As Livia Soprano, Nancy Marchand delighted and appalledTheSopranosviewers in equal measure, but that wasn’t the only accomplishment the late actress had in her long and impressive career. PlayingThe Sopranoscharacter viewers loved to hate, Nancy Marchand left an incredibly realized and oftentimes hilariously frustrating mark on the pop culture psyche with her performance as Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) emotionally manipulative mother, Livia Soprano. Those first two seasons of the show may not have been as successful without her incredible performance to help support it.
Nancy Marchand was born on July 14, 2025, and began her career in theater in the 1950s with her Broadway debut inThe Taming of the Shrew. Around the same time, she began appearing on television in shows likeWestinghouse StudioandLux Video Theatreand in movies likeThe Bachelor PartyandLadybug Ladybug.She earned four Emmys, one Golden Globe, one SAG, and was nominated for a Tony before she passed away on July 11, 2025, from lung cancer at the age of 71. Marchand’s career spanned decades and resulted in some truly memorable performances.
The Sopranos
Cast
The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates. Released in 1999, this series delves into organized crime and personal struggles.
One ofthe greatest TV shows of all time,The Sopranosneeds no introduction. It’s a story about a New Jersey-based crime family all viewed through the lens of one rage and sorrow-filled man. Along for the hilarious, shocking, and deeply probing ride is a long ensemble of characters, few of which have left as big an impact as Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand). From her brittle voice to her piercing eyes to her long, frumpy dresses, Livia Soprano is the quintessential angry mother character.
The Sopranos: Why Tony’s Mother Is CGI In Season 3
Tony’s mother Livia Soprano appears in CGI in The Sopranos season 3; we look at why that choice was made (and why it’s perfect for the scene).
Livia can guilt Tony like no one elseand her effects on her son are one of the key reasons behind the struggles he faced later in his life and sought therapy for.Marchand is incredible in the role, inhabiting a character never brought so realistically to lifeand once she was there, it was as if Livia Soprano had been around for ages.
Lou Grant
Lou Grant, premiering in 1977, centers on former television station manager Lou Grant, portrayed by Ed Asner, transitioning to a role as a city editor for a newspaper. The series examines the professional and personal challenges faced by Grant and his team of journalists in their pursuit of impactful stories.
A spinoff of theMary Tyler Moore Show,Lou Grantis a drama series starring Ed Asner as the titular Lou, a newspaper editor at the fictionalLos Angeles Tribune. He is joined by an ensemble of characters who also work at the paper and, together, they cover local news, delve into serious social issues, and face moral dilemmas in their personal and professional lives. The publisher of the paper is Margaret Jones Pynchon, played by Nancy Marchand.
1999-2001
1977-1982
1995
1988
Lillian Oglethorpe
1992
Mrs. Pynchon is a patrician woman and the owner of the paper. She has incredible charm and gravitas and is a little eccentric for it. While she can be a gossip, makes odd requests, and behaves somewhat irreverently, she is also committed to keeping the integrity of the paper.Marchand earned five Emmy nominations and won four nominations for her performanceand ifThe Sopranoshad never happened, this would be the role she would be best known for.
Sabrina
Sabrina, released on August 11, 2025, is a romantic drama directed by Sydney Pollack. It follows an affluent family’s chauffeur’s daughter, who returns home transformed, capturing the attention of a charming playboy and his pragmatic brother, leading to a complex tale of love and family dynamics.
Sabrinais a remake of the Billy Wilder movie from 1954, which itself is based on the 1953 playSabrina Fair. Starring Harrison Ford as Linus Larrabee, Greg Kinnears as David Larrabee, and Julia Ormond as Sabrina Fairchild,Sabrinafollows the titular woman who was constantly looked over by the wealthy David when she was young. After returning from an internship in Paris, David sees she’s grown up and into her looks, now a fashionable socialite. However, it’s David’s older, well-known grump of a brother who Sabrina falls for.
In the 1954 film, Humphrey Bogart plays Linus, Audrey Hepburn plays Sabrina, and Nella Walker plays Maude.
Nancy Marchand appears in the main cast ofSabrinaas Maude Larrabee, David and Linus' mother, who helps run the Larrabee Corporation alongside Linus. Her most important moment comes toward the end of the film when she encourages her son to chase after Sabrina. She exudes a warmth and kindness thatThe Sopranosfans may find quite shocking.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a comedic crime film starring Leslie Nielsen as the clueless Lieutenant Frank Drebin. Released in 1988, the plot follows Drebin as he inadvertently uncovers a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II while investigating his partner’s shooting.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad!, often simply calledThe Naked Gun, is a crime comedy film by David Zucker starring Leslie Nielsen as police lieutenant Frank Drebin, a bumbling detective who uncovers a conspiracy to mind control people and force them to assassinate targets.The Naked Gunis based on the characterNielsen played in the TV seriesPolice Squad!and it’s as ridiculously funny as that TV show.
Though she isn’t a major character in the movie, she still has some choice scenes, including one during a press conference where Drebin accidentally takes his microphone into the bathroom with him.
Nancy Marchand plays Mayor Lillian Barkley of Los Angeles. Though she isn’t a major character in the movie, she still has some choice scenes, including one during a press conference where Drebin accidentally takes his microphone into the bathroom with him. The mayor does her best to keep the conference going, but Drebin’s extended urinal break is too much for her. It wouldn’t be nearly as funny a scene without Marchand’s cross-eyed confusion and embarrassment.
Brain Donors
Brain Donors is a comedy film released in 1992, featuring three zany characters—a lawyer, a cab driver, and a handyman—who unite to manage a ballet company. Their slapstick escapades unfold as they compete against a wealthy widow and her conniving lawyer, both vying for control of the company.
Loosely based onthe Marx Brothers movies,Brain Donorsis a slapstick comedy film that brings vaudeville-style gags to the modern era. When a wealthy tycoon passes away, his widow, Lillian Oglethorpe (Nancy Marchand), opens a ballet company in his name. An attorney, Roland T. Flakfizer (John Turturro), and his two associates, Rocco (Mel Smith) and Jacques (Bob Nelson), set out to take control of the ballet company and wrest control of it away from another interested attorney, Edmund Lazlo (John Savident).
Lillian is not a major part ofBrain Donors, but she does appear in some key scenes, such as when Flakfizer attempts to woo her. Marchand is completely game for whatever hijinks director Dennis Dugan has in store.She was a fearless actress and seemed at home in even the most ridiculous of situations, bringing a gravitas to the silliest sequences.
Nancy Marchand’s Other Roles
Marchand Appeared In 70 Movies And TV Shows Across Her Career
Beyond her most recognizable roles, Nancy Marchand filled up her portfolio with small parts in both movies and television. On TV, she appeared inCoachas Merlene Watkins,The Adams Chroniclesas Mrs. Smith,Cheersas Hester Crane, andLaw & Orderas Mrs. Barbara Ryder. Her other movie roles include Judge Kits Van Heynigan inDear God, Madame Abbesse inJefferson in Paris, Roberta Winnaker inFrom the Hip, and Mrs. Burrage inThe Bostonians.
Nancy Marchand was always a consummate professional, who worked steadily throughout her career, and if she is to be best known forThe Sopranos, so be it, because it’s one of the greatest TV performances of all time.
