James Gandolfini: A Life in Pictures
As the tributes to James Gandolfini, who died on Wednesday at the age of 51, continue to come in, here’s a look back at the actor’s life and career in photos, from some of the first shots of the iconic Tony Soprano, to happy moments Gandolfini shared with his co-stars throughout the years. As Matt Zoller Seitz puts it, “You could sense the goodness in him, no matter how tortured and tormented his characters were. It was there in those sad eyes and that radiant smile.”
James Gandolfini, as Tony Soprano, smokes a cigar while standing in pool in a 1999 publicity still for the The Sopranos.
James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in The Sopranos.
Photo: Getty Images
James Gandolfini in scene from The Sopranos.
Photo: Anthony Neste//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
James Gandolfini and Lorraine Bracco at the New York City premiere of The Sopranos in 1999.
Photo: Steve Azzara/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini on the set of Surviving Christmas.
Photo: Susanne Tenner SMPSP/DreamWorks Pictures/? 2004 Dreamworks L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in season three of The Sopranos.
Photo: HBO
Robert Iler, James Gandolfini, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler at the season two premiere of The Sopranos.
Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect
Lorraine Bracco And James Gandolfini in The Sopranos.
Photo: Getty Images
Tony Sirico, Steve Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli And Vincent Pastore in The Sopranos.
Photo: Getty Images
James Gandolfini holds his Emmy for "Lead Actor in a Drama Series" in 2000.
Photo: LUCY NICHOLSON
James Gandolfini and Vincent Pastore in 2000.
Photo: Gregory Pace/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini and Lorraine Bracco at The Sopranos' season three premiere.
Photo: Gregory Pace/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini arrives at the 7th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2001.
Photo: ? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini tips his cap to the crowd after reading Lou Gehrig's farewell speech as part of Project ALS Day in Yankee Stadium on June 1, 2002.
P...James Gandolfini tips his cap to the crowd after reading Lou Gehrig's farewell speech as part of Project ALS Day in Yankee Stadium on June 1, 2002.
Photo: ? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini and Julia Roberts in The Mexican.
Photo: Merrick Morton/Dreamworks/Newsmakers
James Gandolfini and Jon Bon Jovi at the the season four premiere of The Sopranos.
Photo: Gregory Pace/CORBIS
James Gandolfini and Robert Iler at the 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2003.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
James Gandolfini accepts his outstanding male actor in a drama television series award for his role in The Sopranos, at the ninth annual Screen Actors...
James Gandolfini accepts his outstanding male actor in a drama television series award for his role in The Sopranos, at the ninth annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2003.
Photo: Reuters/CORBIS
James Gandolfini and Edie Falco at the 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2003.
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2003 Getty Images
Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini and the premiere of Surviving Christmas in 2004.
Photo: Frank Trapper/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Edie Falco, James Gandolfini and Lorraine Bracco at The Sopranos: The Complete Fifth Season DVD launch party in 2005.
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images
James Gandolfini talks about his film All The King's Men at the 31st annual Toronto International Film Festival in 2006.
Photo: Warren Toda/epa/Corbi...James Gandolfini talks about his film All The King's Men at the 31st annual Toronto International Film Festival in 2006.
Photo: Warren Toda/epa/Corbis
James Gandolfini and John Travolta at the Lonely Hearts press conference during the 5th Annual Tribeca Film Festival in 2006.
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/G...James Gandolfini and John Travolta at the Lonely Hearts press conference during the 5th Annual Tribeca Film Festival in 2006.
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images for TFF
James Gandolfini at the HBO Emmy After Party following the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006.
Photo: Jackson Lee/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini at the sixth season premiere of The Sopranos in 2006.
Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
James Gandolfini, creator and executive producer David Chase, and actress Edie Falco at the HBO premiere after party for The Sopranos in 2007.
Photo:...James Gandolfini, creator and executive producer David Chase, and actress Edie Falco at the HBO premiere after party for The Sopranos in 2007.
Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
James Gandolfini as King of the Krewe of Bacchus during Mardi Gras in 2007.
Photo: SEAN GARDNER/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
James Gandolfini and Deborah Lin at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007.
Photo: Vince Bucci/2007 Getty Images
James Gandolfini and the cast of The Sopranos accept the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award on stage at the 14th annual Sc...
James Gandolfini and the cast of The Sopranos accept the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award on stage at the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2008.
Photo: Moloshok/Reuters/Corbis
James Gandolfini onstage at the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2008.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Tony Sirico, James Gandolfini and Vincent Pastore attend the after party for The Cinema Society and The New Yorker screening of In The Loop in 2009.
...Tony Sirico, James Gandolfini and Vincent Pastore attend the after party for The Cinema Society and The New Yorker screening of In The Loop in 2009.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels at the God Of Carnage Broadway photo call in 2009.
Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Imag...Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels at the God Of Carnage Broadway photo call in 2009.
Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
James Gandolfini attends the 2009 New York Film Critic's Circle Awards.
Photo: Fernando Leon/Retna Digital
James Gandolfini watches The Dallas Cowboys play The New York Jets on September 11, 2011.
Photo: Richard A. Brightly/Icon SMI/? Corbis. All Rights R...James Gandolfini watches The Dallas Cowboys play The New York Jets on September 11, 2011.
Photo: Richard A. Brightly/Icon SMI/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Saoirse Ronan, James Gandolfini and Alexis Bledel, stars of Violet & Daisy, at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Photo: George Piment...Saoirse Ronan, James Gandolfini and Alexis Bledel, stars of Violet & Daisy, at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage
James Gandolfini and wife Deborah Lin attend the premiere of Zero Dark Thirty in December 2012.
Photo: Russ Elliot/AdMedia/Russ Elliot/AdMedia
James Gandolfini at the L.A. premiere of Nicky Deuce in May 2013.
Photo: Birdie Thompson/Birdie Thompson/AdMedia