Surprised to hear this. I got sick of the Sopranos in season 2, but Gandolfini was a charismatic actor who knew how to make Tony sympathetic while not forgetting the darker side of the character. I often wish the Sopranos had just run that one season as it showed all sides to the character, whereas everything else began to be padding.

I remember the college scouting trip with Meadow and Tony which was the first time we truly saw Tony as a violent animal, and Gandolfini was wonderful. And his complex, slightly flirtatious scenes with Dr. Melfi, and his scenes with Livia, who wound him into a complete breakdown. I also enjoyed his relationship with Carmella in that first season, where they were growing apart, but still loved each other.

There really would have been no Sopranos without him.

I saw In the Loop a few years ago, which was a somewhat dated satire on the Iraq War that wasn't a tenth as clever as it wanted to be, but it was nice to see him in a biting comedic role.

Edited June 20, 201312 yr by DRW50

I had no idea this was now a forum where I have to pretend to be personally affected by this loss, instead of actually commenting on this topic as the news that it is. If his mother reads this board she has my apologies, as we start to move away from her we wind up running into people reading this as the news item that does not affect their lives one bit, and while it is sad he is dead, it is still a story posted for commentary.

Spare me your fabricated concern for people you never met and this contrived outrage over something that really was just another post on just another topic on just another message board.

I think it's natural for people to look for reasons behind this kind of tragedy. I remember reading that JG used to have issues with coke and that's obviously not good for that heart. Very sad.

I had no idea this was now a forum where I have to pretend to be personally affected by this loss, instead of actually commenting on this topic as the news that it is. If his mother reads this board she has my apologies, as we start to move away from her we wind up running into people reading this as the news item that does not affect their lives one bit, and while it is sad he is dead, it is still a story posted for commentary.

Spare me your fabricated concern for people you never met and this contrived outrage over something that really was just another post on just another topic on just another message board.

Like I said, "The guy is dead, it is tough on his friends, family, and fans. Spare us all the lecture or at least wait until he is cremated or buried.."

The NY Times has a wonderful tribute to James: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/arts/television/james-gandolfini-sopranos-star-dies-at-51.html?ref=television

The comment section of the article is great, full of personal stories about James and appreciation for his talent. I had no idea that he had wife and new born son.

Edited June 20, 201312 yr by Ann_SS

Like I said, "The guy is dead, it is tough on his friends, family, and fans. Spare us all the lecture or at least wait until he is cremated or buried.."

You can say your bullshit til the cows come home, it doesn't change the fact that since you are on a message board with the cozy feeling of not having to deal with a reaction face to face, you gave yourself carte blanche to just needlessly and without provocation display a belligerent attitude for no reason whatsoever just because you can and perhaps you were in a bad mood.

Edited June 21, 201312 yr by quartermainefan

Sesame Street.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-v6T4gUmkw

No wonder he died of a heart attack, he ate fried prawns, foie gras and guzzled down 8 drinks!!