Former castmates of “The Sopranos” star James Gandolfini paid tribute as Monday marked the 10-year anniversary of the actor’s death.
Among them was Michael Imperioli, whose “Sopranos” character, Christopher Moltisanti, was the protégé of Gandolfini’s mob boss Tony Soprano.
“It’s so very strange that it’s 10 years today since you left us,” Imperioli captioned an Instagram photo showing them together at the 2003 Emmy Awards.
“Would love to have shot one more scene or had another laugh or one more late night chat. Forever grateful to have done so much work together, to have spent so much time in your company and for all the generosity and kindness.”
Gandolfini, who was born in Westwood, New Jersey, died of a heart attack in 2013 at age 51. Three months later, his romantic drama film “Enough Said” co-starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus hit theaters.
“What was so particularly touching about working with him is that I feel as if the character he played in ‘Enough Said’ was very close to who he was as a person: a tender-hearted guy; soft; a vulnerable, even insecure guy,” Louis-Dreyfus told USA Today in an interview published Monday.
“I believe that’s why his depiction of Tony Soprano was so extraordinary, because there is that incredible vulnerability underneath it that was present all the time.”
Gandolfini won three Emmys for “The Sopranos,” which aired for six seasons on HBO from 1999 to 2007. A prequel film, “The Many Saints of Newark,” came out in 2021 with the actor’s son, Michael Gandolfini, playing a younger version of Tony.
Michael Gandolfini, 24, paid tribute to his dad on Sunday for Father’s Day.
“I love you,” he captioned a throwback Instagram photo. “Today, tomorrow, and everyday. I miss you, I love you.”
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