James Gandolfini

The cast of The Sopranos has become a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world. Like their fictional counterparts, these committed actors have placed themselves at the top of their game, beating out the competition and reaping the rewards. They’ve racked up plenty of honors and in the process have gained notoriety, opened doors to new prospects, and earned lots of cash. While The Sopranos was always an ensemble effort, James Gandolfini—like Tony Soprano—carries the heaviest load.

Frequently an on-screen bruiser and low-life, James Gandolfini does have some real life experience with some of society’s fringe elements—he has worked as a bouncer and a bartender and knocked around with porn producers as part of research for a role. Originally a stage actor, he appeared on Broadway in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire before turning to film.

1993’s True Romance rates against Glengarry Glen Ross in terms of packing in a stellar cast, and it was in this intimidating environment that James Gandolfini made his breakthrough alongside such powerhouse actors as Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt, and too many others to list here. His performance is chilling as a hit man who has really taken a shine to his work and seems to have developed a psychopathic emotional complex. Fortunately, the real life James Gandolfini is nothing like the characters he portrays.

While his stock character is typically a scary mafia type, James Gandolfini has resisted typecasting by populating his credentials with dramatically charged films of all types. More than most other actors, audiences can expect to find him trading chops with heavyweights like Richard Dreyfuss, John Travolta and Alec Baldwin. Not content to rest on their laurels, Gandolfini and his cast mates responded to the end of The Sopranos by jumping into surprising, challenging projects, such as 2006’s All the King’s Men.