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.
Michael Gandolfini | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 10, 1999 New York City, U.S. |
| Education | New York University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Father | James Gandolfini |
Early life
editGandolfini 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
editAfter 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, a war film written and directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.[10]
Personal life
editHe has been sober since 2017. [11] As of January 2024, he has been in a relationship with fellow actress Mia Healey.[12]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| 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 | |
| 2025 | Warfare | TBA | Post-production |
Television
edit| † | 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 | Episode: "A Stand Up Guy" |
| 2023 | Extrapolations | Rowan Chopin | Episode: "2059 Part I: Face of God" |
| 2025 | Daredevil: Born Again † | Daniel Blade | Upcoming series; post-production |
References
edit- ^ 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]...
- ^ Ryan, Joal (October 18, 2002). "Gandolfini Comes Clean". E! News. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b "James Gandolfini's Son Michael Says His Dad Never Wanted Him to Be an Actor". etonline.com. August 13, 2019.
- ^ "James Gandolfini discovered by 13-year-old son". The Daily Telegraph. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
- ^ Pope, Nick (September 20, 2021). "The Making of Michael Gandolfini". Esquire UK. Hearst UK.
- ^ "James Gandolfini Cause of Death: Autopsy Confirms Heart Attack Killed 'Sopranos' Star, Source Says". HuffPost. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ a b "Michael Gandolfini Opens Up About the Difficult Decision to Portray Tony Soprano". Esquire. August 13, 2019.
- ^ "'Sopranos' Prequel Film Finds Young Tony: Michael Gandolfini Is Chip Off Old Block". Deadline Hollywood. January 22, 2019.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (October 3, 2019). "Ciara Bravo Joins Tom Holland in Russo Brother's Next Film (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Kaloi, Stephanie (January 27, 2024). "All About James Gandolfini's Son, Michael Gandolfini". People. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ Mangalindan, JP (January 10, 2024). "Michael Gandolfini, Son of Late Sopranos Star James Gandolfini, Attends Show's 25th Anniversary Celebration". People. Retrieved November 4, 2024.