Says he is nothing like "Tony Soprano" in real life, describing his own personality as being more like a "260-pound Woody Allen".

TV mobster Gandolfini turned to the right side of the law when he saw a woman being mugged in his native New York recently. Passers-by were shocked to see the tough-guy step in and rescue a woman when she was knocked down and had her bag snatched whilst walking down a dimly lit street. [November 2001]

Became engaged to Lora Somoza in January 2004. Broke up, amicably, in February 2005.

For his role as Eddie Poole in 8MM (1999), Gandolfini met a variety of real porn directors and producers to get a feel for their line of work and to get a taste of their personalities, and is said to have loosely based his character on several of them.

Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."

Became engaged to Lora Somoza. [January 2004]

Originally cast in the "Carl Hanratty" role in Catch Me If You Can (2002) but had to drop out due to "The Sopranos" (1999).

In Crimson Tide (1995) he played an officer on the U.S.S. Alabama. In True Romance (1993), he beats up a woman named Alabama, played by Patricia Arquette.

Was considered for the role of Ben Grimm/The Thing in Fantastic Four (2005).

In Crimson Tide (1995), James refers to Robert Mitchum and Cary Grant, two actors he also references in "The Sopranos" (1999).

Played Aida Turturro`s father in Romance & Cigarettes (2005) and her brother in "The Sopranos" (1999).

Was in attendance at Chris Penn`s funeral

Has often said Robert De Niro played a considerable role in his decision to become an actor; grew up watching Mean Streets (1973) over and over again.

Italian-American

Once worked as a bouncer.

Is friends with former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani.

Was voted "best-looking" in high school

Has co-starred with John Travolta in four movies: Get Shorty (1995), She`s So Lovely (1997), A Civil Action (1998), and Lonely Hearts (2006).

Well trained in Krav Maga, (an Israeli style of Martial Arts) which he practiced for 2 1/2 years.

Lost more than 40 pounds for his role in The Mexican (2001), but had to gain it all back before shooting for the HBO series "The Sopranos" (1999) because executives didn`t believe the audience would like a "skinny" Tony.

Used to bartend in Manhattan during years as struggling actor.

Financed the construction of a restaurant called Vines in Oneonta, New York for his childhood pal Clive Griffiths, who needed the money to launch it. Griffiths has since paid him back, and then some.

Although he often plays thuggish or brute characters, he is actually somewhat of a pacifist off-stage; he had reservations about continuing his production contract as Tony in "The Sopranos" (1999) due to the show`s violent content and stereotype of Italian-Americans.

He plays the trumpet and saxophone.

Attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Graduated from Park Ridge High School, Park Ridge, New Jersey (1979).

His sister Johanna is a prominent official with the New Jersey Family Court system.