In which season does Ralph Cifaretto die?

Ralph Cifaretto dies in Season 4 of The Sopranos. His death occurs in the episode “Whoever Did This,” after Tony Soprano confronts him over the fire that kills Tony's racehorse, Pie-O-My.

Ralph is already one of the show's most volatile characters. He is a highly profitable capo but repeatedly causes trouble through his cruelty, recklessness, and contempt for the rules of the crime family. Tension between Ralph and Tony intensifies after Ralph's involvement with Pie-O-My and Tony's growing emotional attachment to the horse.

During their confrontation, Tony and Ralph fight in Ralph's kitchen. Tony ultimately strangles him, then calls Christopher Moltisanti to help dispose of the body. The other mobsters are left uncertain about what happened, although several suspect that Tony was responsible.

Season 4 is sometimes confused with Season 3 because Ralph is introduced and becomes especially prominent around that period. Season 5 deals with the fallout from other major losses, while Ralph's disappearance is specifically part of the fourth season's storyline. The episode originally aired in 2002.