# RIP James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409 "2013-06-19T23:31:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/61 "2013-06-20T17:37:25Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Did anyone else hear the rumor that the crowd waited 11 seconds before calling the ambulance? Dude. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/62 "2013-06-20T17:38:06Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > I’m not conflating the actor and the character, but it takes very good acting to make a person so real that you feel you know them. To put viewer in that complicated position of “he’s an animal, but I like him dammit”. And beyond even liking Tony, which became just about impossible over time, you felt you knew him: you knew the roots of his problems, you saw how they affected him, felt Tony try to figure himself out and sometimes try to change himself, and you felt his frustration when he couldn’t break out of patterns of behavior that were crippling him, or when he went the other way and went into self-justification and excuse-making. The writing was great, but he brought all of that out in a way that made you sense this guy was a very conflicted whole person. It was just an incredibly deep performance. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/63 "2013-06-20T19:14:35Z")
He was two class years ahead, but we were at Rutgers NB on the College Ave campus at the same time. I may have been at parties with him or checked his pub card and never even knew it. I hope there’s a nice write-up in The Daily Targum about him. I do know that at lunchtime, Holsten’s down the street was packed with reporters and photographers and that traffic was jammed for blocks with people just driving by. The place looked mobbed. ( …no, not like that… ) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/64 "2013-06-20T19:15:43Z")
I once read an interview with David Chase in which he said, whenever he found himself sympathizing with Tony or one of the other gangsters, he’d write a scene in which they did something terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/65 "2013-06-20T19:20:57Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I do know that at lunchtime, Holsten’s down the street was packed with reporters and photographers and that traffic was jammed for blocks with people just driving by. The place looked mobbed. [Holsten’s tribute to Gandolfini.](https://twitter.com/JKlekamp/status/347682258800488448/photo/1) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/66 "2013-06-20T19:44:50Z")
Apparently Bruce Springsteen is playing all of Born To Run tonight as a tribute to him. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/67 "2013-06-20T19:47:08Z")
_One two three four!_ Anyone remember a scene where Christophuh showed up late for a meeting (I think after rehab, so not because he was high) with the excuse that “The highway was jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive”? Pretty sure Silvio was in the scene too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/68 "2013-06-20T19:54:59Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Yes, he was great in True Romance, saw that before I ever saw The Sopranos. Yes. His mannerisms during the fight with Alabama, that look of regret/enjoyment/shame right after he throws the first punch? When I saw that, I said “This guy is going to be one of the greats.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/69 "2013-06-20T21:21:39Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Did anyone else hear the rumor that the crowd waited 11 seconds before calling the ambulance? That’s a good joke. Unfortunately - not to make this thread even more of a bummer - he was actually found in his hotel room by his 13-year-old son, and it sounds like he died on the way to the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/70 "2013-06-20T22:04:13Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > _One two three four!_ > > Anyone remember a scene where Christophuh showed up late for a meeting (I think after rehab, so not because he was high) with the excuse that “The highway was jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive”? Pretty sure Silvio was in the scene too. 😉 That hit me like a ton of funny out of nowhere. I LOVED that they made that joke. I imagine it’s not that funny to folks from Jersey, who have probably heard it dozens of times, but I’m not from Jersey. ```auto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzhoRPkYEjg ``` Swearing, NSFW EDIT: And I THINK that you’re right about Silvio 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/71 "2013-06-21T01:49:43Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > …Anyone remember a scene where Christophuh showed up late for a meeting (I think after rehab, so not because he was high) with the excuse that “The highway was jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive”? Pretty sure Silvio was in the scene too. 😉 Years before _The Sopranos_, I heard of a college prof who apologized to his class for being late by quoting that line from “Born to Run.” Funny. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/72 "2013-06-21T03:20:04Z")
I am aggrieved at this news. I shot a handful of episodes of **The Sopranos**. Jim Gandolfini was a consummate pro. Submerged in a role that was completely unnerving to witness in person. A gifted artist, no doubt. He was gentle and polite with cast and crew alike. The physical transformation from James to Tony was something to see. He did a very in-depth evening with Inside The Actors’ Studio years ago. Apparently was more revealing than in most interviews. ( very shy fellow ). When he slips into Tony’s voice, you can hear the thickening and rumbling of his voice. -sigh- Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/73 "2013-06-21T07:27:59Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Apparently Bruce Springsteen is playing all of Born To Run tonight as a tribute to him. Yes he did and it was fucking awesome. Steve Van Zandt got a lot of love last night. Was obviously pretty cut up by the looks of things but did a good gig anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/74 "2013-06-21T12:33:59Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > Yes he did and it was fucking awesome. > > Steve Van Zandt got a lot of love last night. Was obviously pretty cut up by the looks of things but did a good gig anyway. What a lousy reason for Bruce to play that album in its entirety. And yet… how amazing and rare a night. A great tribute. It’s like going to see Billy Joel ( my personal fave over Bruce ) and realizing that unannounced he’s playing all of Turnstiles. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/75 "2013-06-24T19:07:23Z")
Some NPR remembrances and tributes: > **[Bidding Farewell To Tony Soprano](https://www.npr.org/2013/06/22/194351092/bidding-farewell-to-one-of-televisions-most-memorable-characters)** > > One of television's most memorable characters, he was the ruthless yet sentimental mafia don from the hit TV series The Sopranos. We lost him when actor James Gandolfini died unexpectedly this week. Bidding Farewell To Tony Soprano by Scott Simon June 22, 2013 7:35 AM > **[Gandolfini Through The Eyes Of Those He Worked With](https://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/193865792/gandolfini-through-the-eyes-of-those-he-worked-with)** > > The actor who brought mob boss Tony Soprano to life on the HBO drama The Sopranos died Wednesday at age 51. Fresh Air listens back to interviews with his co-stars Edie Falco and Jeff Daniels and Sopranos director David Chase, to hear their thoughts... Gandolfini Through The Eyes Of Those He Worked With June 20, 2013 2:18 PM [http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=193865792&m=193869927](http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=193865792&m=193869927) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/76 "2013-06-25T15:02:41Z")
True to my word, we picked up the first two seasons of _The Sopranos_ over the weekend and will start watching them this next weekend. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/77 "2013-06-25T17:00:20Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Apparently Bruce Springsteen is playing all of Born To Run tonight as a tribute to him. Gov. Chris Christie ordered the flags at half-mast on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/78 "2013-06-30T18:42:17Z")
We watched the first two episodes of season 1 tonight. Okay, we’re hooked. (Do the ducks ever return?) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/79 "2013-07-01T02:48:14Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > …[Gandolfini Through The Eyes Of Those He Worked With : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/193865792/gandolfini-through-the-eyes-of-those-he-worked-with) > Gandolfini Through The Eyes Of Those He Worked With > June 20, 2013 2:18 PM > [http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=193865792&m=193869927](http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=193865792&m=193869927) Many thanks for this. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409/80 "2013-07-01T03:46:01Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > We watched the first two episodes of season 1 tonight. Okay, we’re hooked. I started rewatching a couple months ago, on HBO Signature, and am about halfway through season 5. Then I found the AV Club writeups on each episode – [here](http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/the-sopranos,107/). The writeups were done after the show had aired, so there are spoilers. (The final episode is at the top of the page, but scroll down a bit and you’ll be able to choose which episode/season to read about.) If you’re looking for some excellent in-depth analysis/appreciation/inside info, that’s the place to go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gandolfini-tony-soprano/661409.md?page=5)