Sun Sep 08 00:10:00 UTC 2024: ## “Sopranos” Star James Gandolfini Secretly Gave Castmates $30,000 Each, Except One
A new HBO documentary, “Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos,” sheds light on the late James Gandolfini’s generosity towards his fellow “Sopranos” cast members. According to series creator David Chase, Gandolfini gave each of his co-stars $30,000, except for Edie Falco, who played his onscreen wife, Carmella.
Falco, who was unaware of the payments, expressed confusion but admitted, “That sounds like him. He was a very good-hearted kind man, looking out for his friends.”
Chase revealed that Gandolfini felt HBO had unfairly treated the cast during salary negotiations, motivating him to compensate them. He also attributed the gesture to Gandolfini’s struggles with substance abuse and the demanding nature of leading a major television series.
Fellow cast member Drea de Matteo confirmed Gandolfini’s generosity, stating that he called them individually to his trailer and gave them checks. She defended Gandolfini, stating that they all had “a great f–king time” during filming and that he wasn’t the only one who struggled with the demanding schedule.
The documentary also delves into Gandolfini’s struggles with fame and the blurring of lines between his persona and the character he portrayed. Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti, described how Gandolfini’s life changed dramatically after the show’s success, leading to a loss of privacy and fans mistaking him for Tony Soprano.
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