Robert Iler's Real Name and Bio

Robert Iler → Robert Iler

Quick answer: Robert Iler performs under his own name; no different birth name is publicly documented. He was born on March 2, 1985, in New York City and is best known for playing Anthony "A.J." Soprano Jr. on HBO's The Sopranos (1999–2007).

Robert Iler's real name

Court reporting and news coverage from his teenage years identify him as Robert Iler, the same name he uses professionally (The New York Times). We could not find a reputable source documenting a different birth name, so we use Robert Iler here.

Early career

Iler grew up in Manhattan and started acting as a child, appearing in TV commercials before landing his breakout role as a young teenager.

The Sopranos

At 13, Iler was cast as A.J. Soprano, the son of mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco). He played the role for all six seasons, from the 1999 premiere through the 2007 finale, growing up on camera as A.J. went from a moody kid to a troubled young adult.

2001 arrest and 2002 plea

In July 2001, when he was 16, Iler was arrested in Manhattan with other teenagers after two youths were robbed of $40 on the Upper East Side. In April 2002, at 17, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, petty larceny, and was sentenced to three years' probation. The court granted him youthful offender status, meaning his record would be sealed if he complied with probation. The original second-degree robbery charges were resolved by the plea (CBS News; The New York Times).

Poker and podcasting

After The Sopranos ended, Iler stepped back from acting and spent several years playing poker, including tournaments in Las Vegas. He has spoken openly in interviews about past struggles with gambling and his sobriety.

He returned to the Sopranos world through podcasting: with castmate Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played his sister Meadow, he co-hosts Pod Yourself a Gun, an episode-by-episode rewatch of the series.

The Sopranos: The Complete Series DVD/Blu-ray The Sopranos Sessions by Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall (book)