Silvio Dante

Silvio Manfred Dante, played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere and second-in-command to Tony Soprano in the DiMeo crime family. Silvio, generally referred to as "Sil" by friends, is Tony's best friend since childhood and his closest advisor on mob matters. He is usually a behind-the-scenes figure who tries not to draw much attention to himself and is more level-headed and less talkative than other members of the crew. He maintains the public image of a legitimate businessman as owner and manager of the Bada Bing! strip club (which doubles as the crew's main headquarters) and generally avoids participation in the organization's street-level operations. Silvio maintains a calm, composed demeanor at most times but has been known to reveal a strong temper and violent streak and is Tony's most trusted hitman. Dante is a film and music connoisseur who lives an upscale lifestyle and cares for a wife and daughter. 2Plot details According to The Sopranos, A Family History, Silvio was born in June 1957; his father was Joseph "Beppo" Dante, of Calabrian origin, a soldier who was "gunned down" in 1959. Silvio was a childhood friend of Tony and his early criminal activity often involved Tony, Ralph Cifaretto and Jackie Aprile, S