Born on June 19, 1928 in Buffalo, New York, Nancy Merchand is an actress best known for her role as Livia Soprano on the hit HBO Mafia-themed series The Sopranos. She plays the crime family’s matriarch, mother of Tony and Janice. Bitter and jade, she once ordered the execution of Tony. Prior to this role, Marchand was best remembered for her Emmy award-winning role as Mrs. Pynchon in 1970s TV series, Lou Grant. The veteran theater actress was in the original, live Philco Television Playhouse presentation of Marty on NBC in 1953. She also starred on the TV mini-series The Adams Chronicles and North and South. As for theater, she has amassed multiple awards for her work. She passed away on June 18, 2000, a day before she was to turn 72 from complications due to lung cancer and emphysema.