``

Gandolfini, James

Born: September 18, 1961 Englewood, United States

Died: June 19, 2013 Rome, Italy

James Joseph Gandolfini Jr. was an American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mobster, in the HBO series The Sopranos (1999–2007). For his performance, he won three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Early life and career

Gandolfini was born in Englewood, New Jersey, the son of Santa (née Pintone) and James Joseph Gandolfini Sr., a bricklayer and cement finisher. He was of Italian descent. Gandolfini attended Park Ridge High School, where he played football and basketball. After graduating in 1979, he attended Rutgers University for two years before dropping out.

Gandolfini worked as a bartender and a nightclub bouncer before pursuing acting. He made his film debut in 1987 in the film Shock! Shock! Shock!. He went on to appear in a number of films, including Mystic Pizza (1988), True Romance (1993), and Get Shorty (1995).

The Sopranos

In 1999, Gandolfini was cast as Tony Soprano in the HBO series The Sopranos. The series was a critical and commercial success, and Gandolfini's performance was widely praised. He won three Primetime Emmy Awards for his role, as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

The Sopranos ended in 2007, and Gandolfini went on to appear in a number of films, including The Departed (2006), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), and Killing Them Softly (2012).

Personal life

Gandolfini married Marcy Wudarski in 1999. They had a son, Michael, in 2000. The couple divorced in 2002. In 2008, Gandolfini married Deborah Lin. They had a daughter, Liliana, in 2012.

Gandolfini died of a heart attack on June 19, 2013, while on vacation in Rome, Italy. He was 51 years old.

Legacy

Gandolfini is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He was known for his powerful performances and his ability to create complex and memorable characters. His work has been praised by critics and audiences alike, and he has left a lasting legacy in the world of cinema and television.

Social media

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

Recent projects

• The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
• Cherry (2021)
• The Sopranos: Road to Respect (video game, 2006)

Other information

• Gandolfini was a close friend of actor Steve Buscemi.
• Gandolfini was a fan of the New York Giants and the New York Yankees.
• Gandolfini was a supporter of the Democratic Party.

```