- Has announced his engagement to Lora Somoza, a woman he met on the set of the film THE MEXICAN. (January 10, 2004)
- Has been reportedly spotted out in New York drinking vodka despite declaring last year he had quit alcohol. (September 19, 2003)
- Acclaimed mob drama THE SOPRANOS has been renewed for a 10-episode run beyond the upcoming fifth season that premieres next March. (June 19, 2003)
- Is taking care of his TV mob family THE SOPRANOS to the tune of $500,000 -- Gandolfini last week gave five-figure checks to more than a dozen fellow cast members; he wanted to acknowledge that the show's success hinges on the strength of its ensemble cast. (June 13, 2003)
- Is already in trouble with his new girlfriend just months after dumping his wife for her -- According to a New York tabloid Gandolfini's love of partying with attractive women is causing friction with Lora Somoza. (June 4, 2003)
- Pulled a Mafia-style trick at a charity bash to get the staff to carry on serving -- Organizers at the party in New York's trendy 24 restaurant had told him that the $420-a-head fundraiser was over because the staff weren't paid overtime, but the furious actor demanded that they keep working, and ordered a meeting to discuss the problem. (April 22, 2003)
- Gandolfini and HBO have cooled their rhetoric over Gandolfini's salary demands for a reported $16 million for a fifth season as America's favorite mob boss and were close to an offer THE SOPRANOS star can't refuse -- An HBO spokeswoman confirmed that the network was waiting for the withdrawal of the lawsuit to begin direct negotiations with Gandolfini, whose portrayal of the complex mobster Tony Soprano has earned him and HBO numerous awards and a devoted audience. (March 18, 2003)
- HBO and the producers of THE SOPRANOS filed a $100 million countersuit against Gandolfini in the same Los Angeles Superior Court where he sued to get out of his contract last week -- Bert Fields, the attorney for HBO and Soprano Productions, said that the actor had been properly informed about new filming and that Gandolfini's suit is frivolous and only a negotiating ploy in the actor's part. (March 12, 2003)
- Filed a lawsuit against HBO, seeking a release from his THE SOPRANOS contract -- A source close to Gandolfini said the actor believes he is underpaid relative to other small-screen stars, and that he would like to return for a fifth season if a deal can be reached. (March 8, 2003)
- Has demanded a massive 50 per cent pay rise to return for a fifth series of THE SOPRANOS. (March 4, 2003)
- Gandolfini and his estranged wife Marcy are close to a deal to end their marriage amicably - the actor filed for divorce in March. (November 15, 2002)
- Gandolfini, immersed in a divorce from his wife of three years, has admitted he once struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. (October 19, 2002)
- Playing the New Jersey mob boss on the HBO series, THE SOPRANOS, he has made another commercial for Rutgers football, even though his first effort last year in 2001 failed to change the team's fortunes. In the ad, Gandolfini assures his pals they will have great seats at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway for a Rutgers football game.
- His sister Johanna is a prominent official with the New Jersey Family Court system.
- He plays the trumpet and saxophone.
- Although he often plays thuggish or brute characters, he is actually somewhat of a pacifist off-stage; he had reservations about continuing his production contract as Tony in THE SOPRANOS (1999) due to the show's violent content and stereotype of Italian-Americans.
- Turned to the right side of the law when he saw a woman being mugged in his native New York recently. Gandolfini plays Mob wiseguy Tony Soprano in hit TV show The Sopranos. So passers-by were shocked to see the tough-guy step in and rescue a woman when she was knocked down and had her bag snatched whilst walking down a dimly lit street. (November 2001)
- Named one of E!'s top 20 entertainers of 2001.
- Originally cast in the Carl Hanratty role in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002) but had to drop out due to THE SOPRANOS.
- Helped launch a bar he and friend own together called The Vine in Oneonta, New York in April, 2002 by pouring drinks and posing for photos.
- Used to bartend in Manhattan during years as struggling actor.
- Was originally starring in SCARED GUYS (2002), but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with other projects.
- He was a bouncer at the Rutgers Pub and went by the nickname
- He doesn't believe in pre-marital sex
- Gandolfini's divorce case unearths his drug past - the SOPRANOS star underwent rehab for cocaine and alcohol four years ago, but had kept his drug past secret to shield it from his 3-year-old son, Michael. (October 18, 2002)
- Gandolfini's real-life divorce battle is turning into a messy affair as he fights for custody of his three-year-old son -- the actor claims his wife Marcy is emotionally unstable and a risk to their child, while his bitter ex-partner plans to reveal Gandolfini is a cocaine-snorting alcoholic in court. (October 14, 2002)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at Screen Actors Guild Awards for The Sopranos (2003)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama at Emmy Awards for The Sopranos (2003)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at Screen Actors Guild Awards for The Sopranos (2002)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for The Sopranos (2002)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at Screen Actors Guild Awards for The Sopranos (2002)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Drama at Emmy Awards for The Sopranos (2001)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at Screen Actors Guild Awards for The Sopranos (2001)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at Screen Actors Guild Awards for The Sopranos (2001)
- Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at Emmy Awards for The Sopranos (1999)
Quotes- Accepting his SAG award for best actor in a television drama series: "To all actors who struggle -- things can change at any moment, at any time. So hang in there and enjoy it because things can get pretty weird." (March, 2003)
- "I'm a neurotic mess. I'm really basically just like a 260-pound Woody Allen."
- Actor James Gandolfini, who portrays the lead character on HBO's hit "The Sopranos," got behind the bar to play mixologist at the opening of his brand-new restaurant and watering hole, The Vine, in upstate Oneonta.
Awards- Screen Actors Guild's annual Awards: best actor in a television drama series, THE SOPRANOS (2003)
- Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, The Sopranos (2003)
- AFI TV Award: AFI Actor of the Year - Male - Series, The Sopranos (2002)
- L.A. Outfest: Screen Idol Award - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, THE MEXICAN (2002)
- Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, THE SOPRANOS (2001)
- Television Critics Association Awards: Individual Achievement in Drama, The Sopranos (2001)
- Biarritz International Festival of Audiovisual Programming: Golden FIPA - TV Series and Serials: Actor, The Sopranos (2000)
- Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, THE SOPRANOS (2000)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role--Drama Series or Television Movie, THE SOPRANOS (2000)
- Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, THE SOPRANOS (2000)
- Television Critics Association Awards: Individual Achievement in Drama, The Sopranos (2000)
- Television Critics Association Awards: Individual Achievement in Drama, The Sopranos (1999)
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