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James Gandolfini’s TV wife yesterday remembered the man who played burly tough guy Tony Soprano as generous and caring in real life.
“He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words,” said Edie Falco, who played Carmela Soprano.
The tumultuous HBO marriage saw its share of ups and downs.
But Falco said, “The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I’ve ever known.”
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Falco, who was “shocked and devastated” when she heard that Gandolfini had died, spent six seasons playing the matriarch of the Soprano clan and said she was “lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague.”
“My heart goes out to his family, as those of us in his pretend one hold on to the memories of our intense and beautiful time together.”
And Vincent Pastore, who played “Big Pussy” on “The Sopranos,” recalled one fond memory of Gandolfini sharing his wealth after he got a raise.
“Me and about five other actors, we got a check,” Pastore said on the Sirius Radio show “Editor’s Hour with Jess Cagle.”
“I called up Jimmy and said, ‘What’s this?’ and he said, ‘Well, you know, I got a raise and I wanted to send you guys some money.’ Who does that?” Pastore asked.
He said that from the initial script readings, Gandolfini was a “leader.”
“I mean it’s just what he did. He just drove us into this unity as a family and when we went to work it was a joy and he’s gonna be missed,” Pastore said.
Another “Sopranos” co-star, Michael Imperioli — who played Christopher Moltisanti — said “Jimmy treated us all like family with a generosity, loyalty and compassion that is rare in this world. Working with him was a pleasure and a privilege.”
Gandolfini’s on-screen daughter was “heartbroken” when she heard the news and remembers always looking up to the father figure.
“I spent 10 years of my life studying and admiring one of the most brilliant actors, yes, but more importantly, one of the greatest men,” Jamie-Lynn Sigler told Us Weekly.
Brad Pitt, who starred in three movies with Gandolfini, said he was “gutted by this loss.”
He added that he admired “Jimmy as a ferocious actor, a gentle soul and a genuinely funny man.”