Cameo: [Jim Carroll] Many links to The Sopranos - Lorraine Bracco (Dr Melfi) plays Jim's mom. Micheal Imperoli (Christopher Moltisanti) plays the friend who dies of Leukemia and Big Pussy is the guy that gets spat on whilst on the ferry. 'Stephen Lang' was offered the role of Jim's Basketball Coach named Swifty in the script. Lang declined citing the misrepresentation of the book in the script. The part was subsequently toned down as a result.