Rosalie Aprile (2024)

Rosalie Aprile is a recurring character portrayed by Sharon Angela. She is a fictional character on the HBO television series, The Sopranos.

Biography[]

Rosalie is the widow of DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile Sr, and the mother of Jackie Jr. and Kelli. She is good friends with mob wives Carmela Soprano and Gabriella Dante to whom she offers characteristically frank advice. Rosalie was always frank with her friends that she thought Jackie had affairs but seemed to have made her peace with his alleged infidelity. During her marriage to Jackie, Ro had an affair with a man named Steve from her gym, which remained a source of guilt obviously after realizing the truth that he didn’t have any affairs.

Two years after Jackie Sr.'s death, she started a relationship with DiMeo/Soprano capo Ralph Cifaretto. Ralph had been a friend of Jackie's growing up and later a soldier in Jackie's crew before he moved to Miami. Their relationship became romantic after Ralph returned from Miami in 2000, following the deaths of both Jackie Sr. and Rosalie's brother-in-law Richie Aprile. Ralph encouraged Jackie Jr. as he became more and more involved in the family business, providing him with a gun, accepting payments from him and involving him in making collections as well as offering advice. Jackie Jr. tried to make a name for himself by robbing a card game (inspired by Ralph's telling the story of how Jackie Sr. made a name for himself by robbing a card game with Tony Soprano), but the heist went awry and a contract was put out on him. Unbeknown-st to Rosalie, it was Ralph who ordered her son's death. Jackie Jr.'s cousin and Soprano soldier Vito Spatafore was the one to execute the hit. The official story (as told to Rosalie, the rest of her family and family friends) was that Jackie Jr. was killed by drug dealers in a housing project.

Following her son's death in 2001, Rosalie sunk into a prolonged period of depression. Ralph began an affair with Janice Soprano. Rosalie's friend Karen Baccalieri died soon after Jackie Jr. and Ro's depression worsened. Ralph chose this opportunity to break up with Rosalie, claiming he was tired of her constant grief. Rosalie, angered by his selfishness, ordered him out of her home. (He left and attempted to move in with Janice.) She eventually forgave him though and visited him when his son was in the hospital.

Rosalie has always been a loyal friend to Carmela, and her advice to her friend is generally loving but blunt. Of particular note was their discussion of A.J. after he dropped out of college in season six. Rosalie told Carmela to be firm with A.J., because she didn't want Carmela to make the same mistakes she had, and end up burying her son. Rosalie also advised Carmela throughout the latter's flirtation with decorator Vic Musto — warning her of the dangers of infidelity and the guilt from her own experience but was supportive about the difficulties of living with the double standards inherent in a mafia marriage. Rosalie is considered an aunt by Carmela's children.

Rosalie had severed her relationship with Angie Bonpensiero following Big puss*'s disappearance (he was believed by the wives to have entered the witness protection program), but they ultimately reconciled and Angie discussed her increasing business involvement with the DiMeo/Soprano crime family with Rosalie. Rosalie belongs to the same church as Carmela and is a friend of Father Phil Intintola — she thinks of him as a sweet man. After Carmela pulls back from her relationship with Father Phil he seems to replace her with Rosalie. Rosalie was also friends with Adriana La Cerva (to whom she was related by marriage through Jackie Aprile) and attended her wedding shower.

Rosalie was supportive of Ginny Sacramoni when her husband and Lupertazzi boss John Sacrimoni was arrested; she attended the wedding of Ginny's daughter Allegra, and took part in a birthday celebration for Ginny at her home.

Rosalie accompanied Carmela on a trip to Paris in the Season 6 episode "Cold Stones". They visited many of the city's sights and Ro lit candles for her late husband and son in a church. While there, she pursued a brief relationship with a much younger Frenchman named Michel. Carmela upset Rosalie by asking about her grief over her son and husband while they were supposed to be enjoying their trip, but Rosalie was quick to forgive her friend. She also comforted Carmela through some difficult moments while they were away. Rosalie attended Bobby's wake in the series finale, "Made in America".

Appearance[]

External links[]

• HBO Profile: Rosalie Aprile
• Rosalie Aprile on Myspace.com