Who played Bobby 'Bacala' Baccalieri?

Steve Schirripa played Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri on The Sopranos. His character, whose full name is Robert Baccalieri Jr., begins as a soldier and aide to Corrado “Junior” Soprano before rising within the crime family.

Bobby stands apart from many of the show’s more aggressive gangsters. He is generally portrayed as quiet, gentle, and family-oriented, although his work eventually requires him to commit murder. He becomes a captain and later a senior figure in Tony Soprano’s organization. After marrying Janice Soprano, Bobby also becomes Tony’s brother-in-law.

Schirripa joined the series in its second season, which aired in 2000, and appeared as Bobby for five seasons. For the first two seasons, he wore a fat suit to fit the character’s original appearance. Bobby’s nickname “Bacala” comes from baccalà, an Italian term for salted cod, while “Bobby” is a shortened form of Robert. The role became Schirripa’s breakthrough television performance and remains his best-known character.