Robert LuPone, ‘The Sopranos’ Actor & Patti LuPone’s Brother, Dies At 76

Robert LuPone, a screen and theater actor who appeared for a small arc on The Sopranos, has died at 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was confirmed by the off-broadway theater he founded and ran for years, the Manhattan Class Company Theater.

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“He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his son Orlando, sister Patti and brother William. He is also survived by the profound impact he had on us,” the MCC noted.

If you recognize the last name, his sister is indeed the Broadway star Patti LuPone.

He played Tony Soprano’s neighbor, Dr. Bruce Cuasanamo, in a few episodes of the hit HBO crime drama and also appeared for short stints in shows like Ally McBeal, Billions and Law & Order.

Robert Francis LuPone was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 22, 1946, and raised on Long Island. He studied dance at the Julliard School with classmates including Anthony Tudor and Martha Graham, and later trained in theater under the legendary artist and teacher Uta Hagen at HB Studio in New York as well.

One of his first credited film roles was as James the Apostle in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, he also had a nine-episode arc on the soap opera Ryan’s Hope, and appeared in other soaps like All My Children and Guiding Light through his career.

He also originated the starring role of Zach in the first Broadway run of A Chorus Linen in 1975 and appeared in other Broadway shows like Sweet Potato by Noel Coward, A View From A Bridge and True West.

While LuPone continued acting until around 2016, he was focused on operating the MCC and also working in education in his later career.

He is credited as a producer on several plays through the theater like Frozen in 2004 (no Disney relation). He also served as the director of the New School’s MFA drama program from 2005 to 2011.