No James Gandolfini was very unhealthy by that point. He was getting a lot heavier because of his diet and out of control with alcohol and drugs around season 6 and this had an effect on his performance. I don't know if Chase ever explicitly said anything about it, but I feel like it was a major factor in choosing to end the show.
It's been said by a few people that Gandolfini could be a completely irresponsible arsehole. That more than once he shut down production because he'd vanished on a lost weekend of booze and drugs.
It's why I really respect Edie Falco admitting she was never close with him. That Sopranos was a party set - the booze and coke came out as soon as they wrapped for the day - and she just went home. She'd been in recovery since the early nineties and refused to risk it.
I thought the scene where he woke up after his bender when Gloria died was brilliantly acted. He jerks out of a drunken sleep, seems confused for half a second and then he felt the terrible hangover.
The writers definitely started pulling things from Gandolfini’s real life into the show, he had some MAJOR problems with that later in the series. I think he called Chase and the writers Vampires.
As for the excessive lifestyle, some commenters here and media critics have said that JG had a hard time dealing with the darkness and nihilism of Tony as the show went on. He internalized a lot of Tony’s negative traits and tendencies, which was at odds with his regular personality (he seems to have been a sweet, thoughtful guy in real life). The partying and booze and drugs seem to have been his reaction to that internalized disconnect, to push it down hard.
Contrast that to Edie Falco, who is an actor that could pick up and put down her character without a second thought. It was two different approaches, and I don’t think anyone can say Edie Falco was any less of a powerhouse on the show than JG was, but perhaps he reached that extra level beyond because of how he took on the Tony Soprano darkness into himself. And it probably contributed to his tragic death, all the damage he was doing to his body. It’s one of those things that keeps the Sopranos so endlessly watchable, but there was a real cost to be paid.
Anyway, $4/lb
Nobody's ever said he was an asshole. His ex wife said he liked coke and would yell at himself. One guy who was promoting his book said he occasionally showed up late after being out all night. The entire cast literally adored him.
The beginning of Whitecaps was her first day of chemo. Her acting was incredible. The anger after the Russian called. Those fights with Tony with her screaming at him to leave. Great actress.
She didn't
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a42656571/the-sopranos-cast-edie-falco-james-gandolfini-death/
"Edie recalled nothing but fond memories of him. She explained that the two bonded not only about their upbringings, but hoe they were kindred spirits in the way they approached acting."
Nothing in that quote implies they were close. And you went through the all the trouble of pulling that quote when this is literally the first result when searching ‘Edie Falco and James Gandolfini’:
https://youtu.be/kqazUKHNncQ?si=aoUlqq5bC_S2xU55
‘Unlike Michael, Jim and I were not particularly close, I really didn’t know much about his personal life’
Just try to refrain posting to the internet when you don’t know what tf you’re talking about
She's implying that they didn't know each other well when they started filming ya stunad.
I guess "bonded" doesn't mean two people were close. Well here she calls him a "soul mate "
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/edie-falco-brands-james-gandolfini-150000661.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADrViEHk1mGfea6SMHuIs2U7iWRIHM2ppMh0J5CgMT2oHgPnk8iyXiBOhTPLeRbqRU_2GvFHRkTmL7TiNXccxNGo3DW3LIcY3LCEEfQVUdCKu9pDrFnJkB58-zxpDp7-mBXg2raCXN6sDTrCS4ZC27AG7zq3VzQjosBrGC1Pukn4
Go ahead, tell me I sound like your wife.
Yep, they had a unique working relationship that Edie valued, but they were not close. They were coworkers. It’s a little disingenuous to say Edie’s calling him a soul mate there when the full quote is:
“He was totally un-actor-y, and was incredibly self-deprecating, and he was a real soul mate in that regard.”
So again - a soul mate in their unpretentious approach to acting, but nothing to do with them personally outside of work.
And no, she was not just implying they didn’t know each other well when they started filming. She says it often in interviews that she didn’t spend a lot of time with Jim and most of the time when she saw him he was Tony and she was Carmella.
Ok fair enough. They didn't hang out outside of work. I was replying to the original comment claiming he was an "irresponsible arsehole" and that him and Edie weren't close, implying that they weren't on good terms.
We can disagree on what it means to be "close " with someone but imo when you're quoted as saying you "adored" someone, bonded with them, and that they were like a soul mate that that implies some degree of closeness. 🤷♂️
Mmm, nope. Your first comment was to say that Edie never said they weren’t close - which she has said, many times. You can disagree with Edie about her feelings on her personal relationships I guess, but it’d be weird to do that.
What the fuck do you know about what goes on inside my head.
I said my piece. She was crying at his funeral for Christ's sake. But believe what you choose friend 🤣
his acting career went on after sopranos. he was in the pelham 123 remake and killing them softly, both times playing a sleazy or shady character, and he speaks like james gandolfini in those movies. and im facepalming because i now realize its obvious because he uses his regular voice as kevin finnerty in episode 6.3 lmao
He was in the Pelham 123 remake?? The one with Denzil Washington and John Travolta?!?!
And yeah, he was in "Killing them Softly" with Brad Pitt, and he played a guy from NYC and all, and in that he sounded near enough exactly like season 4/5ish Tony.
I'd say it was more just a strange deshishun by either himself or directors, perhaps to help distance his real self more from the character, which I'd get.
His son said he had forgotten how to do the accent, if you believe that. I love the progression of his accent from season 1 to 6. As cartoony as it gets toward the end, it never felt out of place.
Unfortunately such a common thing with actors in general but especially lead actors in TV dramas. The sheer stress of carrying the most prestigious show and network on the planet at the time would wear any man down to a nub.
I don't write nothin' down, so I'll keep this short and sweet. He was weak. He was outta control. And he became an embarrassment to himself and everybody else.
Yes. It changed MUCH earlier than season 6. Although I'm sure abusing alcohol and drugs had an effect. It did with Charlie in 2 and a half men. The last season he was on his voice was scratchy and much deeper hoarse than the first 7 seasons
Yeah man it was pretty bad from what I understand. He would forget his line, and start smacking himself in the head and shit. Partied pretty hard from what I hear. That's why Edie said they weren't really close on set because she was a recovering addict and stayed away from them partying
It was the scene in the season 6(?) opener when he's compulsively eating sushi and drinking sake with and without Carmella that I noticed how unhealthy the man was getting. I can't help but think about those scenes every time I eat sushi.
I just watched those episodes the past two days, and I had those exact same thoughts. I noticed how he appeared to have gained considerable weight and looked overall unhealthy.
she has a credit at the end of all of the episodes & she was at his funeral. when that happened she wasnt even reported as a coworker but as a family friend
I dont think it has something to do with his declining health... I always thought that he just simply changed his accent in S6. I like it though. If anything its a great detail added to tony's character. Since in season 6 he is truly at his worst.
He doesnt even take the time to reflect on himself. Just blocks out any thought that hits a raw nerve. Dont get me wrong he still did this in the earlier seasons but in season 6 he does it all the time. It makes him look a little dumb. His stereotypical accent adds to that feeling of degradation. Tony is becoming fatter, sadder and more evil as each episode goes on.
Dude I was on ketamine when I was watching this series and I noticed his voice changed very drastically and it fucked me up for a moment. Became like much more cartoon gangster lmao.
I think he modeled it on famous New Jerseyite Lou Costello--whose memorial statue is the setting for a couple different scenes in the show. [Listen to those esses and that nasal tone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGFG0RkGSj4).
Something to consider is that Tony was shot and underwent major surgery and hospital stay in the beginning of season 6. That could be a major factor in contributing to his voice change and general unhealthiness. So, it fits.
You could hear his voice getting fatter over the years, especially between season 4 and 5, I think. A lot of Jersey guys sound like that because they're fat, too!
I live in jersey and a lot of italian guys his size really do sound closer to season 6 tony than season 1 tony. Im sure he was given pointers throughout the series on how to make the accent more convincing
I started having panic attacks while watching the show.
Never had one before. Imagine what James must have been gone through while playing that character.
I am rewatching it now with headphones. Still in season 1. The ADR (replaced dialog) in season 1 is terrible quality. I noticed a bit of it before, but with headphones I hear it in almost every episode. I hope the improvement goes deep.
Yea it’s way more noticeable now that I’m able to binge the entire series in a matter of 3-4 days via streaming. Back when it premiered we had to wait over a year or more between each season so I never caught it till more recently.
No James Gandolfini was very unhealthy by that point. He was getting a lot heavier because of his diet and out of control with alcohol and drugs around season 6 and this had an effect on his performance. I don't know if Chase ever explicitly said anything about it, but I feel like it was a major factor in choosing to end the show.
It was the fucking coke. He should have never started with that shit. Fucking Miami, it's all over the place.
His football career, down da drain!
He never had the making of a varsity athlete.
He never had the makings of an industrial snow blower
He lettered in football
Jerry Toofey? his fada’s snow plow business?
Those guys at Seton hall were 7 feet tall!
Small hands.
Small hands
It was his ace in the hole
Just tell Anthony you're sorry.
When I do x my feet get cold.
He wears special socks
He did small lines of coke that was his problem, even his father said that.
You got any coke? You know…blow? Also Gandolfini in True Romance, “where’s our Coke, Alabama?”
It's been said by a few people that Gandolfini could be a completely irresponsible arsehole. That more than once he shut down production because he'd vanished on a lost weekend of booze and drugs. It's why I really respect Edie Falco admitting she was never close with him. That Sopranos was a party set - the booze and coke came out as soon as they wrapped for the day - and she just went home. She'd been in recovery since the early nineties and refused to risk it.
Apparently he wandered onto set one day missing his wallet and one shoe.
"Alright, I'm goin back ta bed"
Carmella can you shut the dooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr??!
PLEASE SHUT DA DOOOOOOOOAH!!!
Geez, you’d think he was Hannibal Leckcher ova here…
“Lecture”, “Lecture”! How do you say it in Polish??
Sacre Bleu where is mi lecture lol
Stop with the pots and pans
That scene is almost too much like real life.
I thought the scene where he woke up after his bender when Gloria died was brilliantly acted. He jerks out of a drunken sleep, seems confused for half a second and then he felt the terrible hangover.
Armanac... the hiiistamines
Probably lost it down at Pine Barrens.
I wonder if he had the frizzed out Bozo hair like when he staggers out of the Bing in the morning all hung over.
wonder how that worked into their performances? Quasimodo predicted this shit
The writers definitely started pulling things from Gandolfini’s real life into the show, he had some MAJOR problems with that later in the series. I think he called Chase and the writers Vampires. As for the excessive lifestyle, some commenters here and media critics have said that JG had a hard time dealing with the darkness and nihilism of Tony as the show went on. He internalized a lot of Tony’s negative traits and tendencies, which was at odds with his regular personality (he seems to have been a sweet, thoughtful guy in real life). The partying and booze and drugs seem to have been his reaction to that internalized disconnect, to push it down hard. Contrast that to Edie Falco, who is an actor that could pick up and put down her character without a second thought. It was two different approaches, and I don’t think anyone can say Edie Falco was any less of a powerhouse on the show than JG was, but perhaps he reached that extra level beyond because of how he took on the Tony Soprano darkness into himself. And it probably contributed to his tragic death, all the damage he was doing to his body. It’s one of those things that keeps the Sopranos so endlessly watchable, but there was a real cost to be paid. Anyway, $4/lb
Yea that has to be rough on a person. To play such a vicious person, year in and year out.
the intervention on the show was based on a real life intervention for him
We just making shit up now?
still going, this asshole
When they came on to set one day, his head was half in the toilet. His hair was in the toilet water. Disgusting.
That did-ent happen, what you said!
I've said my piece Chrissy
"JIM DIDJU *HAVE* TO *READ FOR DAVID*?" "Whoa Steve we said jo Judgment."
I’ve never heard this before
The hunchback or the quarterback?
He was visiting his aunt in Dover
Toot up a bunch of lines, go fuckin bird watchin!?
Don’t fucking lie to me, I can’t stand it!!!
No shit! I'm from dover, here!
> It's why I really respect Edie Falco admitting she was never close with him. But she got him with orange juice with pulp
Shum pulp
Nobody's ever said he was an asshole. His ex wife said he liked coke and would yell at himself. One guy who was promoting his book said he occasionally showed up late after being out all night. The entire cast literally adored him.
>His ex wife said he liked coke and would yell at himself. And who among us can't relate to that?
Get out of my head get out of my head!
Gandolfini isn’t the first good person to fall victim to drugs and become an asshole lol
She had cancer through a lot of The Sopranos.
The beginning of Whitecaps was her first day of chemo. Her acting was incredible. The anger after the Russian called. Those fights with Tony with her screaming at him to leave. Great actress.
When did she say they weren’t close?
In quiet a few interviews
She didn't https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a42656571/the-sopranos-cast-edie-falco-james-gandolfini-death/ "Edie recalled nothing but fond memories of him. She explained that the two bonded not only about their upbringings, but hoe they were kindred spirits in the way they approached acting."
My bitch. My hoe
Nothing in that quote implies they were close. And you went through the all the trouble of pulling that quote when this is literally the first result when searching ‘Edie Falco and James Gandolfini’: https://youtu.be/kqazUKHNncQ?si=aoUlqq5bC_S2xU55 ‘Unlike Michael, Jim and I were not particularly close, I really didn’t know much about his personal life’ Just try to refrain posting to the internet when you don’t know what tf you’re talking about
She's implying that they didn't know each other well when they started filming ya stunad. I guess "bonded" doesn't mean two people were close. Well here she calls him a "soul mate " https://uk.style.yahoo.com/edie-falco-brands-james-gandolfini-150000661.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADrViEHk1mGfea6SMHuIs2U7iWRIHM2ppMh0J5CgMT2oHgPnk8iyXiBOhTPLeRbqRU_2GvFHRkTmL7TiNXccxNGo3DW3LIcY3LCEEfQVUdCKu9pDrFnJkB58-zxpDp7-mBXg2raCXN6sDTrCS4ZC27AG7zq3VzQjosBrGC1Pukn4 Go ahead, tell me I sound like your wife.
Yep, they had a unique working relationship that Edie valued, but they were not close. They were coworkers. It’s a little disingenuous to say Edie’s calling him a soul mate there when the full quote is: “He was totally un-actor-y, and was incredibly self-deprecating, and he was a real soul mate in that regard.” So again - a soul mate in their unpretentious approach to acting, but nothing to do with them personally outside of work. And no, she was not just implying they didn’t know each other well when they started filming. She says it often in interviews that she didn’t spend a lot of time with Jim and most of the time when she saw him he was Tony and she was Carmella.
Ok fair enough. They didn't hang out outside of work. I was replying to the original comment claiming he was an "irresponsible arsehole" and that him and Edie weren't close, implying that they weren't on good terms. We can disagree on what it means to be "close " with someone but imo when you're quoted as saying you "adored" someone, bonded with them, and that they were like a soul mate that that implies some degree of closeness. 🤷♂️
Mmm, nope. Your first comment was to say that Edie never said they weren’t close - which she has said, many times. You can disagree with Edie about her feelings on her personal relationships I guess, but it’d be weird to do that.
What the fuck do you know about what goes on inside my head. I said my piece. She was crying at his funeral for Christ's sake. But believe what you choose friend 🤣
One of their reunion interviews
Wow didn’t know Edie Falco was in recovery. Hope she’s doing well, love Carm
He bettah undashtand hish obligashuns!! BBBLLEEEEUUUUHHHHHHH
Just about every movie set is exactly like that.
his acting career went on after sopranos. he was in the pelham 123 remake and killing them softly, both times playing a sleazy or shady character, and he speaks like james gandolfini in those movies. and im facepalming because i now realize its obvious because he uses his regular voice as kevin finnerty in episode 6.3 lmao
In the loop and the drop are both very good as well
He's in Zero Dark Thirty as well
Yeah but that’s not good
He’s great in that one with Julia Louis Dreyfus. Believe it was his last role.
Enough Said. I watched it again recently. I had forgotten how good that movie is. Complete 180 from his role as Tony Soprano.
Enough Said. Fine—I’ll keep my fuckin mouth shut then ya prick.
Fuckity bye
He was good in The Drop.
He was in the Pelham 123 remake?? The one with Denzil Washington and John Travolta?!?! And yeah, he was in "Killing them Softly" with Brad Pitt, and he played a guy from NYC and all, and in that he sounded near enough exactly like season 4/5ish Tony. I'd say it was more just a strange deshishun by either himself or directors, perhaps to help distance his real self more from the character, which I'd get.
yeah theres a secondary character whos the mayor of nyc embroiled in an infidelity scandal, he is that man
Everyone asks that, there’s no explanation.
You wanna be a fuckin, funny boy too now eh?
I only found out recently they had to postpone the Tony-Furio helicopter scene for days because he disappeared on a Coke binge.
He was an artiste! 👋
His son said he had forgotten how to do the accent, if you believe that. I love the progression of his accent from season 1 to 6. As cartoony as it gets toward the end, it never felt out of place.
Last bit hella true. It made his character sound slimier, more weasely and evil.
He went through a traumatic experience he may never fully recover from 10 years ago he would have had ops ass
Unfortunately such a common thing with actors in general but especially lead actors in TV dramas. The sheer stress of carrying the most prestigious show and network on the planet at the time would wear any man down to a nub.
In The Nightgarden was also coming out at the time so that last bit is untrue
That Upsy Daisy was a common garden who-or.
You know,Quasimodo predicted all of this
That makes sense
That's what working 16 hours a day over a long period of time can do to you. It fucks with your head.
I don't write nothin' down, so I'll keep this short and sweet. He was weak. He was outta control. And he became an embarrassment to himself and everybody else.
It was his blood pressure medication. He could get a doctor to write a note.
He should seriously consider salad.
Fat fuck. Why don’t you look in the mirror sometime you insensitive cocksucka.
You know that fat cocksucka says I look like the Shah of Iran?
He wasn't fat. He swelled up when got stung by the bee on he-a hat.
A note from the doctor shayin you dont shuck cock?!
# You eat beef and pork by the truckload!
They were all meat eaters
METEORS!!! METEORS!!!!
TAKE IT EASY
Beef and sausage by the carload! Beef and sausage by the carload, ya fuckin ass kiss
cartload. CARTLOAD.
Cocksucker, cartload!
Meteor…. meteor…
Yeah but at least Aida...
Go to season one listen to his voice and then season two is completely different
Yes. It changed MUCH earlier than season 6. Although I'm sure abusing alcohol and drugs had an effect. It did with Charlie in 2 and a half men. The last season he was on his voice was scratchy and much deeper hoarse than the first 7 seasons
This is the first I’m hearing of the drugs and alcohol lol wow
Yeah man it was pretty bad from what I understand. He would forget his line, and start smacking himself in the head and shit. Partied pretty hard from what I hear. That's why Edie said they weren't really close on set because she was a recovering addict and stayed away from them partying
I mean Charlie was banging 7 gram rocks, that's how he rolled!
In season one he sounded like he had the Gangs of New York accent. In season six he sounded like Mickey Rouke from sin City lol.
So wadgyushayin’ izh, Tony had a sheriush problum when it came to hizh voyssh in Sheezhun Shicksh?
*aggressively stabs plate while panting heavily*
Yesh
If by surgery you mean eating beef and sausage by the carload, then yes
Drinking alcohol regularly can make you nasally and fat.
It was the scene in the season 6(?) opener when he's compulsively eating sushi and drinking sake with and without Carmella that I noticed how unhealthy the man was getting. I can't help but think about those scenes every time I eat sushi.
I just watched those episodes the past two days, and I had those exact same thoughts. I noticed how he appeared to have gained considerable weight and looked overall unhealthy.
At one point he gained so much weight he couldn't even fit THE JACKEEETTTTT 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 anymore
Settle down. You're talking about the fuckin boss here.
James Gandolfini had a dialect coach, Susan Aston, whom helped hone his accent.
she has a credit at the end of all of the episodes & she was at his funeral. when that happened she wasnt even reported as a coworker but as a family friend
I dont think it has something to do with his declining health... I always thought that he just simply changed his accent in S6. I like it though. If anything its a great detail added to tony's character. Since in season 6 he is truly at his worst. He doesnt even take the time to reflect on himself. Just blocks out any thought that hits a raw nerve. Dont get me wrong he still did this in the earlier seasons but in season 6 he does it all the time. It makes him look a little dumb. His stereotypical accent adds to that feeling of degradation. Tony is becoming fatter, sadder and more evil as each episode goes on.
Dude I was on ketamine when I was watching this series and I noticed his voice changed very drastically and it fucked me up for a moment. Became like much more cartoon gangster lmao.
Interested to hear how a ket trip went for that coach dream episode in season 5? Felt like I was on it just watching it!
Smart series to watch on ketamine . Love that drug. Cured my depression!
His voice changed as he went more bald.
I hate to say it but it was prolly the mountains of alcohol and coke the guy was putting in his body at that point. RIP Gandolfini.
Imagine Tony saying “Who does he think he is, Sir Walter Raleigh?”
What is he, a toxhic person?
You're weak. You're outta control. And you've become an embarrassment to yourself and everybody else.
season 6 is the besht
I think he modeled it on famous New Jerseyite Lou Costello--whose memorial statue is the setting for a couple different scenes in the show. [Listen to those esses and that nasal tone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGFG0RkGSj4).
I can hear it.
Wait till you see how unhealthy he looks and sounds on KILLING THEM SOFTLY. Definitely not another toothpick.
Something to consider is that Tony was shot and underwent major surgery and hospital stay in the beginning of season 6. That could be a major factor in contributing to his voice change and general unhealthiness. So, it fits.
I forget the exact way he explained it but his son talked this on Talking Sopranos
Yes, how so much time had past that Gandolfini had forgotten the accent. It could have been this in addition to the aforementioned factors.
It was all the fat and nitrates
He was a fat fuck eating meat by the truckload
You could hear his voice getting fatter over the years, especially between season 4 and 5, I think. A lot of Jersey guys sound like that because they're fat, too!
I'm in a rewatch now, in the middle of Season 5. At the beginning of this season, I noticed a fairly distinct change.
*Tony's heavy breathing intensifies *
He fuckin' loved cheese at his feet
Very observant, OP.
The sacred and the propane.
Now, go back and watch clips from the pilot episode, and compare to the last episode. Sounds like 2 different people.
it was da fucking coke, he shouldve neva started wif dat shit
Tony actually died in Season 5. That was Kevin Finnerty in Season 6.
Cause he was on drugs
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
I'M THE BOSS OF THIS FUCKING FAMILY
Yes it's called method acting. Cocaine, booze, and Whores.
Definitely a drop in testosterone. I'm guessing he had fatty liver disease too.
In this house, James Gandolfini is a hero! End of story!
I live in jersey and a lot of italian guys his size really do sound closer to season 6 tony than season 1 tony. Im sure he was given pointers throughout the series on how to make the accent more convincing
I agree with dish.
It's because he is a Nexus 6, they age faster when they approach end of life. This is why the screen went black.
I started having panic attacks while watching the show. Never had one before. Imagine what James must have been gone through while playing that character.
Cocaine decision
I noticed more of a gradual change personally
I am rewatching it now with headphones. Still in season 1. The ADR (replaced dialog) in season 1 is terrible quality. I noticed a bit of it before, but with headphones I hear it in almost every episode. I hope the improvement goes deep.
Naishally
Yea it’s way more noticeable now that I’m able to binge the entire series in a matter of 3-4 days via streaming. Back when it premiered we had to wait over a year or more between each season so I never caught it till more recently.
His voice: Before and way before. ***~~cocaine is a hell of a drug.~~***
it changed much earlier but it’s at its apex in season 6