This morning I awoke to the truly awful news that extremely talented American actor James Gandolfini had died of cardiac arrest, while on holiday in Italy, aged just 51. It hit me, as I'm sure Hollywood and beyond like a sickening blow to the stomach, seemingly coming out of nowhere. This large, burly man, who from all accounts was a kind and gentle soul possessed extraordinary acting skills which allowed true emotions and thoughts to be translated to the audience without the use of dialogue. His immense screen presence proved he could hold a scene with the skill and range to capitivate from a growl to a whisper. No more was this shown than as his portrayal of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano in the Emmy awarding winning HBO series, 'The Sopranos'
The crime based drama ran for 6 seasons (1999-2007) and during it's triumphant run deservedly won Gandolfini 3 Emmy Awards, 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe as Best Actor. He and the show both found huge success with critics and audiences worldwide. Indeed, only earlier this month the esteemed Writer's Guild Of America released a list, 'The 101 Best Written TV Series Of All Time' and 'The Sopranos' came out on top! This came as no surprise to me as I believe the show is the greatest TV drama ever, and in no small part must some of the credit go to James Gandolfini, whose central role of Tony Soprano held the whole epic saga together. Though outwardly it may have looked like just another ganagster show that depended on the body count to hold viewers to the story, 'The Sopranos' (created by David Chase) was an animal of a different sort, really a morality tale about a man juggling between his professional and personal life. It just so happened that his professional life involved the murky world of organised crime. As we followed this character we learned he was a very complex person, who although being quite easily capable of hideous acts of violence (both mental and physical), actually was not a monster, but loved his family and had decent values hidden deep within himself. Gandolfini played Soprano with such skill that with all his faults on display, he made him human, therefore enabling you the viewer to at times actually identify with this ruthless killer.
The crime based drama ran for 6 seasons (1999-2007) and during it's triumphant run deservedly won Gandolfini 3 Emmy Awards, 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe as Best Actor. He and the show both found huge success with critics and audiences worldwide. Indeed, only earlier this month the esteemed Writer's Guild Of America released a list, 'The 101 Best Written TV Series Of All Time' and 'The Sopranos' came out on top! This came as no surprise to me as I believe the show is the greatest TV drama ever, and in no small part must some of the credit go to James Gandolfini, whose central role of Tony Soprano held the whole epic saga together. Though outwardly it may have looked like just another ganagster show that depended on the body count to hold viewers to the story, 'The Sopranos' (created by David Chase) was an animal of a different sort, really a morality tale about a man juggling between his professional and personal life. It just so happened that his professional life involved the murky world of organised crime. As we followed this character we learned he was a very complex person, who although being quite easily capable of hideous acts of violence (both mental and physical), actually was not a monster, but loved his family and had decent values hidden deep within himself. Gandolfini played Soprano with such skill that with all his faults on display, he made him human, therefore enabling you the viewer to at times actually identify with this ruthless killer.
Tony Soprano and 'crew' James Gandlofini was born and rasied in New Jersey. After earning a degree in communications he moved to New York where he worked as a bartender, bouncer and a night club manager. At age 25 he joined an acting class. Soon he found himself getting parts in theatre as well as in films. His breakout cinematic role came in the 1993 dark comedy crime thriller 'True Romance', directed by Ridley Scott (who unfortunately committed suicide earlier this year) and written by none other than Quentin Tarantino. In it he played a hitman called Virgil who in a very famous scene beats the actress Patricia Arquette to a bloody pulp, then tells her, "You gotta lot a heart, kid!". Roles followed in such high profile mvoies as 'Get Shorty' and 'Crimson Tide', but how he played Virgil caught the eye of writer-director David Chase who was casting for his brand new series about a New Jersey based mobster. (Incidentially, it is interesting to note that the role of Tony Soprano was originally offered to actor Ray Liotta who turned it down, and Tony's wife, Carmela was offered to Lorraine Bracco, who also turned it down to play Soprano's psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi instead. Had the two actors taken the roles offered, it would have been a reunion of sorts as they played a married couple in Martin Scorese's gangster classic, 'Goodfellas')
On learning of the sad news of Gandolfini's passing, David Chase made a statement. "He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of our greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes." Another New Jersey connection, Steven Van Zandt, long time guitarist with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band appeared on 'The Sopranos' througout it's run as Silvio Dante, consigliere (advisor and right hand man) to Tony Soprano, also tweeted "I have lost a brother and a best friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time." The two actors recently worked together again on another David Chase project, a musical set in the 60's, in New Jersey (where else?!) called 'Not Fade Away'. The actress Edie Falco (who also received Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Carmela Soprano, Tony's wife said of the actor "A man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words". After playing the iconic gangster for so many years, in recent time Gandolfini was enjoying stretching his many talents by taking on completely different roles as was seen in Kathryn Bigelow's Osama Bin Laden drama, 'Zero Dark Thirty' where he played US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the remake of 'The Taking Of Pelham 123' (starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta) as the Mayor of New York.
Sadly, James Gandolfini leaves behind a wife, Deborah and a daughter, Liliana who was born in 2012, also a teenage son, Michael from a previous marriage. As I mourn his passing one of the many memories that spring to mind was he being at the centre of one of the most famous TV finales of all time. It is a mark to the brillance of writer David Chase and the relationship we, the audience had formed with Tony Soprano over the years that to this day the ending of 'The Sopranos' is still discussed in minute detail. For those who have never seen it, or would like to re-live it again, I have included the ending right here. It is set in a diner where Tony Soprano is waiting for all of the members of his family to arrive. As he does so he checks out the various suspicious looking characters walking in and picks a song from the jukebox. The record he eventually chooses is 'Don't Stop Believin' by Journey, and while the lead singer Steve Perry is belting out the chorus, everything suddenly stops! We are left with a silent black screen. The group Journey made a statement - "It's truly an honour to have been able to share one of the greatest moments ever on TV history with James Gandolfini. He was an amzazing actor - taken away too young - and he'll be missed. Our condolences go out to his family".
R.I.P. James Gandolfini
On learning of the sad news of Gandolfini's passing, David Chase made a statement. "He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of our greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes." Another New Jersey connection, Steven Van Zandt, long time guitarist with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band appeared on 'The Sopranos' througout it's run as Silvio Dante, consigliere (advisor and right hand man) to Tony Soprano, also tweeted "I have lost a brother and a best friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time." The two actors recently worked together again on another David Chase project, a musical set in the 60's, in New Jersey (where else?!) called 'Not Fade Away'. The actress Edie Falco (who also received Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Carmela Soprano, Tony's wife said of the actor "A man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words". After playing the iconic gangster for so many years, in recent time Gandolfini was enjoying stretching his many talents by taking on completely different roles as was seen in Kathryn Bigelow's Osama Bin Laden drama, 'Zero Dark Thirty' where he played US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the remake of 'The Taking Of Pelham 123' (starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta) as the Mayor of New York.
Sadly, James Gandolfini leaves behind a wife, Deborah and a daughter, Liliana who was born in 2012, also a teenage son, Michael from a previous marriage. As I mourn his passing one of the many memories that spring to mind was he being at the centre of one of the most famous TV finales of all time. It is a mark to the brillance of writer David Chase and the relationship we, the audience had formed with Tony Soprano over the years that to this day the ending of 'The Sopranos' is still discussed in minute detail. For those who have never seen it, or would like to re-live it again, I have included the ending right here. It is set in a diner where Tony Soprano is waiting for all of the members of his family to arrive. As he does so he checks out the various suspicious looking characters walking in and picks a song from the jukebox. The record he eventually chooses is 'Don't Stop Believin' by Journey, and while the lead singer Steve Perry is belting out the chorus, everything suddenly stops! We are left with a silent black screen. The group Journey made a statement - "It's truly an honour to have been able to share one of the greatest moments ever on TV history with James Gandolfini. He was an amzazing actor - taken away too young - and he'll be missed. Our condolences go out to his family".
R.I.P. James Gandolfini
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