Its star, James Gandolfini, won accolades for his portrayal of Tony Soprano. And while it may be hard to imagine anyone but Gandolfini in the role, producers weren't so sure. Series creator David Chase initially approached Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia for the role.

Who turned down the role of Tony Soprano?

1 Steven Van Zandt

Prior to The Sopranos, Van Zandt was best known for playing guitar in Bruce Springsteen's band. In an interview with Cleveland.com, Van Zandt revealed that he was in the running because Chase “wanted unusual, new faces,” but his lack of experience ended up being the reason he didn't get the role.

Who did they base Tony Soprano on?

Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo (born June 4, 1944) is an American former mobster who was de facto boss of the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family before becoming a government witness in 1999. Fictional mob boss Tony Soprano, the protagonist of the HBO series The Sopranos, is said to be based upon Palermo.

Who was Tony Soprano supposed to be?

Tony Soprano from The Sopranos was inspired by real-life gangsters, adding realism to the character. Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo is widely believed to be the real-life inspiration for Tony Soprano. The fictional life of Tony Soprano is more dramatic and potentially more brutal than the true story he was based on.

How did James Gandolfini get the role of Tony Soprano?

However, it was his earlier effort in True Romance that ended up paying dividends in getting the job secured. In a feature piece by Vanity Fair, it was revealed that Susan Fitzgerald, who worked for producer Brad Grey, had sent The Sopranos creator David Chase a tape of a scene from True Romance of Gandolfini.

James Gandolfini talks Tony Soprano's anger

Did James Gandolfini put on weight for The Sopranos?

James Gandolfini's weight gain during his time on "The Sopranos" was a natural occurrence rather than a deliberate choice for the show. As the seasons of the show progressed, Gandolfini noticeably gained weight [1].

What is Tony's IQ in The Sopranos?

He craved power and dominance over everyone. While Tony Blundetto's IQ was 158, Tony Soprano's was probably more in the mediocre range. He certainly had street smarts, though.

Who auditioned for Carmela Soprano?

Lorraine Bracco, who would go on to play Tony's riveted and repulsed psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, turned down the part. She felt the character shared too much DNA with her performance as decadent mob wife Karen Hill in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, the closest thing to a forerunner to Chase's series.

Who auditioned for Junior Soprano?

The intense, multilayered character analyses of the titular Sopranos and the other gabagool-seeking characters on the show helped make the HBO series synonymous with “the greatest of all-time.” Tony Sirico and Frank Vincent were an important part of that even if they lost out on the role of Uncle Junior, and Dominic ...

What did real mobsters think of The Sopranos?

In an oral history of the series in Vanity Fair, it was revealed that F.B.I. agents had told the show's producers that they heard real mafia members talking about the show via wiretaps, and they were convinced the series had a "guy on the inside." It was so authentic that even real-world gangsters questioned just how ...

How much older is Janice than Tony?

Tony Soprano's older sister Janice, who is two or three years older than Tony, seems to be about 13 or 14 in 1967 and 17 or 18 in 1971.

How old was Tony Soprano when he died?

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 08, 2013. James Gandolfini, Jr., best known for his portrayal of New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano, died suddenly at age 51 on June 19, 2013, from a heart attack. Gandolfini achieved international fame for his portrayal of the lead character in the crime drama “The Sopranos”.

Who else auditioned for Christopher Moltisanti?

Almost Played It: Christian Maelen

While Michael Imperioli was David Chase's first choice for the role of Christopher Moltisanti, if he'd been unable to take the part for some reason, Chase's second choice was Christian Maelen.

Why didn't Ray Liotta do Sopranos?

"I didn't want to do another mafia thing, and I was shooting Hannibal," he told the outlet, referencing the 2001 Silence of the Lambs sequel he starred in. "It just didn't feel right at the time."

Who took over the soprano family after Tony died?

After Tony's death in The Sopranos ending, Silvio could have regained consciousness. After several months of rehabilitation, he would take responsibility for the entire family.

Where is Paulie from The Sopranos now?

Tony Sirico, the actor best known for playing the eccentric gangster Paulie Walnuts on the hit HBO series “The Sopranos,” died on Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 79. His death, in an assisted living facility, was confirmed by Bob McGowan, his manager.

Did they change the actress for Meadow Soprano?

In 1997, Sigler was cast as Meadow Soprano, daughter of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos. When her manager first told her about auditioning for The Sopranos, Sigler thought she would have to sing soprano. She continued to play the role through the series finale in 2007.

What happens to Meadow Soprano?

This could be seen as one of the events that accelerated the brewing war between Phil Leotardo and Tony Soprano. At the end of the series, it was revealed Meadow had become engaged to Patrick Parisi and might find employment at his law firm.

Who was the best actor in Sopranos?

Lead actor James Gandolfini and lead actress Edie Falco received the most nominations and wins of the ensemble cast, including three wins each for the Primetime Emmy Award, in their respective categories; as well as Falco winning the Golden Globe Award in 2000 and 2003, and Gandolfini winning in 2000.

What did Little Paulie do to Christopher?

When Little Paulie steals again from the hardware store, Christopher tracks him down and throws him out of a third-floor window. He survives, but with six broken vertebrae. Paulie then vandalizes Christopher's landscaped front garden with his Cadillac CTS.

Who is Carmela Soprano in real life?

Edith Falco (born July 5, 1963) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos (1999–2007), and Nurse Jackie Peyton on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie (2009–2015).

Who is the smartest person in The Sopranos?

Tony Blundetto is easily the most classically intelligent of our contestants. In the episode "Unidentified Black Males," it's revealed that Tony B's I.Q. is 158, putting him next to the likes of Einstein.

What mental illness is in Sopranos?

This analysis uncovers a range of maladaptive psychological patterns exhibited by Tony Soprano, encompassing antisocial and borderline personality disorders, pervasive anxiety, chronic depression, anger management issues, narcissistic tendencies, and unresolved childhood trauma.

Was Tony Soprano Narcissistic?

Therapy scenes also included Tony talking about struggles with NPD traits. NPD for him presented as an inability to understand the needs and emotions of others and anger for having such needs and demands of him. Tony also hides his symptoms and need for mental health treatment from almost everyone in his life.