How James Gandolfini Changed Tony's Character On The Sopranos

As "The Sopranos" unfolds, viewers get glimpses of Tony Soprano's softer, more vulnerable side, typically through his therapy appointments. Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) is able to chip away at the crime boss in ways that few — if any — other people in Tony's life can do, getting closer and closer to the root of his complex emotions. Nevertheless, he wears a durable emotional mask for much of the series and never shies away from getting violent if a situation calls for it. According to David Chase, this side of Tony came from James Gandolfini himself.

"Jim showed me early on how much of a prick that guy would have to be," Chase told Written By magazine (via Mental Floss) in 2007, revisiting an instance where Gandolfini unexpectedly went off-script. Instead of simply slapping Michael Imperioli's Christopher Moltisanti, as the script called for, an in-character Gandolfini aggressively grabbed him by the collar and nearly lifted him off of the ground. Initially stunned, Chase soon got what Gandolfini was going for. "That guy is surviving the mob. He's really a dangerous person. He's not a fun guy," he recalled thinking to himself.

Tony Soprano's ruthless side proved just the right contrast to his more subdued, contemplative one. Considering how revered the character and the show he comes from are today, it goes without saying that James Gandolfini made the correct call with his change.