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 roles in The Sopranos?

Jennifer Esposito was another person who repeatedly turned down the overtures made by the production team. The actor admits that the storylines and characters are so reflective of her own real-life upbringing that she is reluctant to accept any sort of on-screen guest spot.

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.

Who could play Tony Soprano now?

Just like James Gandolfini before him, Chiwetel Ejiofor has had a long career on stage. He is suited to take on the challenge of playing Tony Soprano and find out what makes Tony tick. Ejiofor is no stranger to groundbreaking drama, having starred in the Best Picture winner, 12 Years a Slave.

Was James Gandolfini supposed to be in the office?

James Gandolfini was considered to replace Carell on The Office, but ultimately declined due to his unfamiliarity with the show and uncertainty about how to play the character.

James Gandolfini talks Tony Soprano's anger

What actors tried out for Tony Soprano?

Who was Tony Soprano based after?

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 originally considered for Tony Soprano?

Series creator David Chase initially approached Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia for the role. LaPaglia had played his share of cops as well as criminals in movies like 1994's The Client. Ultimately, he and Chase disagreed on how best to approach Tony.

Who else auditioned for Carmela Soprano?

Lorraine Bracco was originally supposed to play Carmela Soprano. Lorraine Bracco did an excellent job at playing Dr. Melfi—in fact, she won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Tony's therapist. However, Chase initially considered casting her as Tony's wife, Carmela.

Was Ray Liotta supposed to play Tony Soprano?

During an interview with The Guardian this week, Liotta revealed that he did pass on “The Sopranos” but that Tony Soprano was not the role series creator David Chase wanted to recruit him for.

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 ...

Who is the most unlikable character in The Sopranos?

Janice Soprano is one of the most hated characters in a show chock-full of unsympathetic, cold-blooded murderers. This unassuming, bratty older sister of Tony's is a mainstay of Season 2 and becomes increasingly shrewd throughout the series.

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.

Who was fired from The Sopranos?

Todd Kessler said James Gandolfini took him to dinner after Kessler was fired from "The Sopranos." "He knew what had happened, and he said, 'I'm taking you out,'" Kessler said in "Woke Up This Morning." Kessler also recalled Gandolfini telling him to be proud of the "great work" he'd done on the show.

Who does Lady Gaga play in The Sopranos?

Taking place during season three, episode nine, entitled 'The Telltale Moozadell', Gaga plays the role of "Girl at swimming pool #2". She didn't even have any lines in the scene, but instead sat laughing, smoking, and drinking Coca-Cola while the debauchery unfolded in front of her and a friend.

Who tried out for Tony Soprano?

Series creator David Chase invited Steven Van Zandt, who was a guitarist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, to audition for the role of Tony Soprano. Van Zandt, who had never acted before, felt that the role should go to an experienced actor, so Chase wrote him into a part that did not exist—as Silvio Dante.

Who turned down the role of Carmela Soprano?

Jennifer Melfi, Tony Soprano's (James Gandolfini) psychiatrist on the hit HBO series, was originally offered a very different role: Carmela Soprano. So why did she turn down the role that eventually went to Edie Falco? "Because I did it in Goodfellas," Bracco told Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen Wednesday.

Why did The Sopranos end?

Rather, The Sopranos ended because Chase drafted the best finale for the story, which he told a crowd gathered for his Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television acceptance in 2008 after an extended hiatus between seasons 5 and 6. This isn't to say there wasn't some HBO interference, particularly early on.

Who was the first guy Tony Soprano killed?

Willie Overall was the first person that Tony killed, taking Willie's life when Tony was a young man coming up in the DiMeo family. Tony and Paulie killed Willie on Labor Day 1982 and buried him in the basement of a house.

Who is Christopher Moltisanti based on?

Michael Imperioli's character Christopher Moltisanti was not written with a notable real-life counterpart in mind, but the actor did draw on someone he knew growing up to help him better understand and perform the role.

Who was Johnny Sack based on?

The show's Mafia underboss-turned boss John Sacrimoni, also known as Johnny Sack, was named in honor of brothers Anthony and Domenico Sacramone, who own the Astoria restaurant, the duo revealed to The Post.