James Gandolfini's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Sopranos Tony Soprano

Main Movie Roles 2010 - Welcome to the Rileys 2009 - Where the Wild Things Are 2009 - The Taking of Pelham 123 2009 - In the Loop 2006 - All the King's Men 2006 - Lonely Hearts 2005 - Romance & Cigarettes 2004 - Surviving Christmas 2001 - The Man Who Wasn't There 2001 - The Mexican 2001 - The Last Castle 1999 - 8MM 1998 - A Civil Action 1998 - The Mighty 1998 - Fallen 1997 - Perdita Durango 1997 - She's so Lovely 1996 - The Juror 1995 - Get Shorty 1995 - Crimson Tide 1994 - Terminal Velocity 1993 - True Romance 1993 - Mr. Wonderful 1992 - A Stranger Among Us

BIOGRAPHY:

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 (I)'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.


TRIVIA:

• For his role as Eddie Poole in _8MM (1999)_ (qv), 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.
• (January 2004) Became engaged to 'Lora Somoza' (qv).
• Has co-starred with 'John Travolta' (qv) in four movies: _Get Shorty (1995)_ (qv), _She's So Lovely (1997)_ (qv), _A Civil Action (1998)_ (qv), and _Lonely Hearts (2006)_ (qv).
• Well trained in Krav Maga, (an Israeli style of Martial Arts) which he practiced for 2 1/2 years.
• Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."
• Has often said 'Robert De Niro' (qv) played a considerable role in his decision to become an actor; grew up watching _Mean Streets (1973)_ (qv) over and over again.
• Became close friends with Sopranos co-star, Lorraine Bracco during the filming of the HBO series. During her close ups, during their scenes, he would 'moon' her to try and put her off. This was confirmed during James' interview on Inside The Actor's Studio.
• Was in attendance at 'Chris Penn (I)' (qv)'s funeral