The striking contrast between James Gandolfini’s real life and his character on ‘The Sopranos’ is why he will forever remain one of the best actors

Although James Gandolfini may be gone, his work on The Sopranos is hailed as one of the most iconic performances on television. On screen, he portrayed a powerful Italian-American crime boss, but in real life he was very different from that character. This contrast only strengthens his legacy as one of the most legendary actors of his generation.

Viewers get a chance to learn more about the actor in HBO’s new documentary, which features some of his closest friends, who have nothing but praise for him.

James Gandolfini’s real self versus Tony Soprano secured his legendary status

James Gandolfini was a remarkable actor with several projects that showed both his versatility and range as a performer. His role as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos stands out the most. The show aired from 1999 to 2007 and Gandolfini was a major part of its success. Sadly, the actor died of a heart attack in 2013, just six years after the show ended.

In the new HBO documentary titled Smart guyhis co-stars from the show reflect on their experiences with the late actor. In an interview with Esquire, Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti, noted a significant difference between Gandolfini and his character. He noted, “He was very different from Tony Soprano; he was very laid back.”

Imperioli noted that Gandolfini often wore comfortable Birkenstocks and enjoyed rock bands like Green Day and AC/DC. He also pointed out that while fans saw Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, he actually looked nothing like the character. Drea de Matteo, who played Adriana La Cerva on the show, added another heartwarming gesture from James Gandolfini to the conversation.

She revealed that Gandolfini received a significant pay raise during season four. As a kind gesture, he split a portion of the raise among the entire cast. She recalled that the ensemble was unaware of the new deal prior to Gandolfini’s gesture and that “None of us even knew it was on the table.”

Perhaps feeling guilty about leaving his castmates behind, Gandolfini called them all to his trailer and handed out checks for $30,000. On the same subject, Edie Falco, who played Carmela Soprano, described Gandolfini as a kindhearted man who always looked out for his friends and colleagues.

Steven Van Zandt recalls why James Gandolfini considered quitting The Sopranos

Even the most brilliant minds can get tired of playing a tough character on screen that has nothing to do with their own life. The same thing happened to the late James Gandolfini when playing mob boss Tony Soprano proved extremely difficult and taxing for him.

His co-star from The SopranosSteven Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante, recalled via People that the late actor considered quitting the show “every other day.” He added:

Every day we went to a bar. We had the exact same conversation. We got drunk. He said, “I’m done. I’m not going back.” I said, “Okay. There’s a hundred people here counting on you.” He said, “Yeah, yeah, okay.” He came back. But a couple of times he disappeared for a couple of days. You know, it just hit him.

For Gandolfini, filming would sometimes begin at 6 a.m. and end after a long 14-hour shoot. In between, he would have a 12-hour break before returning to the set to do the same thing over and over again. Tony Soprano also pushed his emotional boundaries, with showrunner David Chase noting that the role may have cost him something.

Despite these challenges, Gandolfini delivered a remarkable performance, winning three Emmy Awards for his exceptional portrayal.

You can watch The Sopranos on Max and Apple TV.