James Gandolfini's Struggles On Set: Excesses of Consumption
New book reveals the challenges faced by James Gandolfini while filming 'The Sopranos'
James Gandolfini's Unreliability on Set
According to Mark Kamine's book, 'On Locations: Lessons Learned from My Life On Set with The Sopranos and in the Film Industry,' James Gandolfini, star of 'The Sopranos,' became increasingly unreliable on set as his drinking became more difficult to hide. The author recounts an incident during the filming of the season four episode 'Pie-O-My' when Gandolfini and several others went out all night in Atlantic City. The next morning, Gandolfini showed up four hours late and unprepared for shooting.
Kamine describes in his book how Gandolfini struggled through the day, cursing his way through half-learned lines, and relying on coffee and water to keep going. The actor's fame and discomfort with it also contributed to his unreliability. In fact, HBO reportedly added a clause to his new deal, making him responsible for shoot-day costs if he missed work due to his 'excesses of consumption.'
The Effects of Playing Tony Soprano
Playing the character of Tony Soprano took a toll on James Gandolfini. According to a GQ article published around the time of his death, the actor's ex-wife described serious issues with drugs and alcohol. Witnesses on set claimed that Gandolfini would frequently punch himself in the face out of frustration during arguments and struggles to remember lines.
In his book, Mark Kamine also highlights Gandolfini's frustration and awe towards his onscreen wife, Edie Falco's professionalism. The author writes about how Gandolfini often arrived on set not fully in character and relied on the script supervisor to feed him lines. Despite the challenges, Gandolfini's expressive features and impactful performance made him integral to the success of the show.
Support from Castmates
James Gandolfini's struggles on set did not go unnoticed by his fellow cast members. According to Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played Gandolfini's daughter on 'The Sopranos,' the actor would often question himself and express doubts about his performance. However, his dedication to helping his co-stars give their best performances was unwavering.
In an excerpt from James Andrew Miller's book, 'Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers,' Gandolfini is quoted as saying, 'You don’t understand what this is doing to me.' Despite his personal challenges, Gandolfini's talent and ability to transcend traditional acting made him a beloved figure among his colleagues.
