James Gandolfini

Cast in the Broadway production of Yasmina Reza’s "God of Carnage"; earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play

Played a peace-loving general in the political satire "In The Loop"

Voiced Carol in Spike Jonze's live-action adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are"

Executive produced the HBO documentary on the Iraq War, "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq"; the film features Gandolfini interviewing numerous disabled veterans

Played a homicide detective in "Lonely Hearts," which is based on the true story the notorious Lonely Hearts Killers of the 1940s

Cast in Steven Zaillian's big-screen adaptation of the Robert Penn Warren novel "All the King's Men"

Cast opposite Kate Winslet, as a two-timing husband who must choose between his mistress and his beleaguered wife in "Romance & Cigarettes," helmed by John Turturro (film released theatrically in 2007)

Reprised his role in "Be Cool" the sequel to the 1995 hit "Get Shorty"

Co-starred with Ben Affleck and Christina Applegate in the comedy "Surviving Christmas"

Played a cheating husband in the Coen brothers' film noir "The Man Who Wasn't There"

Portrayed a hit man with a sensitive side in "The Mexican"

Appeared as a pornographer in Joel Schumacher's "8mm"

Became a bona fide star and unlikely sex symbol as Tony Soprano, a gangster having a midlife crisis, in the acclaimed HBO drama "The Sopranos"; received Emmy (1999, 2004, 2007), Golden Globe (2001, 2002, 2003) and SAG (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007) nominations for Best Actor

Featured as a concerned parent in "A Civil Action" starring John Travolta

Delivered a memorable turn as a drunkenly abusive neighbor in "She's So Lovely"

Featured in the L.A. stage play "Remembrance"; produced by Sean Penn and starring Penn's parents Leo Penn and Eileen Ryan

Reteamed with Lumet for "Night Falls on Manhattan"

TV movie debut as Juror Number 6 in the Showtime remake of "12 Angry Men"

Supported Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore in "The Juror"

Cast as the supply officer in Tony Scott's "Crimson Tide"

Played a stuntman in "Get Shorty" opposite John Travolta

Returned to Broadway as Charley Malloy in the ill-fated stage adaptation of "On the Waterfront"

First leading role, as the title character's plumber beau in "Angie" opposite Geena Davis

Breakthrough film role as the hitman Virgil in "True Romance" directed by Tony Scott

Cast as John Cusack's brother in "Money for Nothing"

Broadway debut playing Steve Hubbell in the revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire"; also starring Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange

Film debut, "A Stranger Among Us"; first collaboration with Sidney Lumet

Acted in off-off- and off-Broadway productions

Born and raised in New Jersey

Stage acting debut in "Big El's Best Friend"

Taken by a friend to an acting class in the late 1980s

Worked various jobs, including as a bouncer, nightclub manager and truck driver