Watch: Vito Spatafore: The Story The Sopranos Told First

Vito Spatafore was the DiMeo family's top earner and its most guarded secret, and his storyline became one of the most groundbreaking arcs in television history. Watch the video above, then read Vito's story. Full explainer: why Vito was killed.

Joseph R. Gannascoli plays Vito's double life with heartbreaking care: the captain who slips away to a New Hampshire town, falls for a short-order cook named Johnny Cakes, and nearly builds the honest life the show denies everyone. The tragedy is structural: Vito can't live without the money and status of the world that's killing him, drifts back to Jersey, and offers Tony a fortune to buy his survival. Phil Leotardo's vendetta answers for the old code. Vito's death in a motel room remains one of the series' cruelest.

Quick answer: Vito was outed, fled, found love and freedom in New Hampshire, came back for the money anyway, and was killed on Phil Leotardo's orders.

From the shop: the Pie-O-My Horse T-Shirt at MobstersDaily.