Jackie Aprile, Sr
Encyclopedia
Giacomo Michael "Jackie" Aprile, Sr., played by Michael Rispoli
, was a fictional character
on the HBO original series The Sopranos
. He was the first Acting Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family, after longtime reputed Boss Ercole 'Eckley' DiMeo was sent to prison in 1995. He is based on DeCavalcante crime family
acting mob boss Giacomo "Jake" Amari
.
and they came up through the ranks of the DiMeo Crime Family together. Jackie's older brother, Richie Aprile
, also stepped up in the same crime family. Jackie was also the brother of Liz La Cerva and thus the uncle of Adriana La Cerva
. Jackie and Tony, along with Silvio Dante
and Ralph Cifaretto, were in a minor-league crew as kids. Around this time, Jackie had the idea to rob a card game held by then-capo Feech La Manna and, in Ralph's words, "step up to the A-league." Ralph contracted gonorrhea and was unable to rob the card game. However, Tony, Jackie and Silvio took it down. Although they had to give back some of the money, Tony, Jackie and Silvio were on the fast track to being made men
.
Jackie's star rose considerably in the intervening years, during which he started a family. He married Rosalie Aprile, and they had three children together. Jackie never wanted his son Jackie Aprile, Jr.
to get involved in his father's business, despite his success. At some point Jackie served time in prison in Lewisberg with the later identified informant Fabian "Febby" Petrullio. Tony said that Jackie did 'a couple of counts' in jail, suggesting that although he served jail time it was not a significantly long sentence, hence his quick ascension to Acting Boss for his ability to avoid jail time by working the system and surviving. He was considered to be an all-powerful figure in the crime family, and by the mid-1990s his influence, power and success continued to expand as he assumed more and more responsibilities as Acting Boss while Ercole 'Eckley' DiMeo went on trial and then to prison for life in 1995, becoming Acting Boss of the Family. This greatly aggrieved Corrado "Junior" Soprano
, who had believed with his brother Johnny dead and DiMeo in prison forever that he would become Boss. Known as a well-respected leader of the family, people say that Jackie's reign over the DiMeo Family was peaceful. Although Jackie was officially Boss of the family, out of respect to "The Old Man" DiMeo, Aprile referred to himself as the "Acting Boss", even though he had wielded de facto control of the family since 1995.
However, Jackie's reign was short lived. Aprile was diagnosed with stomach cancer and first hospitalized in late 1998 and by early 1999 (season one of The Sopranos) was clearly fading fast. He made Tony his street boss so he could collect for him. For a brief time in early 1999, Jackie seemed to have recovered and was out on the streets again. In "46 Long" Jackie mediated a dispute between Tony and Junior. However, the cancer had recurred and by "Denial, Anger, Acceptance" he was admitted to hospital and his Acting Underboss Tony Soprano
, and Capos visited him there to pay respects. Gradually, Tony Soprano gained more control over the DiMeo family as Jackie's condition worsened. Tony brought a dancer from the Bada Bing! club to entertain Jackie in his hospital bed. Tony later made a promise to him that he would keep his only son Jackie Aprile, Jr.
out of the family business. Jackie died of cancer in July 1999 (noted in a news broadcast playing in the background in the episode "I Dream of Jeanie Cusamano"). A war between Junior Soprano and Tony Soprano was anticipated, but immediately following Jackie's death, Tony met with his uncle and "let" him become Acting Boss. However, since Eckley DiMeo and Jackie Aprile had Tony picked to be Acting Boss, and the captains Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto
, Lawrence "Larry Boy" Barese
and Jimmy Altieri wanted Tony to be their leader, Junior was actually the Boss only in name, as Tony was the one who actually ran things.
It is thought that Jackie Aprile Sr. is loosely based on real New Jersey mobster and Acting Boss Giacomo "Jake" Amari
, who also died of cancer and whose death similarly sparked a power struggle within the DeCavalcante crime family
.
A news reporter who reported the news of his death mistakenly reported that Jackie had become Boss in 1997, though the events of ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power show that he had gained power in 1995.
Michael Rispoli
Michael Rispoli is an American character actor. He was formerly part of the HBO television series The Sopranos as Jackie Aprile, Sr...
, was a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the HBO original series The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. He was the first Acting Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family, after longtime reputed Boss Ercole 'Eckley' DiMeo was sent to prison in 1995. He is based on DeCavalcante crime family
DeCavalcante crime family
The DeCavalcante crime family is an organized crime family that controls organized crime activities in Elizabeth, New Jersey and surrounding areas in the state, despite operating on the other side of the Hudson River in New York, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia...
acting mob boss Giacomo "Jake" Amari
Giacomo Amari
Giacomo "Jake" Amari was the powerful Underboss and later Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family.- Background :According to the testimony provided by Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo, the later Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family, Amari was a prominent and ruthless captain before being...
.
Plot details
According to Sopranos; A Family History, Giacomo Michael Aprile, Sr. was born in 1955, was a close friend and contemporary of Tony SopranoTony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
and they came up through the ranks of the DiMeo Crime Family together. Jackie's older brother, Richie Aprile
Richie Aprile
Richard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr...
, also stepped up in the same crime family. Jackie was also the brother of Liz La Cerva and thus the uncle of Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:...
. Jackie and Tony, along with Silvio Dante
Silvio Dante
Silvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure...
and Ralph Cifaretto, were in a minor-league crew as kids. Around this time, Jackie had the idea to rob a card game held by then-capo Feech La Manna and, in Ralph's words, "step up to the A-league." Ralph contracted gonorrhea and was unable to rob the card game. However, Tony, Jackie and Silvio took it down. Although they had to give back some of the money, Tony, Jackie and Silvio were on the fast track to being made men
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
.
Jackie's star rose considerably in the intervening years, during which he started a family. He married Rosalie Aprile, and they had three children together. Jackie never wanted his son Jackie Aprile, Jr.
Jackie Aprile, Jr.
Giacomo Michael Aprile, Jr. , played by Jason Cerbone, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. In the episode "...To Save Us All From Satan's Power", Cerbone's younger brother Matt played a younger Jackie Jr. in a flashback sequence.-Plot details:Jackie Aprile, Jr. was born into...
to get involved in his father's business, despite his success. At some point Jackie served time in prison in Lewisberg with the later identified informant Fabian "Febby" Petrullio. Tony said that Jackie did 'a couple of counts' in jail, suggesting that although he served jail time it was not a significantly long sentence, hence his quick ascension to Acting Boss for his ability to avoid jail time by working the system and surviving. He was considered to be an all-powerful figure in the crime family, and by the mid-1990s his influence, power and success continued to expand as he assumed more and more responsibilities as Acting Boss while Ercole 'Eckley' DiMeo went on trial and then to prison for life in 1995, becoming Acting Boss of the Family. This greatly aggrieved Corrado "Junior" Soprano
Junior Soprano
Corrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco...
, who had believed with his brother Johnny dead and DiMeo in prison forever that he would become Boss. Known as a well-respected leader of the family, people say that Jackie's reign over the DiMeo Family was peaceful. Although Jackie was officially Boss of the family, out of respect to "The Old Man" DiMeo, Aprile referred to himself as the "Acting Boss", even though he had wielded de facto control of the family since 1995.
However, Jackie's reign was short lived. Aprile was diagnosed with stomach cancer and first hospitalized in late 1998 and by early 1999 (season one of The Sopranos) was clearly fading fast. He made Tony his street boss so he could collect for him. For a brief time in early 1999, Jackie seemed to have recovered and was out on the streets again. In "46 Long" Jackie mediated a dispute between Tony and Junior. However, the cancer had recurred and by "Denial, Anger, Acceptance" he was admitted to hospital and his Acting Underboss Tony Soprano
Tony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
, and Capos visited him there to pay respects. Gradually, Tony Soprano gained more control over the DiMeo family as Jackie's condition worsened. Tony brought a dancer from the Bada Bing! club to entertain Jackie in his hospital bed. Tony later made a promise to him that he would keep his only son Jackie Aprile, Jr.
Jackie Aprile, Jr.
Giacomo Michael Aprile, Jr. , played by Jason Cerbone, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. In the episode "...To Save Us All From Satan's Power", Cerbone's younger brother Matt played a younger Jackie Jr. in a flashback sequence.-Plot details:Jackie Aprile, Jr. was born into...
out of the family business. Jackie died of cancer in July 1999 (noted in a news broadcast playing in the background in the episode "I Dream of Jeanie Cusamano"). A war between Junior Soprano and Tony Soprano was anticipated, but immediately following Jackie's death, Tony met with his uncle and "let" him become Acting Boss. However, since Eckley DiMeo and Jackie Aprile had Tony picked to be Acting Boss, and the captains Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto
Ray Curto
Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto, played by George Loros, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. An older Capo in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series....
, Lawrence "Larry Boy" Barese
Larry Barese
Lorenzo "Larry Boy" Barese, played by Tony Darrow, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. He is the only one of the five original captains of the DiMeo crime family that remains in that position of the crime family throughout the show...
and Jimmy Altieri wanted Tony to be their leader, Junior was actually the Boss only in name, as Tony was the one who actually ran things.
It is thought that Jackie Aprile Sr. is loosely based on real New Jersey mobster and Acting Boss Giacomo "Jake" Amari
Giacomo Amari
Giacomo "Jake" Amari was the powerful Underboss and later Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family.- Background :According to the testimony provided by Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo, the later Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family, Amari was a prominent and ruthless captain before being...
, who also died of cancer and whose death similarly sparked a power struggle within the DeCavalcante crime family
DeCavalcante crime family
The DeCavalcante crime family is an organized crime family that controls organized crime activities in Elizabeth, New Jersey and surrounding areas in the state, despite operating on the other side of the Hudson River in New York, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia...
.
A news reporter who reported the news of his death mistakenly reported that Jackie had become Boss in 1997, though the events of ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power show that he had gained power in 1995.
Appearances
- Appears in: "46 Long", "Denial, Anger, Acceptance", "MeadowlandsMeadowlands (The Sopranos episode)"Meadowlands" is the fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Jason Cahill, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on January 31, 1999.-Starring:* James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano* Lorraine Bracco as Dr...
" , "…To Save Us All from Satan's Power"