A deeply reported perceptive and celebratory biography of beloved actor James Gandolfini from
a prominent critic and film historianMore than a decade after his sudden passing James
Gandolfini still exerts a powerful pull on television and film enthusiasts around the world.
His charismatic portrayal of complex flawed but always human men illuminated the
contradictions in all of us as well as our potential for grace and the power of love and
family. In Gandolfini critic and historian Jason Bailey traces the twinned stories of the man
and the unforgettable roles he played. Gandolfini's roots were working class raised in
northern New Jersey as the son of Italian immigrants and acting was something he loved for a
long time before he could see it as a career. It wasn't until he was well into his bohemian
twenties that he dedicated himself to a life on the stage and screen. Bailey traces his rise
from bit parts to character roles he enlivened with menace and vulnerability to Tony Soprano
the breakout role that would make him a legend and onto a post-Sopranos career in which he
continued to challenge himself and his audience. Based on extensive research and original
reporting including interviews with friends and collaborators Gandolfini is a detailed and
nuanced appraisal of an enduring artist.
