The Sopranos: 10 Best Minor Characters

10. Valery

When looking back through the episodes of The Sopranos, one sticks out as being both hilarious and brutal in equal measure. Four Pines.

In the episode Paulie and Christopher are dealing with a Russian who owes them money, Paulie goes nuts and they end up having to try and kill him. Unfortunately for them that Russian happens to be Valery. An ex-military, hard as nails brute who just keeps on living, much to Paulie and Christopher's chagrin.

Their first attempts to beat him to death ostensibly work, though it takes them considerable effort to do so, then after consulting with Tony they head out to the wilderness to dump the body. When they get there they not only find out that Valery is alive, but he also manages to temporarily subdue them both and run away into the snow.

This complete death-defying Russian was one of the best and most liked characters in the show just because of the grief that he then causes Paulie and Christopher. Never has a character in The Sopranoes taken a beating like he did and live to tell the tale.

Unfortunately, we never saw him again after he ran away in the snow-laden woods. Though it is mentioned in the show that he more than likely survived because of his military training.