James Gandolfini

Biography

James Gandolfini was an American actor who became famous for portraying Tony Soprano in the HBO series The Sopranos. Born in Westwood, New Jersey, in 1961 and raised in Park Ridge, he trained at the Gately/Poole Conservatory. His early film roles included True Romance (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), and Get Shorty (1995). For The Sopranos, he won three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and five Actor Awards. He later appeared in The Mexican (2001), The Last Castle (2001), Romance & Cigarettes (2005), and All the King's Men (2006). He earned acclaim for Enough Said (2013), receiving posthumous critics' awards. On Broadway, he starred in God of Carnage (2009), earning a Tony nomination. He also produced the HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012) and the documentary Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq (2007). His final film was The Drop (2014). He died in 2013.

51years old at death

Born September 18, 1961Westwood
Died June 19, 2013Rome
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
James J. Gandolfini Junior (birth name)Also credited as James Joseph Gandolfini Jr., James John Gandolfini, Jr. and James Gandolfini, Jr.

Movie Career

Films: 39
Career span: 22 years1992 to 2014

Genres

Drama62%, 24 films
Crime41%, 16 films
Comedy36%, 14 films
Thriller28%, 11 films
Romance21%, 8 films

First and latest

Photos

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Big break
Casting director Susan Fitzgerald saw a clip of Gandolfini in True Romance and asked him to try out for Tony Soprano. He got the role ahead of other actors, including Steven Van Zandt and Michael Rispoli.
Big break
Chase said Gandolfini walked out partway through his audition and then completed it that night in his garage, because he thought he had not prepared right.
Getting ready for a role
Gandolfini said he used unusual tricks to summon anger for his Tony Soprano performances, including staying awake all night, drinking several cups of coffee, hitting his own head, or putting a rock inside his shoe.
Getting ready for a role
In the 1993 romantic thriller True Romance, Gandolfini took one of his earlier major film roles as Virgil, a brutal mob enforcer. He said an old friend who worked as a hitman was a major inspiration for the character.
Behind the camera
After The Sopranos ended, Gandolfini started Attaboy Films with Alex Ryan, a Paramount Pictures executive. In 2006 the company reached an agreement with HBO to create original programming for the channel.

James Gandolfini movies on Netflix

The Drop2014IMDb rating 7.0as Cousin Marv
Enough Said2013IMDb rating 7.0as Albert
Nicky Deuce2013IMDb rating 5.5as Bobby Eggs
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone2013IMDb rating 5.9as Doug Munny
Killing Them Softly2012IMDb rating 6.2as Mickey
Not Fade Away2012IMDb rating 6.0as Pat
Zero Dark Thirty2012IMDb rating 7.4as C.I.A. Director
Cinema Verite2011IMDb rating 6.5as Craig Gilbert
Violet & Daisy2011IMDb rating 6.0as The Guy
Welcome to the Rileys2010IMDb rating 6.9as Doug Riley
In the Loop2009IMDb rating 7.4as Lt Gen. George Miller
Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak2009IMDb rating 7.9as Himself
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009IMDb rating 6.4as Mayor
Where the Wild Things Are2009IMDb rating 6.7as Carol (voice)
Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq2007IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
Stories USA2007IMDb rating 2.6as The Man (segment "Club Soda")
All the King's Men2006IMDb rating 6.1as Tiny Duffy
Lonely Hearts2006IMDb rating 6.4as Det. Charles Hilderbrandt
Romance & Cigarettes2005IMDb rating 6.1as Nick Murder
Surviving Christmas2004IMDb rating 5.5as Tom Valco
The Last Castle2001IMDb rating 7.0as Col. Winter
The Man Who Wasn't There2001IMDb rating 7.5as Big Dave Brewster
The Mexican2001IMDb rating 6.2as Winston Baldry
8MM1999IMDb rating 6.6as Eddie Poole
A Civil Action1998IMDb rating 6.6as Al Love
Fallen1998IMDb rating 7.0as Lou
The Mighty1998IMDb rating 7.2as Kenny Kane
12 Angry Men1997IMDb rating 7.8as Juror 6
Dance with the Devil1997IMDb rating 6.3as Dumas
She's So Lovely1997IMDb rating 5.9as Kiefer
Night Falls on Manhattan1996IMDb rating 6.7as Joey Allegretto
The Juror1996IMDb rating 5.7as Eddie
Crimson Tide1995IMDb rating 7.4as Lt. Bobby Dougherty
Get Shorty1995IMDb rating 6.9as Bear
Angie1994IMDb rating 5.5as Vinnie
Terminal Velocity1994IMDb rating 5.6as Ben Pinkwater
Money for Nothing1993IMDb rating 5.7as Billy Coyle
True Romance1993IMDb rating 7.9as Virgil
A Stranger Among Us1992IMDb rating 5.6as Tony Baldessari

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Drop2014 Crime, Drama, Thrilleras Cousin Marv
IMDb rating 7.0171K votes
8MM1999 Crime, Drama, Mysteryas Eddie Poole
IMDb rating 6.6153K votes
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009as Mayor
IMDb rating 6.4219K votes
The Last Castle2001as Col. Winter
IMDb rating 7.092K votes
The Mexican2001as Winston Baldry
IMDb rating 6.2122K votes
Killing Them Softly2012as Mickey
IMDb rating 6.2162K votes
Where the Wild Things Are2009as Carolvoice
IMDb rating 6.7113K votes
Enough Said2013as Albert
IMDb rating 7.071K votes

Most often with

Tony Scott directed three of these films, Spike Jonze two and Steven Zaillian two. John Travolta appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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John Travolta

Catherine Keener

Michael Rispoli

Gene Hackman

Brad Pitt

Denzel Washington

Tony ScottDirector, 3 films

Spike JonzeDirector, 2 films Steven ZaillianDirector, 2 films

Films together

John Travolta5 films together, 1995 to 2009
John Travolta's page
- The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009IMDb rating 6.4Gandolfini as MayorTravolta as Ryder
- Lonely Hearts2006IMDb rating 6.4Gandolfini as Det. Charles HilderbrandtTravolta as Det. Elmer Robinson
- A Civil Action1998IMDb rating 6.6Gandolfini as Al LoveTravolta as Jan Schlichtmann
- She's So Lovely1997IMDb rating 5.9Gandolfini as KieferTravolta as Joey Germoni
- Get Shorty1995IMDb rating 6.9Gandolfini as BearTravolta as Chili Palmer
Catherine Keener4 films together, 1999 to 2013
Catherine Keener's page
- Enough Said2013IMDb rating 7.0Gandolfini as AlbertKeener as Marianne
- Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak2009IMDb rating 7.9Gandolfini as HimselfKeener as Himself
- Where the Wild Things Are2009IMDb rating 6.7Gandolfini as CarolvoiceKeener as Mom
- 8MM1999IMDb rating 6.6Gandolfini as Eddie PooleKeener as Amy Welles
Michael Rispoli4 films together, 1994 to 2009
Michael Rispoli's page
- The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009IMDb rating 6.4Gandolfini as MayorRispoli as John Johnson
- Stories USA2007IMDb rating 2.6Gandolfini as The Man (segment "Club Soda")Rispoli as Jack (segment "Club Soda")
- The Juror1996IMDb rating 5.7Gandolfini as EddieRispoli as Joseph Boffano
- Angie1994IMDb rating 5.5Gandolfini as VinnieRispoli as Jerry
Gene Hackman3 films together, 1995 to 2001
Gene Hackman's page
- The Mexican2001IMDb rating 6.2Gandolfini as Winston BaldryHackman as Arnold Margolese
- Crimson Tide1995IMDb rating 7.4Gandolfini as Lt. Bobby DoughertyHackman as Ramsey
- Get Shorty1995IMDb rating 6.9Gandolfini as BearHackman as Harry Zimm
Brad Pitt3 films together, 1993 to 2012
Brad Pitt's page
- Killing Them Softly2012IMDb rating 6.2Gandolfini as MickeyPitt as Jackie
- The Mexican2001IMDb rating 6.2Gandolfini as Winston BaldryPitt as Jerry Welbach
- True Romance1993IMDb rating 7.9Gandolfini as VirgilPitt as Floyd - Dick's Roommate
Denzel Washington3 films together, 1995 to 2009
Denzel Washington's page
- The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009IMDb rating 6.4Gandolfini as MayorWashington as Walter Garber
- Fallen1998IMDb rating 7.0Gandolfini as LouWashington as John Hobbes
- Crimson Tide1995IMDb rating 7.4Gandolfini as Lt. Bobby DoughertyWashington as Hunter
Tony ScottDirector, 3 films, 1993 to 2009
All films by Tony Scott
- The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009IMDb rating 6.4Gandolfini as Mayor
- Crimson Tide1995IMDb rating 7.4Gandolfini as Lt. Bobby Dougherty
- True Romance1993IMDb rating 7.9Gandolfini as Virgil
Spike JonzeDirector, 2 films, 2009
All films by Spike Jonze
- Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak2009IMDb rating 7.9Gandolfini as Himself
- Where the Wild Things Are2009IMDb rating 6.7Gandolfini as Carolvoice
Steven ZaillianDirector, 2 films, 1998 to 2006
All films by Steven Zaillian
- All the King's Men2006IMDb rating 6.1Gandolfini as Tiny Duffy
- A Civil Action1998IMDb rating 6.6Gandolfini as Al Love
Also three films together3 more actors
- Mark RuffaloWhere the Wild Things Are (2009), All the King's Men (2006) and The Last Castle (2001)
- David ThorntonRomance & Cigarettes (2005), A Civil Action (1998) and She's So Lovely (1997)
- Aida TurturroRomance & Cigarettes (2005), Fallen (1998) and Angie (1994)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What James Gandolfini's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.3 billion

33 of the 39 films have a worldwide figure.

33Worldwide figure
5Never in cinemas
1Figure not found

Top grosser

Crimson Tide1995Lt. Bobby Dougherty$157 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 76% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Crimson Tide1995as Lt. Bobby Dougherty
$157M12.5% of the total
2
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 32009as Mayor
$150M11.9% of the total
3
The Mexican2001as Winston Baldry
$148M11.7% of the total
4
Zero Dark Thirty2012as C.I.A. Director
$133M10.5% of the total
5
Get Shorty1995as Bear
$115M9.1% of the total
6
Where the Wild Things Are2009as Carol (voice)
$100M7.9% of the total
7
8MM1999as Eddie Poole
$97M7.6% of the total
8
A Civil Action1998as Al Love
$57M4.5% of the total

Killing Them Softly (2012), $37.9 million

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013), $27.4 million

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), $18.9 million

Surviving Christmas (2004), $14.8 million

Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), $9.9 million

$307 millionfrom the other 25 films with a worldwide figure, 24% of the total

Awards

Six awards and honors from 2000 to 2014, five of them major.

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James Gandolfini's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Golden Globes
2000	Awards		Won
Emmy Awards
2003	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	The Sopranos	Won
2001	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	The Sopranos	Won
2000	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	The Sopranos	Won
SAG Awards
	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series		Won
Other honors
2014	New Jersey Hall of Fame (posthumous)		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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