The Sopranos may have revolutionized television storytelling but its star, James Gandolfini, wanted to run as far away from the spotlight as possible.
There have been very few Hollywood figures so interwoven into pop culture lore that they drown in an almost inescapable limbo of celebrity worship. The Sopranos star James Gandolfini was one such figure despite his sincere and intense hatred against fame and attention.
HBO’s legendary series, launched in 1996, was a product of fate. From almost being shelved for being too operatic to changing formats from a film to a television series, The Sopranos holds a history that is arguably richer and more interesting than its story arc. But at the center of it all was a reluctant actor who struggled more than he let on and hated being turned into a legend.
James Gandolfini’s biggest enemy from The Sopranos
For actors, fame, wealth, and celebrity come as easily as second nature. Years of training and exposure to the land of make-believe in Hollywood deems them impervious to being deified and defamed by fans and the media alike. However, The Sopranos star James Gandolfini never wanted to be a part of it.
His long-time friends and co-stars, Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa – better known as Christopher Moltisanti and Bobby Baccalieri – had extensive knowledge about Gandolfini’s time both on and off the show. For years, the trio had grown close as friends and colleagues while The Sopranos parallelly grew in reputation as one of the greatest television series in existence.
As its star and headliner, fame was inescapable for James Gandolfini. However, the actor hated his newfound place in society with a passion. Schirripa revealed years later to The Independent: “He became a household name, and it affected him. He never felt comfortable being the center of attention.” Imperioli backed up Schirripa’s account with notes of his own.
The Sopranos legacy failed to impress its biggest star
It has been nearly 12 years since James Gandolfini’s tragic passing. In his lifetime, the star had struggled in a near-constant battle against addiction and substance abuse. However, history does not recall the hard times with as much praise and pride as his tenure as Tony Soprano in the HBO series.
Credited with revolutionizing television’s storytelling format and launching the modern Golden Age of TV, The Sopranos became larger-than-life to its ever-growing audience base. However, to its star, James Gandolfini, the show’s legacy was not a living, breathing thing snowballing into immeasurable proportions.
Michael Imperioli admitted to The Independent how relieved Gandolfini felt after the show’s fanfare had begun to die down after some time:
It was six years after the finale had aired, and he felt that some of the craziness was calming down for him, some of the identification with the role. He finally had himself back.
Shortly after, Gandolfini passed away after suffering from a heart attack at the age of 51 while vacationing in Rome, Italy. His legacy continues to live on in The Sopranos, which has now experienced a Covid-era renaissance and has expanded to a considerably larger fanbase due to the advantages of streaming.
