Ray Curto
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto, played by George Loros, is a fictional character
on the HBO original series The Sopranos
. An older Capo
in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series.
A Caporegime
in the DiMeo/Soprano crime family before Season 1, Raymond was approached by Tony to replace Jackie Aprile, Sr
as Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family, due to his age and experience (Jackie was in and out of the hospital and close to death at that point in time). Raymond declined the honor, and insisted, along with the other capos, that Tony should take over instead, fearing Tony's uncle and fellow capo Corrado "Junior" Soprano
would step up as the new Boss.
However, Raymond was also an FBI informant, as revealed in the episode, "Proshai, Livushka." It has never been disclosed when or why he became an informant, although he was briefly seen in the episode "Nobody Knows Anything" being busted at a brothel along with Detective Vin Makazian. Raymond also mentioned he has a son with multiple sclerosis
and the medication and care costs a fortune, so perhaps Ray's motivation to be an informant was to stay out of jail and have the ability to pay for his son's care.
Around Christmas of 2000, Raymond was present in the back room of Satriale's before the annual holiday celebration held there and openly discussed Pussy Bonpensiero's murder, stating that he'd wished he had been along to kill "the rat". It is unknown whether he was wired-up during this conversation, in an attempt to link Tony Soprano
, Silvio, and Paulie to the murder. In 2004, many members of the DiMeo Crime Family attended a birthday party for Raymond at "Nuovo Vesuvio Ristorante"
Raymond unexpectedly died of a stroke
in his FBI handler's car, in 2006 while giving potentially damaging information to Agent Sanseverino about Tony (Ray indicated he had a poor sound quality tape of Tony discussing a murder). Curto was handled by both Agent Sanseverino and Agent Grasso. Raymond has the distinction of being the longest-tenured "rat" in the series, and for never being caught or suspected as such. How much damage, if any, that he caused the Soprano crime family was never determined during the run of the show.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the HBO original series The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. An older Capo
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series.
A Caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the DiMeo/Soprano crime family before Season 1, Raymond was approached by Tony to replace Jackie Aprile, Sr
Jackie Aprile, Sr
Giacomo Michael "Jackie" Aprile, Sr., played by Michael Rispoli, was a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. He was the first Acting Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family, after longtime reputed Boss Ercole 'Eckley' DiMeo was sent to prison in 1995...
as Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family, due to his age and experience (Jackie was in and out of the hospital and close to death at that point in time). Raymond declined the honor, and insisted, along with the other capos, that Tony should take over instead, fearing Tony's uncle and fellow capo Corrado "Junior" Soprano
Junior Soprano
Corrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco...
would step up as the new Boss.
However, Raymond was also an FBI informant, as revealed in the episode, "Proshai, Livushka." It has never been disclosed when or why he became an informant, although he was briefly seen in the episode "Nobody Knows Anything" being busted at a brothel along with Detective Vin Makazian. Raymond also mentioned he has a son with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
and the medication and care costs a fortune, so perhaps Ray's motivation to be an informant was to stay out of jail and have the ability to pay for his son's care.
Around Christmas of 2000, Raymond was present in the back room of Satriale's before the annual holiday celebration held there and openly discussed Pussy Bonpensiero's murder, stating that he'd wished he had been along to kill "the rat". It is unknown whether he was wired-up during this conversation, in an attempt to link Tony Soprano
Tony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
, Silvio, and Paulie to the murder. In 2004, many members of the DiMeo Crime Family attended a birthday party for Raymond at "Nuovo Vesuvio Ristorante"
Raymond unexpectedly died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in his FBI handler's car, in 2006 while giving potentially damaging information to Agent Sanseverino about Tony (Ray indicated he had a poor sound quality tape of Tony discussing a murder). Curto was handled by both Agent Sanseverino and Agent Grasso. Raymond has the distinction of being the longest-tenured "rat" in the series, and for never being caught or suspected as such. How much damage, if any, that he caused the Soprano crime family was never determined during the run of the show.