture". Italian Americans: The History and Culture of a People. ABC-CLIO. pp. 123–124. ISBN 9781610699952.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Greeley, Andrew M. (July 27, 1975). "TV's Italian Cops — Trapped in Old Stereotypes". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  4. ^ Leszczak, Bob (2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948–1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6.
  5. ^ "The Doll". Seinfeld Scripts. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Stern, E. Mark; Marchesani, Robert B. (2014). Saints and Rogues: Conflicts and Convergence in Psychotherapy. Routledge. p. 101. ISBN 9781317718048.
  7. ^ Steen, Janet. "On Wanting to Make a Guy Bleed, and Why Freaks and Geeks was the Best Television Show about High School Ever". The Weeklings. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  8. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2012). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland. pp. 329–330. ISBN 9780786486410.
  9. ^ "One Day at a Time". Encyclopedia.com.
  10. ^ "Sal From Mad Men Is Glad He Never Came Back". Vulture. May 14, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "Jack Scalia, Hunk of 'Steele'". The Washington Post. January 5, 1987.
  12. ^ "Heather Locklear's deja vu". Entertainment Weekly. February 10, 1995.
Categories