Gunshot wound to the head. Killed so Tony could gain control of Junior's crew and because he told people that Tony likes "to fluff his mother's pillows" (wants her dead).
Gunshot wound to the head. A newly-retired police lieutenant, Haydu was killed for the alleged murder of Christopher Moltisanti's father, Dickie Moltisanti.
Physically beaten, then strangled to death. Ralph was killed for supposedly setting the fire to the stables, which killed Pie-O-My. Later decapitated and his severed head and hands were placed in a bowling bag.
Multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. Curtis was a heroin dealer who was ambushed and shot to assure that the canceled assassination of Carmine Lupertazzi would remain a secret.
Gunshot wounds to the chest and head. Johnson was an associate who was ambushed and shot along with Credenzo Curtis to assure that the canceled assassination of Carmine Lupertazzi would remain a secret.
Blunt force trauma to the head (brick thrown by Christopher Moltisanti), gunshot wound to the chest (shot by Paulie Walnuts). An Atlantic City waiter, Raoul was killed after a dispute over a tip.
Gunshot wound to the chest (by Cary DiBartolo), gunshot wound to the neck (by Paulie Walnuts). He was most likely in charge of keeping track of the large amount of money that he was killed for.
Gunshot wound to the right shoulder, gunshot wound to the chest (shot by Cary DiBartolo); stabbed in the chest (stabbed by Paulie Walnuts). Killed after he attempted to kill Paulie Walnuts.
Gunshot wound to the back of the head. He intended to notify the police that he was involved in a car accident; killed after refusing cash from the other party involved, Vito Spatafore.
Struck in the head (by Silvio Dante) and then stabbed to death (by Carlo Gervasi). Gamiello made jokes about Vito's death and implied that Carlo Gervasi is a homosexual.
Multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, arms, and head. Killed by a hitman while dining with Silvio Dante on orders from Faustino "Doc" Santoro in order to eliminate the heirs to the Lupertazzi Family throne.
As of the beginning of episode 6 of the 2007 season there have been 92 deaths in total and 62 of them were human murders.
Season 6 had the most deaths, followed by Season 5.
Season 6 had the most human murders, followed by Seasons 5 and 1.
Season 4 had the fewest deaths.
Paulie Walnuts has killed 9 people, Tony Soprano and Christopher Moltisanti are all tied with 8 on-screen murders. Silvio Dante has been involved with 5 murders, then Mikey Palmice and Tony B. each with 3 murders. Other notables are Pussy Bonpensiero, Benny Fazio, and Vito Spatafore with 2 a piece.
In addition to human deaths, there have been four animals killed through the course of the series:
Mule deer by Christopher Moltisanti: episode 311 "Pine Barrens"
Pie-O-My, Badly wounded in a stable fire, Pie-O-My had to be put down: episode 409 "Whoever Did This"
Cosette, a maltese dog, by (accidentally) Christopher Moltisanti: episode 410 "The Strong, Silent Type"
Rabbit by Artie Bucco: episode 607 "Luxury Lounge"
In every season, at least two major characters have been killed off.
Whenever major characters are to be murdered, David Chase tells the actors far in advance to prepare them for the scene.
The cast has made it a tradition to take cast members who are killed off on the show to Il Cortile, a restaurant in Little Italy, Manhattan, for a farewell dinner.
The fact that any cast member could be killed off at any time is referred to as the "Big Pussy Rule" (coined by Steven R. Schirripa).
Joe Pantoliano knew in 2001 when he signed on to play the role of Ralph Cifaretto that he would only last two seasons and that his demise would not be a pretty one.
One common bond that ties each of the seasons together is the so-called "Aprile Curse", where during the season at least one member of the Aprile crew or family dies.
Of all the characters, Christopher has had most brushes with death. This has happened in every season so far until his actual death in Season 6 Part 2.
Season 1: The mock execution given on orders from Junior as punishment for his truck hijackings alongside Brendan Filone.
Season 2: Getting shot by Sean Gismonte and Matt Bevilaqua.
Season 3: Getting shot at by Jackie Aprile, Jr. at Eugene's card game.
Season 4: Getting car jacked while searching for heroin. Tony telling Chris later that his drug addiction could get him whacked (which turned out to be true).
Season 5: Almost getting shot by Tony over the rumor about Tony and Adriana. Threatened by and on the lam from Phil Leotardo, because of Tony Soprano's reluctance to hand over Tony Blundetto to Phil for Billy Leotardo's murder.
Season 6a: Getting shot at while fleeing after robbing bikers of crates of wine - who in turn were robbing an unknown establishment.
Season 6b: Finally running out of luck when Tony suffocates him after a car accident, and he asphyxiates on his blood.
Of all the Sopranos characters on the Sopranos, Tony is the person with the second-most brushes with death.
Season 1: Getting shot in the ear by a hitman, during the hit on him ordered by Uncle Junior.
Season 3: Patsy pointing a gun at Tony and then reconsidering killing him.
Season 4: Nearly pushed into a helicopter rotor blade by Furio who changes his mind in the last second.
Season6a: Getting shot by Uncle Junior when he experiences dementia.
Also interesting is that any character who dates/marries Janice Soprano ends up dying.
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