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Tony Lip as Carmine Lupertazzi

Carmine Lupertazzi, Sr., played by Tony Lip, was the boss of the Lupertazzi (Brooklyn) crime family in the fictional HBO TV series, The Sopranos.

Carmine Lupertazzi is an old school wiseguy of Junior Soprano's generation. He kept a low-profile most of his criminal career while operating out of his Social Club and Restaurants. Lupertazzi was arrested and acquitted of racketeering sometime in the 1970's or 1980's. During his tenure, the New York organization has maintained close ties to New Jersey's DiMeo Crime Family.

Carmine is highly intelligent, calm and an opportunist, even in his old age. Despite being a loving father and grandfather, grooming his own son, namesake Little Carmine Lupertazzi, by making him a Capo in the Family that bears his name, he remained foremost a ruthless mobster making threats and ordering murders. He has had a sometimes contentious relationship with his underboss, Johnny Sack: during different episodes in the fourth season, Johnny and Carmine each authorized Tony Soprano to put a "hit" on the other, although in neither case was the killing actually carried out.

In recent years, however, Carmine's health began to fail and he suffered a stroke. After some time in the hospital in a coma, Lupertazzi died, leaving a power vacuum in the New York crime family. The heir apparent for his position would be his son, Little Carmine Lupertazzi, a fact that is a point of consternation for Johnny Sack, who also seeks the position Carmine left behind.

Carmine once told Tony that "a Don doesn't wear shorts". Though he regarded Tony Soprano and the entire DiMeo Crime Family as nothing more than a "glorified crew", Lupertazzi does show some respect for Tony, at one time saying he would be proud to call Tony his own son. This is most evident when he shows genuine concern for Tony's health after hearing rumours he sees a psychiatrist and has panic attacks.

• Actor Tony Lip also appeared as a wedding guest in The Godfather and as Frankie "The Wop" in Goodfellas

• HBO Profile: Carmine Lupertazzi