Mob Wives was a popular reality TV show that aired on VH1 from 2011 to 2016. The show followed the lives of several women who were related to or married to men involved in the American Mafia. The show was created by Jennifer Graziano, who is the sister of one of the cast members, Renee Graziano. The show had six seasons and several spin-offs, such as Mob Wives Chicago, Big Ang, and Miami Monkey.
The Original Mob Wives
The first season of Mob Wives introduced four main cast members: Drita D’Avanzo, Carla Facciolo, Karen Gravano, and Renee Graziano. They all had different connections to the mob world and different personalities that often clashed on the show.
- Drita D’Avanzo was married to Lee D’Avanzo, who was a leader of a Bonanno and Colombo crime family farm team. He was in prison for most of the show’s run. Drita was known for her fiery temper and frequent fights with the other women. She also had a passion for makeup and launched her own cosmetics line called Lady Boss by Drita.
- Carla Facciolo was divorced from Joey Ferragamo, who was convicted of stock fraud and served eight years in prison. Carla was portrayed as the classy and calm one of the group, who tried to stay out of drama. She also had a few business ventures, such as soap and bath products and Prosecco wine.
- Karen Gravano was the daughter of Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, who was a former underboss of the Gambino crime family and a government informant. Karen moved back to Staten Island after living in Arizona for many years. She had a tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend and father of her daughter, David Seabrook. She also wrote a memoir called Mob Daughter and became an executive producer of MTV’s Families of the Mafia.
- Renee Graziano was the sister of Jennifer Graziano and the daughter of Anthony “The Little Guy” Graziano, who was a high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family. Renee struggled with addiction, depression, and anxiety throughout the show. She also had a rocky marriage with Hector “Junior” Pagan, who turned out to be an FBI informant and testified against her father. Renee launched a clothing line called Mob Candy and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK.
The New Additions
The second season of Mob Wives added two more cast members: Angela “Big Ang” Raiola and Ramona Rizzo. They both became fan favorites and had their own spin-offs.
- Angela “Big Ang” Raiola was the niece of Salvatore “Sally Dogs” Lombardi, who was a caporegime of the Genovese crime family. Big Ang owned a bar called The Drunken Monkey in Staten Island and later opened another one in Miami called Miami Monkey. She was known for her larger-than-life personality, raspy voice, and love for plastic surgery. She also starred in her own spin-off show called Big Ang, which chronicled her life with her family and friends.
- Ramona Rizzo was the granddaughter of Benjamin “Lefty Guns” Ruggiero, who was a soldier in the Bonanno crime family and a mentor of Donnie Brasco, an undercover FBI agent. Ramona grew up in Staten Island but moved to Saudi Arabia with her ex-husband, who was a member of the royal family. She returned to New York after getting divorced and reconnected with her old friend Karen Gravano. She also got engaged to Joseph “Joe Boy” Sclafani, who was arrested for drug trafficking and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The third season of Mob Wives introduced another cast member: Love Majewski. She only lasted one season and was fired from the show.
- Love Majewski was a former girlfriend of Ray Merolle, who was the leader of The Untouchables car-theft ring that inspired the movie Gone in 60 Seconds. Love claimed to have a violent past and admitted to shooting two ex-boyfriends and poisoning another one. She had conflicts with Carla Facciolo and Ramona Rizzo on the show.
The fourth season of Mob Wives replaced Carla Facciolo, Karen Gravano, and Ramona Rizzo with two new cast members: Alicia DiMichele and Natalie Guercio. The season was subtitled New Blood.
- Alicia DiMichele was married to Edward “Tall Guy” Garofalo Jr., who was an associate of the Colombo crime family. Alicia pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from a trucking company that she and her husband owned. She faced up to six months in prison and had to pay restitution. She also owned a boutique called Addiction in Philadelphia and later opened another one in New Jersey.
- Natalie Guercio was a fourth-generation funeral director at her family’s business, Carto Funeral Home, in South Philadelphia. She was dating London Rene, who was a friend of Drita D’Avanzo’s husband. Natalie had a feud with Renee Graziano and Karen Gravano on the show, who accused her of being a “rat” and a “cop caller”.
The fifth season of Mob Wives brought back Karen Gravano and added another cast member: Natalie DiDonato. The season was subtitled Trust No One.
- Natalie DiDonato was a distant relative of Frank “Frankie Flowers” D’Alfonso, who was a mobster in the Philadelphia crime family. Natalie worked as a makeup artist and a bartender. She had a beef with Natalie Guercio, who she claimed was lying about her mob ties and disrespecting the lifestyle.
The sixth and final season of Mob Wives reunited the original four cast members and added two more: Brittany Fogarty and Marissa Fiore. The season was subtitled The Last Stand.
- Brittany Fogarty was the daughter of John Fogarty, who was a former associate of the Gambino crime family and a government informant. Brittany grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a modeling career. She returned to New York to reconnect with her father, who was released from prison after 20 years. She also befriended Drita D’Avanzo and clashed with Karen Gravano and Marissa Fiore on the show.
- Marissa Fiore was dating OZ, who was an alleged member of the Bloods street gang. Marissa claimed to have grown up around the mob lifestyle and respected the code of silence. She had arguments with Brittany Fogarty and Drita D’Avanzo on the show.
What Happened to Big Ang?
One of the most tragic events that happened on Mob Wives was the death of Big Ang. She was diagnosed with throat cancer in March 2015 and underwent two surgeries to remove a lemon-sized tumor from her throat. However, the cancer spread to her lungs and brain, and she passed away on February 18, 2016, at the age of 55.
Big Ang’s death shocked and saddened her fans and co-stars, who paid tribute to her on social media and attended her funeral. Her family also created a memorial fund in her name to raise money for cancer research and awareness.
Big Ang’s legacy lives on through her family, friends, and fans, who remember her for her humor, generosity, and zest for life. She was one of a kind and will never be forgotten.
Conclusion
Mob Wives was a show that gave viewers an inside look into the lives of women who were connected to the mafia world. The show had drama, fights, friendships, and heartbreaks that kept viewers hooked for six seasons. The show also introduced some memorable characters, such as Big Ang, who left an indelible mark on pop culture.
The cast of Mob Wives have gone on to do different things after the show ended, such as pursuing other reality shows, business ventures, or personal projects. Some of them have stayed in touch, while others have drifted apart or fallen out. However, they will always share a bond that was forged by their unique experiences on the show.
Mob Wives may be over, but it will always be remembered as one of the most entertaining and captivating reality shows ever made.
