James John Gandolfini[nb 1] was born inWestwood, New Jersey,[4] on September 18, 1961.[3] His mother, Santa (née Penna), was a high school food service worker who was born in the U.S. and raised inNaples.[3][5] His father, James Joseph Gandolfini Sr. (born Giacomo Giuseppe Gandolfini), was an Italian immigrant fromBorgo Val di Taro,Parma,Emilia-Romagna who came to the United States as a toddler, worked as a bricklayer and cement mason, and later became the head custodian atParamus Catholic High School.[3][5][6] James Sr. was awarded aPurple Heart inWorld War II,[7] and would often purchase car tires from a shop owned by Salvatore Travolta, the father of actorJohn Travolta; their sons consequently became friends and would later co-star in five films.[8] Gandolfini's parents were devoutCatholics who spokeItalian at home. Due to the influence of his parents, he developed a strongItalian-American identity and regularly visited Italy.[6][9] He had two sisters, Johanna and Leta, thirteen and ten years his senior.[10][11]
Gandolfini grew up inPark Ridge, New Jersey. He graduated in 1979 fromPark Ridge High School, where he played basketball, acted in school plays,[12] and was named the "Class Flirt" in his senior yearbook.[13] In 1983, he earned aBA in Communications fromRutgers University-New Brunswick,[14] where he worked as a bouncer at an on-campus pub.[15] He also worked as a bartender and club manager inManhattan prior to his acting career.[16] While living in Manhattan, he was introduced to acting when he accompanied his friendRoger Bart to aMeisner technique class.[17] He studied for two years under Kathryn Gately at the Gately/Poole Conservatory.[18]
After graduating from Rutgers and acting school, Gandolfini worked various jobs in Manhattan while acting inlow-budget films.[19] He made hisBroadway theatre debut in the production ofA Streetcar Named Desire as Steve Hubbell.[20] He also appeared in the 1995 Broadway production ofOn the Waterfront as Charley Malloy.[21] His first film role was in a 1989New York University student film titledEddy.[22] One of his earlier major film roles was that of Virgil, a brutalmob enforcer, in the romantic thrillerTrue Romance (1993).[23] Gandolfini stated that one of his major inspirations for his character was an old friend of his who was ahitman.[24] Despite disappointing box office numbers,[23] Gandolfini's performance received critical praise.[25]
Gandolfini andThe Sopranos co-starTony Sirico (left) with a member of the United States Air Force during a March 2010United Service Organizations visit to southwest Asia.
In 1995, television writer and producerDavid Chase pitched the original idea forThe Sopranos to networks such asFox andCBS beforeHBO picked it up.[33] The series revolves aroundTony Soprano, a New Jersey–based Italian-American mobster, who tries to balance his family life with his role as boss ofhis crime family.[34] Gandolfini was invited to audition for the part of Tony Soprano after casting director Susan Fitzgerald saw a short clip of his performance inTrue Romance, ultimately receiving the role ahead of several other actors includingSteven Van Zandt andMichael Rispoli.[35][36] In a 2013 interview withThe Guardian, Chase revealed that Gandolfini stopped and left in the middle of his audition before finishing it in his garage later that night.[37] According to Chase, Gandolfini felt that he "didn't prepare right" for the audition.[36]
While working onThe Sopranos, Gandolfini appeared in more films. In 2001, he played Winston Baldry, a gay hitman, in the adventure comedy filmThe Mexican.[50] Gandolfini was recommended for the role by co-starBrad Pitt.[51] For his performance, he won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2002Outfest Outie Awards in Los Angeles, California.[52] Gandolfini also starred in the action drama filmThe Last Castle that same year.[53] In 2006, he starred in the musical romance comedy filmRomance & Cigarettes.[54] Director and friendJohn Turturro stated that he wanted Gandolfini to star in the film; however, he had to wait untilThe Sopranos stopped filming.[55] He also appeared in a 2002 episode ofSesame Street, and a 2004 episode ofSaturday Night Live (which, while called "New Jersey Resident", was a take on Tony Soprano) commenting on theJim McGreevey sex scandal.[56][57]
In 2010, Gandolfini produced another documentary with HBO, which analyzed the effects ofposttraumatic stress disorder throughout American history, from 1861 to 2010.[69] The film, titledWartorn: 1861–2010, featured interviews with American military officials on their views of PTSD and how they are trying to help soldiers affected by it.[70] The documentary, which had its premiere atThe Pentagon, received favorable reviews.[71][72] Gandolfini was also executive producer of the HBO film aboutErnest Hemingway and his relationship withMartha Gellhorn, titledHemingway & Gellhorn (2012).[73] The film premiered at the2012 Cannes Film Festival to mixed reviews.[74] Despite the reviews, the film was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.[75] In 2012, Gandolfini reunited withThe Sopranos creatorDavid Chase forNot Fade Away, a music-driven production set in 1960s New Jersey, and the latter's feature film debut.[76][77]
Gandolfini is credited as an executive producer on the HBO miniseriesThe Night Of, which premiered in 2016.[83] He was set to star in the miniseries when it was pitched to HBO in 2013, but the network ultimately decided not to go ahead with the show. HBO reversed its decision a few months later, and the show was green-lit, with Gandolfini still set to star; however, he died before filming began. ActorJohn Turturro assumed the role intended for him.[84]
Gandolfini married Marcy Wudarski in March 1999, and they divorced in December 2002.[85][86] They had a son together,Michael (born May 10, 1999), who also became an actor.[87] Gandolfini began dating sex therapist Lora Somoza in 2003,[88] and they became engaged before splitting up in 2005.[89] After two years of dating, he married model and actress Deborah Lin in her hometown ofHonolulu on August 30, 2008.[90] They had a daughter together in 2012.[91]
Gandolfini maintained ties with his hometown ofPark Ridge, New Jersey, and supported its Octoberwoman Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.[92] He previously lived inNew York City and owned a piece of land on theLake Manitoba Narrows in Canada,[93] then moved to a 34-acre (14 ha) property inChester Township, New Jersey.[94] In 2009, he purchased a home inTewksbury Township, New Jersey.[95] Brett Martin said of Gandolfini in a 2013GQ article, "In interviews, which [he] did his very best to avoid, [he] would often fall back on some version of 'I'm just a dumb, fat guy from Jersey'."[96]
Gandolfini struggled withsubstance abuse. Producers and location managers ofThe Sopranos have noted that his misuse of substances led to missed shoots, concerns about Gandolfini's health, and a (failed)intervention.[97]
Gandolfini suffered a fatal heart attack at theBoscolo Exedra Hotel inRome, Italy, on June 19, 2013
While visitingRome on June 19, 2013, Gandolfini died suddenly at the age of 51.[98] He had been planning to travel toSicily a few days later to receive an award at theTaormina Film Fest.[99] After he had spent the day sightseeing with his family in the sweltering heat, his 14-year-old son,Michael, discovered him unconscious at around 10p.m. on the floor of his hotel room's bathroom at theBoscolo Exedra Hotel.[100] Michael called reception, who in turn called paramedics, and Gandolfini arrived at the hospital at 10:40 p.m.[101] He was pronounced dead at 10:46 pm.[102] An autopsy confirmed that he died of aheart attack.[103]
While word of Gandolfini's death spread, state and national politicians paid tribute to him online.[104][105][106] New Jersey governorChris Christie ordered all state buildings to fly their flags athalf-staff on June 24 to honor Gandolfini when his body was returned to the United States.[107] The day after Gandolfini's death,Bruce Springsteen and hisE Street Band (whose long-time guitaristSteven Van Zandt portrayedSopranos characterSilvio Dante) dedicated a performance of the entireBorn to Run album to Gandolfini during a concert inCoventry on the UK leg of their tour.[108]
The section of Park Ave nicknamed James Gandolfini Way in Gandolfini's hometown ofPark Ridge, New Jersey
TV Guide published a special tribute to Gandolfini in its July 1, 2013, issue, following his death, devoting the entire back cover of that issue to his image. Columnist Matt Roush cited Gandolfini's work as Tony Soprano as an influence on subsequent cable TV protagonists, saying, "Without Tony, there's noVic Mackey ofThe Shield, noAl Swearengen ofDeadwood, noDon Draper ofMad Men (whose creator,Matthew Weiner, learned his trade as a writer onThe Sopranos)."[116]
Similar testimonials were given by his co-stars and colleagues, includingEdie Falco, who expressed shock and devastation at his death;[117]Sopranos creatorDavid Chase, who praised him as a "genius";[118]Bryan Cranston, who stated that hisBreaking Bad characterWalter White would not have existed without Tony Soprano;[119] and Gandolfini's three-time co-starBrad Pitt, who expressed admiration for Gandolfini as a "ferocious actor, a gentle soul and a genuinely funny man".[120]Emily Nussbaum, writing forThe New Yorker, said that "nobody could be under any illusion about what a television actor was capable of" after Gandolfini's portrayal of Tony Soprano.[121]The Atlantic described Gandolfini's influence on television as "seismic,” referring to him as theMarlon Brando of television.[122]Mark Lawson, writing forThe Guardian, said that Gandolfini's portrayal as Soprano "represents one of the greatest achievements" of television.[123] CriticAlan Sepinwall said of Gandolfini's performance, "Watching it again, it was very clear to me, quickly and often, that this was the greatest dramatic performance in TV history."[124]
In the years sinceThe Sopranos ended, there's almost been this TV-actorMount Rushmore. Bryan Cranston [Breaking Bad] is on there, andJon Hamm [Mad Men] is on there, andElisabeth Moss [Mad Men,The Handmaid's Tale] orClaire Danes [Homeland] or somebody else is on there. But James Gandolfini gets his own mountain. With all due respect to everybody else, including Edie Falco [who played Tony Soprano's wife, Carmela], Gandolfini is the best dramatic actor in TV history, and I don't know that anybody else is particularly close.
In December 2013, following anonline petition started by one of Gandolfini's high school classmates, his hometown ofPark Ridge gave a section of Park Avenue (the street he grew up on) the nickname "James Gandolfini Way". Signs were installed at the intersection of Park Avenue andKinderkamack Road at a public ceremony attended by several of his formerSopranos co-stars.[126][127] That same month, HBO released a tribute documentary in honor of Gandolfini.[128] The documentary,James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend, featured co-star interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.[129] FilmmakerSpike Jonze, who had previously worked with Gandolfini onWhere the Wild Things Are, dedicated hisAcademy Award–winning filmHer to Gandolfini.[130][131]
In 2014, Gandolfini was posthumously inducted into theNew Jersey Hall of Fame.[132] In 2019, his son Michael was cast as the younger version of Tony Soprano in the prequel filmThe Many Saints of Newark.[133] Michael watched the show for the first time to prepare for the role, describing it as an intense process.[134] In 2022, theMontvale service area on theGarden State Parkway was renamed for Gandolfini.[135] The renaming was part of a project that honored several New Jersey residents prominent in the arts, entertainment, and sports.[135]
In 2024, in the weeks leading up to the release of his longtime passion projectMegalopolis,Francis Ford Coppola revealed toRolling Stone that Gandolfini gave him a lot of great suggestions for the film back when he read for the role of Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who was ultimately portrayed byGiancarlo Esposito, back when Coppola did a reading of an early draft in 2001.[136]
Keishin Armstrong, Jennifer (January 10, 2019)."The Sopranos: A revolutionary show we'll talk about forever".BBC Online.BBC. Archived fromthe original on August 10, 2020. RetrievedOctober 8, 2020.This rippling influence began with The Sopranos' true artistry, and the landmark performances of James Gandolfini as Tony and Edie Falco as his wife, Carmela, among others. But the TV landscape of the time and changing technology amplified that effect enormously.
^Tauber, Michelle (July 8, 2013)."James Gandolfini: 1961-2013: A Family's Heartbreak".People. Archived fromthe original on April 16, 2020. RetrievedJune 26, 2020.But after battling his demons through the years – including drug use, clashes with HBO and a difficult 2002 divorce from his first wife, Michael's mother, Marcy Wudarski – the three-time Emmy winner finally had "a calmness about him," says the actor's former fiancée Lora Somoza, who remained in touch after their engagement ended in 2005.
^Olivier, Bobby."Park Ridge street dedicated to late actor James Gandolfini"Archived February 26, 2023, at theWayback Machine, NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, December 1, 2013. Accessed February 26, 2023. "stretch of a road in Park Ridge often frequented by a young James Gandolfini was dedicated in the late actor's honor today, NorthJersey.com said. A section of Park Avenue in the borough was dedicated to the larger-than-life "Sopranos" star who died of a heart attack June 19, the website said."
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