Age, Biography, and Wiki
James Gandolfini was born on September 18, 1961, in Westwood, New Jersey. He rose to fame with complex roles that showcased his versatility as an actor. His most notable role was as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, which earned him numerous awards and nominations.
| Occupation | Voice Actors |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 18 September 1961 |
| Age | 63 Years |
| Birth Place | Westwood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Jersey |
| Date of death | 19 June, 2013 |
| Died Place | Rome, Italy |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Gandolfini stood at a height of 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) and weighed about 170 pounds (77 kg) during the peak of his career. These physical attributes often enhanced his on-screen presence.
| Height | 185 cm |
| Weight | 77 kg |
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Dating & Relationship Status
Gandolfini was married twice, first to Marcy Wudarski from 1999 to 2002, and then to Deborah Lin from 2008 until his death in 2013. He had two children with his wives.
and raised in Naples. His father, James Joseph Gandolfini Sr. (born Giacomo Giuseppe Gandolfini), was an Italian immigrant from Borgo Val di Taro, Parma, Emilia-Romagna who worked as a bricklayer and cement mason before becoming the head custodian at Paramus Catholic High School. James Sr. earned a Purple Heart in World War II, and would often purchase car tires from a shop owned by Salvatore Travolta, the father of actor John Travolta; their sons consequently became friends and would later co-star in five films. Gandolfini's parents were devout Catholics who spoke Italian at home. Due to the influence of his parents, he developed a strong Italian-American identity and regularly visited Italy. He had two sisters.
In 2010, Gandolfini produced another documentary with HBO, which analyzed the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder throughout American history, from 1861 to 2010. The film, titled Wartorn: 1861–2010, featured interviews with American military officials on their views of PTSD and how they are trying to help soldiers affected by it. The documentary, which had its premiere at The Pentagon, received favorable reviews. Gandolfini was also executive producer of the HBO film about Ernest Hemingway and his relationship with Martha Gellhorn, titled Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012). The film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival to mixed reviews. Despite the reviews, the film was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. In 2012, Gandolfini reunited with The Sopranos creator David Chase for Not Fade Away, a music-driven production set in 1960s New Jersey, and the latter's feature film debut.
Gandolfini married Marcy Wudarski in March 1999, and they divorced in December 2002. They had a son together, Michael (born May 10, 1999), who also became an actor. Gandolfini began dating sex therapist Lora Somoza in 2003, and they became engaged before splitting up in 2005. After two years of dating, he married model and actress Deborah Lin in her hometown of Honolulu on August 30, 2008. They had a daughter together in 2012.
"In the years since The Sopranos ended, there's almost been this TV-actor Mount Rushmore. Bryan Cranston [Breaking Bad] is on there, and Jon Hamm [Mad Men] is on there, and Elisabeth Moss [Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale] or Claire Danes [Homeland] or somebody else is on there. But James Gandolfini gets his own mountain. With all due respect to everybody else, including Edie Falco [who played Tony Soprano's wife, Carmela], Gandolfini is the best dramatic actor in TV history, and I don't know that anybody else is particularly close."
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| Husband | Marcy Wudarski (m. 1999-2002) Deborah Lin (m. 2008) |
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Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, James Gandolfini's net worth was estimated at $70 million. Much of this wealth came from his role in The Sopranos, where he earned over $50 million during its eight-year run, including a salary of $1 million per episode in the final season. His film career also contributed significantly to his net worth, with earnings from movies like The Mexican and Zero Dark Thirty often reaching the mid-seven figures.
Business Ventures:
- Production Work: Gandolfini was involved in various production projects, leveraging his experience to create and support new content in the entertainment industry.
Gandolfini grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey. He graduated in 1979 from Park Ridge High School, where he played basketball, acted in school plays, and was named the "Class Flirt" in his senior yearbook. In 1983, he earned a BA in Communications from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where he worked as a bouncer at an on-campus pub. He also worked as a bartender and club manager in Manhattan prior to his acting career. While living in Manhattan, he was introduced to acting when he accompanied his friend Roger Bart to a Meisner technique class. He studied for two years under Kathryn Gately at the Gately/Poole Conservatory.
After the finale of The Sopranos, Gandolfini, along with Paramount Pictures executive Alex Ryan, founded production company Attaboy Films. The production company signed a deal with HBO in 2006 to develop original programming for the channel. In 2007, Gandolfini and HBO produced Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, a documentary focused on injured Iraq War veterans. The documentary was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, ultimately losing to Autism: The Musical.
Social Network
Although Gandolfini was not active on social media during his lifetime, his legacy continues to be celebrated across platforms by fans and fellow actors.
Education
Gandolfini attended Rutgers University, where he graduated with a degree in communications in 1983. His early education laid the groundwork for his eventual transition into acting.
In conclusion, James Gandolfini's enduring impact on the entertainment industry is a testament to his talent and dedication. His life and career serve as an inspiration to aspiring actors and filmmakers alike.
After graduating from Rutgers and acting school, Gandolfini worked various jobs in Manhattan while acting in low-budget films. He made his Broadway theatre debut in the production of A Streetcar Named Desire as Steve Hubbell. He also appeared in the 1995 Broadway production of On the Waterfront as Charley Malloy. His first film role was in a 1989 New York University student film titled Eddy. One of his earlier major film roles was that of Virgil, a brutal mob enforcer, in the romantic thriller True Romance (1993). Gandolfini stated that one of his major inspirations for his character was an old friend of his who was a hitman. Despite disappointing box office numbers, Gandolfini's performance received critical praise.
In December 2013, following an online petition started by one of Gandolfini's high school classmates, his hometown of Park Ridge gave a section of Park Avenue (the street he grew up on) the nickname "James Gandolfini Way". Signs were installed at the intersection of Park Avenue and Kinderkamack Road at a public ceremony attended by several of his former Sopranos co-stars. That same month, HBO released a tribute documentary in honor of Gandolfini. The documentary, James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend, featured co-star interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Filmmaker Spike Jonze, who had previously worked with Gandolfini on Where the Wild Things Are, dedicated his Academy Award–winning film Her to Gandolfini.
