Christopher Moltisanti

Tony Soprano's ambitious protégé whose addiction and volatility ultimately cost him his life.

Christopher Moltisanti, portrayed by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character of the HBO television series The Sopranos. He serves as Tony Soprano's protégé and a member of the DiMeo crime family, rising from an associate to a captain over the course of the series. Born in 1969 to Dickie Moltisanti and Joanne Blundetto, Christopher grew up next to Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. Tony affectionately refers to him as his 'nephew,' though they are actually first cousins once removed through Carmela Soprano's side. Throughout the show, Christopher is depicted as a volatile and impulsive young man whose violent behavior often causes friction within the North Jersey Mafia.

Quick Facts

Series

The Sopranos

First

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Last

The Many Saints of Newark (2021)

Creator

David Chase

Portrayed by

Michael Imperioli

Also known as

Chris Maccaviti (episode 2.05)
Chris Montevani (episode 5.11)
Chrissy

Occupation

Union safety official
stock market chief compliance officer
film screenwriter/producer
nightclub owner
mobster

Spouse

Kelli Lombardo Moltisanti (wife)
Adriana La Cerva (late fiancee)
Amy Safir (brief fling)
Julianna Skiff (mistress)

Lore & Background

Christopher's journey begins in Season 1 when he 'makes his bones' by killing Emil Kolar to settle a dispute over Triborough Towers garbage routes. He initially plans to hide the body in a dumpster, but Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero advises against it to reduce heat. The murder haunts Christopher's dreams, forcing him to dig up and move Kolar's corpse twice. In Season 2, his subordinates Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte ambush him outside a diner to gain favor with Richie Aprile.

Christopher survives the shooting but is clinically dead for about a minute; during his recovery, he claims to have seen himself in hell or purgatory. He kills Gismonte in self-defense while Bevilaqua escapes, only to be found later by Richie Aprile's confidantes and executed by Tony and Big Pussy. By Season 3, Christopher finally becomes a made man, inheriting a betting shop from Paulie Gualtieri, which leads to friction over payments until the Pine Barrens incident forces an uneasy truce.

Reader's Guide

Christopher Moltisanti's path is defined by a constant struggle between his ambition to lead the family into the 21st century and his inability to overcome personal demons. In Season 6, Tony promotes him to captain, telling him he will lead the family forward. However, Christopher's drug use leads to a serious car crash while driving Tony home; he is high at the time. Upon seeing that Caitlyn's baby seat was completely destroyed in the accident and realizing she would have been killed had she been in the car, Tony decides he has had enough.

In the series finale, Tony suffocates the badly injured Christopher, finally ridding himself of his troublesome 'nephew.' Earlier attempts to kill Tony occurred when Christopher, enraged by rumors of an affair between Adriana and Tony, pulled a gun on him; he was spared only after Tony Blundetto interceded. His relationship with Paulie Gualtieri remained tense throughout, culminating in multiple clashes even after the Pine Barrens truce.

Did You Know?

Christopher is a first cousin once removed of Tony's wife Carmela, making him a second cousin to her children.
Christopher killed J.T. Dolan, his film business partner, because Dolan refused to listen to details of murders Christopher had witnessed.
In Season 1, Junior Soprano ordered a mock execution for Christopher after he hijacked trucks under Junior's protection.
Christopher grew up in the Rochelle Park section of Paramus, New Jersey, next to the Westfield Garden State Plaza.