2. Paul Dano
Episodes: Season Four: Everybody Hurts & Season Five: All Due Respect The Ruby Sparks star featured in two episodes during the fourth season as a friend to AJ Soprano (Robert Iler). Dano didnt display any of his intensity that would later become evident in There Will be Blood and Looper but was a geeky and spoiled rich pal of AJs whose friendship is based on Danos obsession with The Godfather. He is fascinated by the Sopranos various legitimate businesses which he assumes are a front to the shady Mafia dealings. He even likens Tonys base of operations, the Satriales Pork Store, to Gencos Olive Oil (where Vito Corleone operated from in The Godfather). Dano had already made a memorable debut performance alongside Brain Cox at aged 15 in Michael Cuestas superb 2001 film L.I.E. Here, Dano is barely recognisable from his powerful turn in L.I.E. and instead uses a geeky persona that would become a staple of his career (see The Girl Next Door, Gigantic). Three years later, Dano would break through to the mainstream with his role in Little Miss Sunshine as troubled Nietzsche loving mute Dwayne. The film was a commercial and critical smash and went on to win two Oscars in 2006.