This 1999 file photo provided by HBO, shows James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano, in an episode from the first season of the HBO cable television mob series, “The Sopranos.” HBO and the managers for Gandolfini say the actor died Wednesday, June 19, 2013, in Italy. He was 51. (AP Photo/HBO, Anthony Neste, File)
by Lynn Elebr
AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally delicate mob boss in HBO’s “The Sopranos” helped create one of TV’s greatest drama series and turned the mobster stereotype on its head, died Wednesday in Italy. He was 51.
Gandolfini died while on holiday in Rome, the cable channel and Gandolfini’s managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders said in a joint statement. No cause of death was given.
“He was a genius,” said “Sopranos” creator David Chase. “Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes.”
Gandolfini, who won three Emmy Awards for his role as Tony Soprano, worked steadily in film and on stage after the series ended. He earned a 2009 Tony Award nomination for his role in the celebrated production of “God of Carnage.”
“Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving,” said managers Armstrong and Sanders.
HBO called the actor a “special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone, no matter their title or position, with equal respect.” The channel expressed sympathy for his wife and children.
Joe Gannascoli, who played Vito Spatafore on the HBO drama, said he was shocked and heartbroken.
“Fifty-one and leaves a kid — he was newly married. His son is fatherless now … It’s way too young,” Gannascoli said.
Gandolfini’s performance in “The Sopranos” was indelible and career-making, but he refused to be stereotyped as the bulky mobster who was a therapy patient, family man and apparently effortless killer.
In a December 2012 interview with The Associated Press, a rare sit-down for the star who avoided the spotlight, he was upbeat about a slew of smaller roles following the breathtaking blackout ending in 2007 of “The Sopranos.”
“I’m much more comfortable doing smaller things,” Gandolfini said in the interview. “I like them. I like the way they’re shot; they’re shot quickly. It’s all about the scripts — that’s what it is — and I’m getting some interesting little scripts.”
He played Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in Kathryn Bigelow’s Osama bin Laden hunt docudrama “Zero Dark Thirty.” He worked with Chase for the ’60s period drama “Not Fade Away,” in which he played the old-school father of a wannabe rocker. And in Andrew Dominick’s crime flick “Killing Them Softly,” he played an aged, washed-up hit man.
There were comedies such as the political satire “In the Loop,” and the heartwarming drama “Welcome to the Rileys,” which co-starred Kristen Stewart. He voiced the Wild Thing Carol in “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Gandolfini grew up in Park Ridge, N.J., the son of a building maintenance chief at a Catholic school and a high school lunch lady.
While Tony Soprano was a larger-than-life figure, Gandolfini was exceptionally modest and obsessive — he described himself as “a 260-pound Woody Allen.”
In past interviews, his cast mates had far more glowing descriptions to offer.
“I had the greatest sparring partner in the world, I had Muhammad Ali,” said Lorraine Bracco, who, as Tony’s psychiatrist Dr. Melfi, went one-on-one with Gandolfini in their penetrating therapy scenes. “He cares what he does, and does it extremely well.”
After earning a degree in communications from Rutgers University, Gandolfini moved to New York, where he worked as a bartender, bouncer and nightclub manager. When he was 25, he joined a friend of a friend in an acting class, which he continued for several years.
Gandolfini’s first big break was a Broadway production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” where he played Steve, one of Stanley Kowalski’s poker buddies. His film debut was in Sidney Lumet’s “A Stranger Among Us” (1992).
Director Tony Scott, who killed himself in August 2012, had praised Gandolfini’s talent for fusing violence with charisma — which he would perfect in Tony Soprano.
Gandolfini played a tough guy in Tony Scott’s 1993 film, “True Romance,” who beat Patricia Arquette’s character to a pulp while offering such jarring, flirtatious banter as, “You gotta lot of heart kid.”
Scott called Gandolfini “a unique combination of charming and dangerous.”
Gandolfini continued with supporting roles in “Crimson Tide” (1995), “Get Shorty” (1995), “The Juror” (1996), Lumet’s “Night Falls on Manhattan” (1997), “She’s So Lovely” (1997), “Fallen” (1998) and “A Civil Action” (1998). But it was “True Romance” that piqued the interest of Chase.
He shared a Broadway stage with Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden in “God of Carnage” when he received the best-actor Tony nod. He was in “On the Waterfront” with David Morse and was an understudy in a revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1992 starring Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange.
In his 2012 AP interview, Gandolfini said he gravitated to acting as a release, a way to get rid of anger. “I don’t know what exactly I was angry about,” he said.
“I try to avoid certain things and certain kinds of violence at this point,” he said last year. “I’m getting older, too. I don’t want to be beating people up as much. I don’t want to be beating women up and those kinds of things that much anymore.”
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AP Writers David Bauder, John Carucci and Jake Coyle in New York and Shaya Tayefe Mohajer in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Actor James Gandolfini and David Chase, creator of the HBO television series “The Sopranos,” pose together after a panel discussion at the Writers Guild in Beverly Hills, Calif. Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally delicate mob boss in HBO’s “The Sopranos” helped create one of TV’s greatest drama series and turned the mobster stereotype on its head, died Wednesday, June 19, 2013 in Italy. He was 51. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)
Stars share reaction to Gandolfini’s death
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Gandolfini’s fans and colleagues shared reaction to his death Wednesday:
— “He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes. He was my partner. … He was my brother in ways I can’t explain and never will be able to explain.” — David Chase, creator of “The Sopranos.”
— “My condolences to the family and all those who loved James Gandolfini – a true NJ Great and NJ Original. RIP.” — Newark Mayor Cory Booker on Twitter.
— “If Broadway has a version of a guy you want in your foxhole, Jim Gandolfini was mine. During our time together in ‘God of Carnage,’ we played 320 performances together. He didn’t miss one. Sadly, I now miss him like a brother.” — Jeff Daniels.
— “The great James Gandolfini passed away today. Only 51. I can’t believe it.” — Bette Midler on Twitter.
— “It’s an awful shock. James Gandolfini was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy. I was a huge fan of his and the character he played so authentically, Tony Soprano. I have gotten to know Jimmy and many of the other actors in the Sopranos cast and I can say that each of them are an individual New Jersey treasure.” — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
— “We lost a giant today. I am utterly heartbroken.” — Lorraine Bracco.
— “James Gandolfini what a nice guy, so funny and sweet. He will be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences to his family.” — Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry on Twitter.
— “I am heartbroken about James Gandolfini. He was a gentle giant and great man. I love this picture, I loved him.” — Actress Rose McGowan, who posted a snapshot of her and Gandolfini on Twitter.
— “Jimmy was one of the most talented, authentic and vulnerable actors of our time. He was unorthodox and truly special in so many ways. He had the sex appeal of Steve McQueen or Brando in his prime as well as the comedic genius of Jackie Gleason.” — Brad Grey, a producer of “The Sopranos.”
— “You will be missed greatly James Gandolfini Maybe best actor ever on a tv series. Salute'” — Comedian Artie Lange on Twitter.
— “awful awful news. James Gandolfini will be missed. He was a great actor. Just great.” — Mia Farrow on Twitter.
— “James Gandolfini. Unbelievably sad news. A fine man.” — Steve Carell on Twitter.
—”My thoughts and prayers go out to James Gandolfini’s family. An extraordinary actor. RIP, Mr. Gandolfini.” — Robin Williams on Twitter..
— “Fifty-one and leaves a kid — he was newly married. His son is fatherless now … It’s way too young.” — Joe Gannascoli, who played Vito Spatafore on “The Sopranos.”
— “James Gandolfini.. So talented, so nice and far too young to be taken away. You will be missed Sir” — Actress Shannen Doherty on Twitter.
— “I have lost a brother and a best friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time.” — Musician Steven Van Zandt.
— “R.I.P. James Gandolfini. Such a great actor. More than just tony soprano and that would have been a lot on its own.” — Musician Rob Thomas on Twitter.
— “I am so deeply saddened by the untimely passing of sweet James Gandolfini! My heart is broken for his family!! I’m in shock worked with him in “Surviving Christmas”” — Christina Applegate on Twitter.
— “James Gandolfini was a kind, funny, wonderful guy. I’m so lucky to have worked with him. Sending love to his family. Such a sad, sad day. worked with him on “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”” — Olivia Wilde on Twitter.
— “The Rutgers University community mourns the sad and sudden loss of James Gandolfini, a 1983 Rutgers graduate who was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2004. Mr. Gandolfini was a proud and passionate supporter of the university for many years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Gandolfini’s family.” — Statement from Rutgers University in New Jersey.
— “We came in honor of him. I’ve never been here, so this was a way to honor him.” — North Arlington, N.J., resident Sheryl Martin, who with her husband was visiting nearby Holsten’s, the restaurant where the last episode of “The Sopranos” was shot.
This undated publicity image released by HBO shows, from left, Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli and Vicint Pastore,from the HBO drama series “The Sopranos.” (AP Photo/HBO, Anthony Neste, file)
SOME OF TONY SOPRANO’S MEMORABLE LINES
NEW YORK (AP) — Some memorable lines spoken by the late James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos”:
—”You know my feelings: Every day is a gift. It’s just, does it have to be a pair of socks?”
—”What kind of (expletive) human being am I, if my own mother wants me dead?”
—About his father: “The belt was his favorite childhood development tool.”
—”Nothing beats popping up some Orville Redenbachers and listening to ‘Men in Black.'”
—”Nowadays, everybody’s gotta go to shrinks and counselors, and go on ‘Sally Jessy Raphael’ and talk about their problems. What happened to Gary Cooper? The strong, silent type.”
—”I gotta be honest with you. I’m not getting any satisfaction from my work.”
—”I’m like King Midas in reverse. Everything I touch turns to (expletive).”
—”You got any idea what my life would be worth if certain people found out I checked into a laughing academy?”
—”When you’re married, you’ll understand the importance of fresh produce.”
—”It wasn’t like it was friggin’ Cobain. It was just a little suicidal gesture, that’s all.”
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