James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano

About this book

James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano is the first biography of the actor who died in June 2013 at age 51 widely recognized as one of the bestand most definingactors of his generation. The book is informed by fresh interviews with Sopranos actors the stars acting teachers and coaches his childhood friends buddies from his days as a nightclub bouncer and Hollywood figures including the directors of his posthumously released films. Bischoff decodes Gandolfinis portrayal of mobsters and bad guys from his breakout role in True Romance with Patricia Arquette to the television series role that made his career and his portrayals of real people like Leon Panetta in Zero Dark Thirty. Gandolfinis personal life--from his marriages and family interactions to his deep friendships with his fellow cast membersenriches and enlivens this book and deepens our understanding of the star. James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano is a fascinating look at Gandolfinis complicated relationship to his roots to the role that made him wealthy beyond his imagination and to American notions of masculinity power and fame. Even as he scaled the heights of his profession creating a TV character as vivid as Carroll OConnors Archie Bunker and as volcanic as Marlon Brandos Stanley Kowalski Gandolfini remained a reluctant celebrity dedicated more to his craft than to his career. James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano delivers a textured multilayered portrait of the on- and off-screen life of a complex talented man who rose from an Italian immigrant family in northern New Jersey to join the ranks of Americas most iconic actors.