This high school heartthrob’s evolution into TV legend is truly inspiring

The late James Gandolfini wasn’t always the hulking, balding man the world grew to love as a ruthless yet sensitive mobster on The Sopranos.

Iconic for his portrayal of the philandering Tony Soprano, who had better luck being loyal to his mob family than his own family, Gandolfini was equally frisky in his younger years, decades before he played the enigmatic violent sociopath on The Sopranos.

 

Born September 18, 1961, James Gandolfini was best known as the affable Tony Soprano, the Mafia crime boss, and the family patriarch in HBO’s The Sopranos.

Sometimes sensitive, other times sociopathic, Gandolfini’s landmark performance of the flawed gangster earned him numerous awards and international acclaim.

Speaking of the lovable but brutal Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini told Vogue: “I am playing an Italian lunatic from New Jersey, and that’s basically what I am.”

 

After a hugely successful six-season run, the series ended in 2007, leaving fans wondering if the blacked-out screen in the end meant the antihero is alive, or dead.

Tragedy in Rome

But, along with the legendary actor, the elder Soprano died on June 19, 2013, after a heart attack claimed the life of the beloved 51-year-old star.

The Jersey-born man was travelling with his family in Italy and was in the hotel with his then 13-year-old son Michael when he had a heart attack and died.

Gandolfini left behind his wife Deborah Lin, who he married in 2008, daughter Liliane (born 2012), and Michael, who he shares with first wife, Marcy Wudarski.

Almost 10 years later, Michael landed the biggest role of his life, playing the role of a young Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark.

In September 2021, Michael spoke with the New York Times about capturing the complexity of the character his father so effortlessly played.

“I was always like, ‘I want to make my dad proud. I want to make my dad proud.’” The then 22-year-old actor continued, “I truly wasn’t aware of the legacy of him…My dad was just my dad.”

Though it’s cliché, Michael is his dad. The man inherited many of his father’s features and characteristics, like the sleepy yet inviting eyes, a menacing smirk and the soft voice mixed with the colorful language.
“The pressure is real,” he said of playing the mafia don as a youngster. “Not only was it the feeling of my dad – it was like, Tony Soprano is a f***ing hard character.”

‘Biggest flirt’
Before Gandolfini had three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe resting on his mantel, he was a regular Italian American kid growing up with his working-class family in a modest Westwood, New Jersey home.

 

 

CONTINUE READING…
Author: awestories24.com

Related Posts

Isn’t rinsing pasta a must?

Rinsing pasta after cooking has long sparked debate. Is it necessary—or just outdated? “To me, unrinsed pasta just felt wrong,” one writer confesses after watching their partner…

Now We Know The Real Reason Aldi’s Meat Is So Inexpensive See it below!

Aldi has impressed a lot of shoppers in recent years. The grocery store chain, which has been popping up in states across the country, continues to deliver…

Just one spoon and you’ll run to the bathroom

Do you suffer from constipation and are looking for a quick and effective solution? There’s a natural remedy that, with just one tablespoon, can help stimulate bowel…

100’s Of Subway Sandwich Shops Are Closing Because Of One Person

The last few years have been kind of rocky for the international restaurant/deli chain Subway. Jerry Fogel, who had been a spokesman for the chain for a…

People disturbed after realising what yellow stuff in your eyes when you wake up actually is

There’s a whole ‘war’ that goes on with our peepers during our snoozing. There is truly no greater joy than getting into bed after a long day…

Major Retail Chain Closes All 540 Mall Locations

Rue21, the beloved teen fashion retailer known for its trendy styles, has made a momentous decision to close all 543 of its stores across the United States,…