When James Gandolfini died suddenly at the age of 51, there was an outpouring of sympathy and sorrow around the world. As Tony Soprano, Gandolfini was the face of a new golden age of television, and his portrayal of the New Jersey mobster has become part of American mythology. In Gandolfini: the real life of the man who made Tony Soprano, journalist Dan Bischoff pays tribute to this remarkable actor. Bischoff shows us how a boy from a typical Italian-American family became one of the world’s biggest stars, and examines not only Gandolfini’s struggles with fame and relationships, but also the cultural significance of his career. Gandolfini: the real life of the man who made Tony Soprano is an intimate, intelligent portrait of its subject, who is destined to be regarded as one of television’s most enduring icons.