James Gandolfini James Gandolfini James Joseph Gandolfini Jr. (September 18, 1961 – June 19, 2013) was an American actor best known for his role as Tony Soprano, the Italian-American crime boss in HBO's television series "The Sopranos". He was widely hailed for his performance, winning three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Golden Globe Award. His notable film roles include mob henchman Virgil in "True Romance" (1993), Lt. Bobby Dougherty in "Crimson Tide" (1995), and Mayor of New York in "The Taking of Pelham 123" (2009). Other roles are enforcer and stuntman Bear in "Get Shorty" (1995) and impulsive
Livia Soprano standing over him. David Chase, the creator of "The Sopranos", based Livia heavily on his own mother, Norma Chase. He described her as being paranoid, sharp-tongued, abusive, and disregarding her son's career achievements. Many of Livia's memorable lines, such as "Poor you" or "daughters are better at taking care of their mothers than sons," are what Norma Chase would say. Just like Tony Soprano, David Chase spent time in psychotherapy. Livia Soprano Olivia "Livia" Soprano (née Pollio), played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series "The Sopranos". She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A