James Gandolfini facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Gandolfini
Gandolfini in 2011
Born	James Joseph Gandolfini Jr. (1961-09-18)September 18, 1961 Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 19, 2013(2013-06-19) (aged 51) Rome, Lazio, Italy
Alma mater	Rutgers University-New Brunswick (BA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1982–2013
Spouse(s)	Marcy Wudarski ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2002)​ Deborah Lin ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	2, including Michael Gandolfini
Awards	Full list

James Joseph Gandolfini Jr. (born September 18, 1961 – died June 19, 2013) was a famous American actor. He was best known for playing Tony Soprano, the leader of a fictional crime family, in the TV show The Sopranos on HBO. For this role, he won many awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Golden Globe Award. Many people say his performance as Tony Soprano was one of the best and most important in TV history.

Gandolfini also acted in many movies. Some of his roles include Virgil in True Romance (1993), Lieutenant Bobby Dougherty in Crimson Tide (1995), and Colonel Winter in The Last Castle (2001). He also played the Mayor of New York in The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009). He was praised for his role as Albert in Enough Said (2013), which was released after he passed away. He received several awards for this role.

In addition to acting, James Gandolfini also produced documentaries. In 2007, he produced Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, which featured interviews with soldiers who were injured in the Iraq War. In 2010, he produced Wartorn: 1861–2010, which looked at how post-traumatic stress disorder affects soldiers and their families. He also produced the TV movie Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012). James Gandolfini sadly died from a heart attack in Rome when he was 51 years old.

Early Life and Education

James Gandolfini was born in Westwood, New Jersey, on September 18, 1961. His mother, Santa, worked in high school food service and had Italian roots. His father, James Joseph Gandolfini Sr., was born in Italy and worked as a bricklayer and later as a school custodian. His father was a hero in World War II. James grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey. His parents were strong Catholics and spoke Italian at home. Because of this, he felt a strong connection to his Italian-American background and often visited Italy. He had two sisters.

Gandolfini went to Park Ridge High School and graduated in 1979. While there, he played basketball and acted in school plays. He earned a college degree in Communications from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 1983. During college, he worked as a bouncer at a pub. Before becoming an actor, he also worked as a bartender and club manager in Manhattan. He started acting after a friend invited him to an acting class in New York City. He studied acting for two years.

Gandolfini's Acting Journey

Starting Out in Acting (1983–1999)

After college and acting school, James Gandolfini worked different jobs in New York City while acting in small movies. He first appeared on Broadway theatre in the play A Streetcar Named Desire. He also acted in another Broadway play, On the Waterfront, in 1995. His very first movie role was in a student film in 1989.

One of his first big movie roles was as Virgil, a tough character, in the movie True Romance (1993). Gandolfini said he got ideas for this role from an old friend. Even though the movie didn't make a lot of money, people really liked his acting. After that, he played an insurance salesman in Terminal Velocity (1994). In 1995, he played Lieutenant Bobby Dougherty in the submarine movie Crimson Tide. That same year, he played Bear in Get Shorty. This movie was well-liked, and the whole cast was nominated for an award. He also played a tough guy in the movie The Juror (1996), and his performance was praised.

Becoming Famous with The Sopranos (1999–2007)

Gandolfini and The Sopranos co-star Tony Sirico (left) with a member of the United States Air Force during a March 2010 United Service Organizations visit to southwest Asia.

In 1995, TV writer David Chase came up with the idea for The Sopranos. The show is about Tony Soprano, a fictional crime boss from New Jersey, who tries to balance his family life with leading his group. James Gandolfini was asked to try out for the role of Tony Soprano after a casting director saw a short clip of him in True Romance. He got the part over many other actors. David Chase said that Gandolfini even left his audition in the middle but finished it later in his garage!

The Sopranos started in 1999 and ran until 2007. Gandolfini played Tony Soprano in all six seasons. Everyone loved his portrayal of Tony Soprano. Critics said that Tony Soprano helped start a new trend for TV characters who are not always good guys. To help him act, Gandolfini sometimes did things like hitting himself lightly on the head or staying up all night to get the right feeling for a scene. For his amazing acting as Tony Soprano, Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama. He also won a Screen Actors Guild Award with the rest of the cast. By the final season, Gandolfini was earning a lot of money per episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors on TV. After Gandolfini's death, David Chase said that The Sopranos wouldn't have existed without him.

While working on The Sopranos, Gandolfini also appeared in other movies. In 2001, he played Winston Baldry in The Mexican. His co-star, Brad Pitt, suggested him for the role. Gandolfini won an award for this performance. He also starred in the action movie The Last Castle that same year. In 2006, he was in the movie Romance & Cigarettes. He also made guest appearances on Sesame Street in 2002 and Saturday Night Live in 2004.

Later Projects (2007–2013)

After The Sopranos ended, Gandolfini started a production company called Attaboy Films with Alex Ryan. They worked with HBO to create new TV shows. In 2007, Gandolfini and HBO produced Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, a documentary about injured soldiers from the Iraq War. This documentary was nominated for an Emmy Award.

In 2009, he returned to the stage in the Broadway play God of Carnage. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the play. That same year, he played the Mayor of New York in the movie The Taking of Pelham 123. Gandolfini also lent his voice to the character Carol in the fantasy movie Where the Wild Things Are, which was based on a famous children's book.

Gandolfini with Rose McGowan during a March 2010 USO visit to Kuwait

In 2010, Gandolfini produced another documentary with HBO called Wartorn: 1861–2010. This film looked at the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on American soldiers throughout history. It included interviews with military officials about how they help soldiers with PTSD. The documentary was well-received. Gandolfini was also a producer for the HBO movie Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012), which was about writer Ernest Hemingway and his relationship with Martha Gellhorn. In 2012, Gandolfini worked again with The Sopranos creator David Chase on the movie Not Fade Away, which was set in 1960s New Jersey.

Two movies that Gandolfini finished before he passed away were released after his death. The first was Enough Said, a romantic comedy where he starred with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. People loved this movie, especially Gandolfini's performance. He won several awards for it. His last movie role was in The Drop, a crime drama released in 2014.

Gandolfini is also listed as a producer for the HBO miniseries The Night Of, which came out in 2016. He was supposed to star in this show, but he died before filming began. Another actor, John Turturro, took over his role.

Personal Life

James Gandolfini always stayed connected to his hometown, Park Ridge, New Jersey. He supported local charities, like the Octoberwoman Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. He lived in New York City and also owned land in other places. He was known for being a humble person.

Gandolfini was married twice. He and his first wife, Marcy Wudarski, were married from 1999 to 2002. They had a son named Michael. In 2008, he married Deborah Lin, a former model and actress, in Hawaii. They had a daughter named Liliane.

His Passing

James Gandolfini passed away suddenly at age 51 in Rome on June 19, 2013. He was planning to travel to Sicily for an award. After a day of sightseeing with his family, his 14-year-old son Michael found him unconscious in their hotel room. Emergency services were called, but Gandolfini was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. An autopsy confirmed he died from a heart attack.

When news of his death spread, many people, including politicians, shared their sadness. The Governor of New Jersey ordered flags to be flown at half staff to honor him. The band Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band also dedicated a performance to him.

Gandolfini's body was returned to the United States on June 23. The lights of Broadway theaters were dimmed on June 26 in his honor. His funeral service was held on June 27, 2013, in New York City. He was cremated, and his ashes were given to his family.

Lasting Impact and Tributes

TV Guide published a special tribute to James Gandolfini after his death, putting his picture on the back cover. Many people in the TV industry said that his role as Tony Soprano influenced other famous TV characters. His co-stars and friends, like Edie Falco and David Chase, shared how much they admired him. Bryan Cranston, who played Walter White in Breaking Bad, said his character wouldn't have existed without Tony Soprano.

Section of Park Ave nicknamed James Gandolfini Way in Park Ridge, New Jersey

In December 2013, a part of Park Avenue in Park Ridge, New Jersey, where Gandolfini grew up, was renamed "James Gandolfini Way." Signs were put up in a public ceremony, and some of his former Sopranos co-stars attended. HBO also released a documentary called James Gandolfini: Tribute To A Friend, which included interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. The 2013 movie Her is dedicated to Gandolfini. In 2014, Gandolfini was honored by being inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. In 2019, his son Michael played a younger version of Tony Soprano in the movie The Many Saints of Newark, which is a prequel to The Sopranos.

In May 2022, a service area on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey was named after Gandolfini. This was part of a project to honor famous New Jersey residents in arts, entertainment, and sports.

Film and TV Appearances

Movies

Television Shows

Stage Plays

Video Games

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: James Gandolfini para niños