It's rare that someone with character-actor looks becomes a bona fide leading man, but Gandolfini's career has been anything but ordinary. In 1992 the New Jersey-born thespian made both his Broadway (
Streetcar Named Desire) and big-screen (
Stranger Among Us) debuts. He played a mobster in the latter, which turned out to be prophetic casting. Throughout the '90s the burly, balding actor carved out a solid career as a supporting player until he became a megastar overnight as a gangster on the groundbreaking series
The Sopranos. Along with the accolades and awards came media scrutiny of his personal life, including his alcohol and drug abuse and his acrimonious 2002 divorce, during which his wife accused him of adultery.
James Gandolfini Fast Facts:
- Before becoming an actor, worked as a bartender, nightclub bouncer and truck driver.
- Touted alma mater Rutgers University's football program in a 2001 commercial directed by Michael Imperioli.
- In 2003, engaged in a bitter salary dispute with HBO that ended when he agreed to drop his lawsuit and return to work on The Sopranos.
- Plays the trumpet and saxophone.
- James Gandolfini Relationships:
- Deborah Lin - Wife
- James J. Gandolfini - Father
- Johanna Antonacci - Sister
- Leta Gandolfini - Sister
- Lora Somoza - Ex-fiancée
- Marcy Wudarski - Ex-wife
- Michael Gandolfini - Son
- James Gandolfini Awards:
- 2007 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Nonfiction Special - Nominee
- 2009 Tony: Actor (Play) - Nominee
- 2000 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Winner
- 2001 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 2002 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 2003 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1999 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Winner
- 2001 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Winner
- 2003 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Winner
- 2004 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- College:
- Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (BA in Communications, 1983)
