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Michael Gandolfini

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Gandolfini
Born (1999-05-10) May 10, 1999 (age 25)
New York City, U.S.
EducationNew York University
OccupationActor
Years active2011–present
FatherJames Gandolfini

Michael Gandolfini (born May 10, 1999) is an American actor. Gandolfini made his major film debut in Ocean's 8 (2018) and appeared in The Many Saints of Newark (2021), in which he played the role of Tony Soprano, which was originally portrayed by his father James Gandolfini in the television series The Sopranos.

Early life

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Gandolfini was born on May 10, 1999, in New York City[1][2][3][4] to actor James Gandolfini and Marcy Wudarski. He is of Italian, Polish, and Slovak heritage, and has a younger half-sister from his father's second marriage. While he was a teenager, Gandolfini enjoyed performing, but his father advised against an acting career; he wanted him to pursue sports or "be a director. They have the power," he said.[3][5]

His father James Gandolfini died at age 51 of a heart attack in Rome on June 19, 2013.[6]

Career

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After his father's death, Michael Gandolfini decided to pursue acting. He enrolled at New York University after graduating from high school. After early auditions, he was cast in the HBO drama series The Deuce as Joey Dwyer.[7] In 2019, he was cast in The Many Saints of Newark to play the young version of Tony Soprano, the role played by his father in the television series The Sopranos.[8] Gandolfini had never watched the show. He described watching it while preparing for the role as an intense process.[7] He was later cast in the Russo brothers' crime drama Cherry.[9] In 2024, he was cast in Warfare, an A24 war movie written and directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Down the Shore Kid on the ride
2018 Ocean's 8 Busboy
2019 The Boy, the Dog and the Clown Weston
2021 Cherry Cousin Joe
The Many Saints of Newark Tony Soprano
2022 The Independent Justin
2023 Cat Person Peter
Landscape with Invisible Hand Hunter Marsh
Beau Is Afraid Beau's Son
2024 Bob Marley: One Love Howard Bloom
TBA Warfare Filming

Television

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Key
Denotes series that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2013 James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend Self Television documentary
2018–2019 The Deuce Joey Dwyer Recurring role, 10 episodes
2020 Acting for a Cause Benvolio 1 episode
2022 The Offer Andy Calhoun Miniseries, 1 episode
2023 Extrapolations Rowan Chopin Miniseries, 1 episode
2025 Daredevil: Born Again Daniel Blade Upcoming series; Post-production

References

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  1. ^ Jacobs, Deborah L. (August 7, 2013). "James Gandolfini's Will Reflects A Parent's Dilemma". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2019. His son Michael, from his marriage to Marcy Wudarski, was 14 when Gandolfini died suddenly in June [2013]...
  2. ^ Ryan, Joal (October 18, 2002). "Gandolfini Comes Clean". E! News. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "James Gandolfini's Son Michael Says His Dad Never Wanted Him to Be an Actor". etonline.com. August 13, 2019.
  4. ^ "James Gandolfini discovered by 13-year-old son". The Daily Telegraph. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  5. ^ Pope, Nick (September 20, 2021). "The Making of Michael Gandolfini". Esquire UK. Hearst UK.
  6. ^ "James Gandolfini Cause of Death: Autopsy Confirms Heart Attack Killed 'Sopranos' Star, Source Says". HuffPost. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Michael Gandolfini Opens Up About the Difficult Decision to Portray Tony Soprano". Esquire. August 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "'Sopranos' Prequel Film Finds Young Tony: Michael Gandolfini Is Chip Off Old Block". Deadline Hollywood. January 22, 2019.
  9. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 3, 2019). "Ciara Bravo Joins Tom Holland in Russo Brother's Next Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "Noah Centineo, Michael Gandolfini, Henrique Zaga, Taylor John Smith, Adain Bradley and Evan Holtzman Join Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's 'Warfare' at A24". April 10, 2024.
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