James J. Gandolfini, Jr. (born September 18, 1961) is a Golden Globe-, three-time Emmy- and five-time Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actor known for multifaceted portrayals of conscientious yet often inherently sinister characters. He is best known for his highly acclaimed role as Tony Soprano in the hit HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and his career in the Mafia. Gandolfini's other notable roles include a pornographer Eddie Poole in 8mm, woman-beating mob enforcer Virgil in the Quentin Tarantino-written thriller True Romance, a gay hitman in The Mexican, enforcer/stuntman Bear in Get Shorty, and a martinet military prison commander in The Last Castle. He also played James Goss in Yemar on the Disney Channel.
Early life
Gandolfini was born in Westwood, New Jersey,[1] the son of Joan, a school nutritionist, and James Gandolfini, Sr., a building maintenance chief at a Paramus Catholic High School.[2][3] His parents, Italian immigrants and devout Catholics, spent part of their childhoods in Italy and often spoke Italian.[2][4] Gandolfini grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey and graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1979, where he played basketball and acted in school plays.[5] He holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Rutgers University, where he worked as a bouncer at an on-campus pub.[6] Gandolfini also worked as a bartender and club manager before embarking on an acting career.[6] Gandolfini was introduced to acting as a young man living in New York City when he accompanied a friend to an acting class.
Career
After acting on Broadway, Gandolfini established a film career. One of his more well-known film roles is that of Virgil, a brutal woman-beating mob enforcer, in the 1993 romantic thriller True Romance. In 1994 film Terminal Velocity, Gandolfini played Ben Pinkwater, a seemingly mild-mannered insurance man who turns out to be a violent Russian mobster. He also appeared in The Juror as a mob enforcer with a conscience. In Get Shorty he appeared as a bearded ex-stuntman with a Southern accent.
The Sopranos
Gandolfini's most acclaimed role to date is that of Tony Soprano, the Mafia boss and family man in the multi-award-winning HBO series The Sopranos, which debuted in 1999. To date, he has won three Emmys for "Best Actor in a Drama" for his depiction of New Jersey Mafia boss Tony Soprano, an aging baby boomer who constantly questions his own identity and purpose. Gandolfini has been acclaimed for his portrayal of Tony Soprano and greatly emphasizing an eastern accent which he doesn't have in real life for an Italian born and raised in northern New Jersey. Gandolfini eventually garnered $1,000,000 per episode in the series. Entertainment Weekly recently listed him as the 42nd Greatest TV Icon of All Time for playing Tony Soprano.
Personal life
He considers himself a pacifist and has maintained reservations about continuing his portrayal of the violent mob boss. His sister Johanna Antonacci is the manager of the Family Division of the New Jersey Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey. Gandolfini is a big fan of motorcycles, and owns a Harley Davidson and a Vespa Scooter.
He keeps ties with his hometown of Park Ridge by supporting The Octoberwoman Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. He appears at their annual October banquet and often brings other cast members of The Sopranos to help Octoberwoman draw a large crowd. On May 4, 2006, Gandolfini was riding his Vespa scooter when it was hit by a taxi in traffic. He was forced to undergo knee surgery after the accident, postponing the filming of the final Sopranos episodes.
He currently resides in New York City. He also bought a lot on the Lake Manitoba Narrows, presumably to build a cottage.[7]
According to his manager Mark Armstrong, as of January 11, 2008, Gandolfini is engaged to former model Deborah Lin.[8] They have been dating for about two years. According to celebrity Web sites, Gandolfini proposed during a winter break in the Caribbean islands.
Filmography
Awards
References
- ^ James Gandolfini, hbo.com, accessed May 22, 2007.
- ^ a b This Is James Gandolfini, He's Not Tony, The Actor Behind The Sopranos Mob Boss Is More Like "A 260-Pound Woody Allen" - CBS News
- ^ James Gandolfini profile, eonline.com, accessed May 27, 2007.
- ^ James Gandolfini - Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- ^ Rohan, Virginia. "North Jersey-bred and talented too", The Record (Bergen County), June 18, 2007. Accessed July 5, 2007. "James Gandolfini: Class of 1979, Park Ridge High School.... Basketball player; appeared in school plays, including Arsenic and Old Lace."
- ^ a b James Gondolfini bio, askmen.com, accessed May 22, 2007.
- ^ Winnipeg Free Press
- ^ James Gandolfini Engaged - Weddings, James Gandolfini : People.com
External links
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