Steve Schirripa has had some significant weight loss in the years since he starred on The Sopranos as the stout Bobby Bacala. One of HBO’s best original series of all time, The Sopranos has been enthralling new viewers and the many fans who have revisited it over the years since it premiered in January 1999, introducing crime boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and his coterie of violent, unpleasant, and completely fascinating hangers-on. The supporting cast for The Sopranos is as much a reason to watch the show as for Tony.

Every character, even those with little screen time, has substantial arcs that carve them out as human and real, not just red shirts to be murdered on The Sopranos in various grisly ways. Since the end of the show, the actors and crew have fondly recalled their time on the series. The podcasts, Not Today Pal, with Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler, and Talking Sopranos with Schirripa and Michael Imperioli have rejuvenated interest in the show and pulled back the curtain on some actors, including Schirripa, who fans may not even recognize after his significant weight loss.

Steve Schirripa Wore A Fat Suit When He First Played Bobby Bacala

Early Seasons Of The Sopranos Had Schirripa In A Fat Suit Before He Gained More Weight

Bobby Bacala is one of the few “nice” guys on The Sopranos. He doesn’t cheat on his wife, he has never killed anyone (until Tony essentially makes him), and he was a loyal and respectful caretaker to Junior Soprano (Dominic Chianese). First introduced in season 2, episode 2, “Do Not Resuscitate”, Bobby goes from bumbling sidekick to the unofficial heir apparent by the end of the show. Despite his success as a gangster, the other members of the crew mock him mercilessly for his weight. Carlo (Arthur J. Nascarella) jokes,

“Bobby did mushrooms once, stuffed mushrooms. A whole f*****g platter!”

Paulie (Tony Sirico) comments about Bobby and another man,

“Oh look at that. It’s like an ad for a f*****g weight loss center… Before, and WAY before hehe.”

Tony gets in on the cruel teasing more than anyone, memorably falling into hysterics when he sees Bobby dressed for a hunting trip, a scene where James Gandolfini actually broke character.

Bobby is a hefty man, large enough to beat Tony in a knock-down drag-out fight in season 6. Schirripa wasn’t quite that big at the start of the series, and he told Esquire how he had to wear a fat suit in the early seasons,

“I’m reading the script and there’s all these fat references… And I said to my wife, did they hire the wrong guy? Because I’m not that much fatter than Tony Soprano. Honestly! I’m going maybe they got the wrong guy over here. Then, I got a call to come in a few days early to get fit for a fat suit. So my first two seasons I wore a fat suit on the show to be bigger than Tony. Way bigger than Tony.”

It was a fat suit that gave Bobby his appearance in those early seasons of The Sopranos, but by later ones, Schirripa had gained enough weight that he no longer needed it,

“…I guess by Season Four I was fat enough on my own so they let me take it off.”

Schirripa Has Been Steadily Losing Weight Since The Sopranos Ended

Steve Schirripa Released A Diet Book And Is Looking Thinner Than In His Sopranos Days

After The Sopranos, Schirripa committed himself to a weight-loss journey that saw him get under his early Sopranos seasons’ weight. Schirripa steadily lost 30 pounds per year over 10 years in 2013 (via GrubStreet), and even released a diet book, The Goomba Diet: Living Large and Loving It (via Amazon). The book is more concerned with humor rather than strict outlines on how to lose weight, but moderating his caloric intake is clearly something Schirripa has been attentive to.

Schirripa often posts on his Instagram page, revealing a much more svelte figure than his character on The Sopranos ever had, but he is not over-preoccupied with staying fit. Some videos show him eating carrots in celebration of Easter and others show him indulging in a big sandwich. Schirripa follows his own advice when it comes to dieting. He makes an effort to stay healthy but doesn’t see anything wrong with enjoying himself and life once in a while.