‘Gandolfini' Review: The Man Behind the Mob Boss
Fate, of course, had other plans. Imposing and magnetic, Gandolfini (1961-2013) was offered tough-guy roles as soon as he started looking for work. He was an actor on the rise when he came to the attention of David Chase, the creator of 'The Sopranos,' who was casting for a lead for his new television series. Mr. Chase, who had visualized Robert De Niro playing the violent, conflicted, charismatic Tony Soprano, wasn't immediately sold on Gandolfini. He liked a couple of other candidates, and he worried that that the actor, who already had a reputation, would be 'a pain in the ass on set.' But no other contender quite matched the darkness and sense of realness that Gandolfini brought to the role.
Gandolfini's combination of twinkling charm and dead-eyed menace helped make 'The Sopranos' a hit. The show ran on HBO for six seasons, over the course of 86 episodes spread out over 8½ years starting in 1999. It is widely regarded as having inaugurated a new golden age of cinematic television, making possible a torrent of TV series with gritty performances, top-drawer writing and high production values, including 'The Wire,' 'Breaking Bad' and 'Mad Men.'
'The Sopranos' had an ensemble cast, but like the fictional family and crime syndicate the show depicted, it needed Gandolfini as both anchor and prime mover. In the role of Tony Soprano, a mobster having a midlife crisis, Gandolfini could toggle between geniality and aggression with terrifying speed. Prone to gaining weight that was good for throwing around on screen, he was, according to an early colleague, 'a sweetheart of a guy—but you could tell that there's a sharp edge on the other end of that thing, too.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mandy Moore's next TV project is a ‘This Is Us' reunion
Mandy Moore is reuniting with a member of her 'This Is Us' family for another television project. The Emmy-nominated actress is joining the cast of 'This Is Us' creator Dan Fogelman's upcoming Hulu series about the NFL. Moore, who played matriarch Rebecca Pearson on 'This Is Us,' is set to play Lauren, the daughter of William H. Macy's character, Hank. The project marks Moore's first major television role since 2023, when she played Benita Alexander in season 2 of 'Dr. Death.' Fogelman's new show is still untitled, but it also stars Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's Christopher Meloni as the head coach of an NFL team. Since 'This Is Us' came to an end in 2022, Fogelman has also teamed up with Sterling K. Brown, who played Randall Pearson on the family drama, for another television venture. Brown stars as Secret Service lead agent Xavier Collins in Fogelman's political thriller 'Paradise,' which has been renewed for a second season. 'What I love about Dan — he did the same thing with 'This Is Us' — he's like, 'I got six seasons in my head.' And for 'Paradise,' he has three seasons in his head,' Brown said during a June interview with Deadline. 'It's nice doing television with a beginning, middle, and end, because you're always building towards something. You're never just putting filler out there for the sake of filler.' READ MORE: Why people are calling episode 7 of 'Paradise' the best TV episode in years 'This Is Us' ran for six seasons on NBC from 2016 to 2022. The show centered on the Pearson siblings, Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz), and Randall (Brown), and their parents, Rebecca (Moore) and Jack (Milo Ventimiglia). The family's story was told across multiple timelines, with moments in the present as well as flashbacks to the siblings' childhood. Moore sang Fogelman's praises after she made her directorial debut on a season 6 episode of 'This Is Us' tiled 'The Hill.' 'I am eternally grateful to Dan Fogelman for changing my life in every way with #thisisus and in our final season, giving me the chance to helm a truly extraordinary episode of television written by the brilliant David Windsor, Casey Johnson and @chrissymetz,' she wrote via Instagram in December 2021. A premiere date has not yet been announced for Fogelman's new show starring Moore. 'This Is Us' and 'Paradise' are available to stream on Hulu. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Have a tip? Tell us at Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ariana DeBose's mom dies of complications from ovarian cancer
Ariana DeBose's mother Gina Michelle DeBose died Sunday morning "due to complications with stage 3 ovarian cancer," the actress and singer said this week. The "West Side Story" and "Love Hurts" star took to Instagram on Tuesday, posting a carousel of photos and a touching tribute to her "gorgeous, hilarious, outspoken, warrior queen Mother." "I couldn't be more proud of her and how she fought this insidious disease over the past 3 years. She was 57 years young," DeBose wrote in the caption. "She was my favorite person, my biggest fan and toughest critic. My best friend. She was my date to every important moment in my professional and personal life - and I wouldn't have it any other way," the post continued. "It had always been the two of us for as long as I can remember." Ariana DeBose talks taking on 'incredibly challenging' role in new film, 'I.S.S.' DeBose said her mom "fought like hell to give me a good life, a good education and every opportunity in the world. I wouldn't be where I am without her." The Academy Award winner recalled a moment from her 2022 Oscars acceptance speech -- delivered after winning the award for best supporting actress for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" -- writing, "I meant it when I said my Oscar 'is just as much hers as it is mine.'" DeBose also highlighted her mom's purpose in life, to educate young people. "She passed just shy of delivering 30 years of service as a public school teacher," she wrote. "She was beloved and incredibly respected by her colleagues and students alike. The greatest advocate for the underdog, a believer in arts education and the smartest person I know - with a willingness to speak her mind regardless of the consequences." She added that her "greatest and most proud achievement will always be to have made her proud." Review: Oscar winner Ariana DeBose excels in 'I.S.S.' In one of the carousel photos, DeBose left a detailed note outlining where people could donate in her mother's memory. "Details for a celebration of her life will be made available in the coming weeks," the note read. "At this time, I ask that my family's privacy be respected." A representative for DeBose did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. What to know about ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is the second-most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the agency, the disease "causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system." While most women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not at high risk, according to the CDC, there are many factors that could potentially increase a woman's risk for ovarian cancer, including a family history of the disease; a genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, "or one associated with Lynch syndrome"; a history of breast, uterine or colon cancer; or a diagnosis of endometriosis, described by the CDC as a condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. How 3 women trusted their instincts and discovered they had cancer Those who are middle-aged or older, people with an Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish background, or those who have never given birth or who have had issues getting pregnant may also be at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, bloating, a change in bowel habits, or "feeling full too quickly, or difficulty eating." Knowing risk factors is imperative as the Pap test does not screen for ovarian cancer, and the CDC says "there is no reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer in women who do not have any symptoms." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Overtime Select: Training Athletes for the Court and the Camera
Overtime Select has rapidly become a hub for the top women's basketball recruits in the country. From to , the program is helping to build the next generation of stars. But it isn't just about their performance on the court. While still an important factor, Overtime Select is more than just gameplay — it's a platform that teaches young athletes how to build their brand and navigate the media landscape of college and professional basketball. From the time players arrive in Atlanta (GA) to the time they leave, they spend just as many hours in front of a camera as they do on the court. 'The mindset is that it's not basketball, it's media,' Shea Dawson, Senior Director of Athlete Relations and Partnership Development, told Rivals. 'It's entertainment. The basketball part always takes care of itself…The intent as we curate these spaces for athletes is to teach them along the way, through exposure of different types of content, how things can level up their basketball prowess.' Overtime Select doesn't just tell the players this is possible — they show it. Former recruits such as , and have all participated to illustrate the success that can come from pairing elite talent with a strong media presence. That environment has also opened doors many of the girls didn't even realize existed. For some, the biggest revelation wasn't about basketball at all, but about careers after it. Seeing young, female content creators, producers, and videographers has inspired athletes to imagine their own futures in sports media. 'They're kind of seeing that they could be them immediately,' Dawson said. 'Then they're like, 'I know what I want to do.' That was the first time I ever heard an athlete say, 'Actually, I know what I want to do after basketball.' I've never heard that before, until they came here.' Still, Dawson admits the process hasn't been seamless. The first year taught the Overtime staff that building rosters isn't just about talent. Personalities, rivalries and chemistry all play a role. Bringing together dozens of the nation's best players can be an imperfect experiment. Yet even those challenges mirror what players will soon face at the college level. 'You want to win an Overtime Select championship, but it's not detrimental to the outcome of who you're going to be one day,' Dawson said. 'But it's kind of a linchpin. Having that experience before it actually means something is kind of a beautiful thing.' Above all, the focus is on the athletes themselves. If something isn't working, Overtime makes it a priority to adapt. 'You can just tell that they want what's best for you…,' top 2026 recruit told Rivals. 'They're here for us. They ask us what we want to do and that's what I really like. They're really trying to set us up for success.'
