In the weeks leading up to this awards show, HBO and James Gandolfini were embroiled in a very public and nasty contract negotiation. HBO sued James, calling him "greedy" while James counter sued, calling HBO "leaches and vampires"
TONY SOPRANO / JAMES JOHN GANDOLFINI – who would’ve turned 65 today.
Born and raised in New Jersey, he studied at Rutgers and worked as a bartender, bouncer, and nightclub manager before seriously pursuing acting in his mid-20s. His performance as Tony Soprano transformed the television antihero, and more than two decades later, his work on 'THE SOPRANOS' remains one of the defining performances in television history.
May He Rest in Peace. 🕊️
James Gandolfini was a force of nature. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt closer to an artist. Part of me just feels like I knew Gandolfini personally - that’s how good he was, that’s how personal his performances felt. I will rewatch The Sopranos for the rest of my life because Gandolfini’s performance is ageless. I just really miss this guy. That’s the power of great art, it can connect you to someone you’ve never come close to meeting.
The man. The myth. The legend.
On what would have been his 65th birthday, we remember James Gandolfini, who will always be a defining figure in New Jersey culture.
Those who want respect, give respect. And he’ll always have ours.