James Gandolfini mini-bio: New Jersey-born James Gandolfini began acting in the New York theater. His Broadway debut was in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin. James' breakthrough role was his portrayal of Virgil the hitman in Tony Scott's True Romance (1993), but the role that brought him worldwide fame and accolades was as complex Mafia boss Tony Soprano in HBO's smash hit series "The Sopranos" (1999). He currently lives in Greenwich Village in New York City.
His sister Johanna is a prominent official with the New Jersey Family Court system.
Graduated from Park Ridge High School, Park Ridge, New Jersey (1979).
Attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
He plays the trumpet and saxophone.
Although he often plays thuggish or brute characters, he is actually somewhat of a pacifist off-stage; he had reservations about continuing his production contract as Tony in "The Sopranos" (1999) due to the show's violent content and stereotype of Italian-Americans.
TV mobster Gandolfini turned to the right side of the law when he saw a woman being mugged in his native New York recently. Passers-by were shocked to see the tough-guy step in and rescue a woman when she was knocked down and had her bag snatched whilst walking down a dimly lit street. [November 2001]
Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."
Originally cast in the "Carl Hanratty" role in Catch Me If You Can (2002) but had to drop out due to "The Sopranos" (1999).
Financed the construction of a restaurant called Vines in Oneonta, New York for his childhood pal Clive Griffiths, who needed the money to launch it. Griffiths has since paid him back, and then some.
Used to bartend in Manhattan during years as struggling actor.
Lost more than 40 pounds for his role in The Mexican (2001), but had to gain it all back before shooting for the HBO series "The Sopranos" (1999) because executives didn't believe the audience would like a "skinny" Tony.
Well trained in Krav Maga, (an Israeli style of Martial Arts) which he practiced for 2 1/2 years.
In Crimson Tide (1995), James refers to Robert Mitchum and Cary Grant, two actors he also references in "The Sopranos" (1999).
Became engaged to Lora Somoza. [January 2004]
Says he is nothing like "Tony Soprano" in real life, describing his own personality as being more like a "260-pound Woody Allen".
Has co-starred with John Travolta in four movies: Get Shorty (1995), She's So Lovely (1997), A Civil Action (1998), and Lonely Hearts (2006).
Was voted "best-looking" in high school.
Is friends with former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani.
Once worked as a bouncer.
For his role as Eddie Poole in 8MM (1999), Gandolfini met a variety of real porn directors and producers to get a feel for their line of work and to get a taste of their personalities, and is said to have loosely based his character on several of them.
In Crimson Tide (1995) he played an officer on the U.S.S. Alabama. In True Romance (1993), he beats up a woman named Alabama, played by Patricia Arquette.
Italian-American.
Became engaged to Lora Somoza in January 2004. Broke up, amicably, in February 2005.
Has often said Robert De Niro played a considerable role in his decision to become an actor; grew up watching Mean Streets (1973) over and over again.
Was in attendance at Chris Penn's funeral.
Was considered for the role of Ben Grimm/The Thing in Fantastic Four (2005).
