The Sopranos creator David Chase delves into the struggles lead actor James Gandolfini had during his time on the award-winning HBO series.
The Sopranos might have had a different Tony if James Gandolfini followed his instincts, as the show’s creator reveals the late actor tried to quit the hit series “every day.”
During a roundtable reunion for Empire, Chase and star Steven Van Zandt spoke about working with Gandolfini during The Sopranos’ acclaimed six-season run. While Gandolfini became a TV icon thanks to his portrayal of Tony Soprano, he struggled to handle the demands of the HBO show and “heavy” scenes, with the actor contemplating leaving at various points. “He would also quit the show basically every day. [Laughs] In TV, you work from 6 a.m. ’til 10 p.m. He was coming from movies, filming two pages a day or whatever. And here we were, doing five, six or seven – four of which would be him and Lorraine in Dr Melfi’s office. Heavy scenes. So he was often like, ‘I can’t do this. I cannot do this,'” Van Zandt said.
Chase elaborated on Gandolfini’s urge to leave The Sopranos, saying Gandolfini considered a very different career amid his struggles to cope with expectations as the lead star. “I was requested to meet him one time at Pier 40 by the Hudson River in the middle of the day when he was going through his “I want to quit” thing. And he said to me that day, ‘You know what I should have been? I should have been a plumber. That’s what I should have been. A plumber.’ I had several of those conversations with him,” he said.
Gandolfini became a household name as Tony, the Jersey-based Italian-American mobster, in The Sopranos, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Gandolfini’s role was complex, as his character balances family life with handling the criminal underworld, juggling multiple responsibilities while struggling with mental issues. Despite struggling with the workload and channeling an emotionally intense character, Gandolfini’s work was rewarded with a Golden Globe and three Primetime Emmy Awards for his convincing portrayal of the crime boss.
The Sopranos Star James Gandolfini Died in 2013
Gandolfini passed away in 2013 following a heart attack he suffered in Rome. There have been calls in recent years for a revival of The Sopranos, potentially with his son, Michael, stepping in as the lead character. Michael played a young Tony Soprano in the prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, which was a critically acclaimed hit and found streaming success despite bombing at the box office. However, Chase has ruled out the possibility of a reboot.
Also starring Michael Imperioli, Lorraine Branco and the late Tony Sirico, The Sopranos ran for 86 episodes between 1999 and 2007. The series remains Chase’s most recent foray into TV, with the helmer making a cameo in The Many Saints of Newark. Van Zandt, meanwhile, has continued his music career as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and has also featured in the crime comedy-drama show, Lilyhammer.
