'Sopranos' Creator Reveals the 1 Thing That Concerned Him About James Gandolfini

Before hiring James Gandolfini for the role of Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, the show's creator admitted to having one specific concern about the actor. 

In the new biography titled Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, series author Jason Bailey detailed a conversation that the show's creator David Chase had about Gandolfini prior to bringing him on.

"All right, here’s the deal,” Chase was quoted as saying (via Vulture). "I think he’s brilliant. I have one concern, and that is, is he threatening enough?"

"David, if your only concern is is he threatening enough..." replied Gandolfini's then-manager, Nancy Sanders. "If you said to me, ‘He’s a little chubby,’ or ‘He’s losing his hair,’ I could understand. But he’s threatening enough. This is your guy."

Once Gandolfini came in for a reading, it became abundantly clear to Chase that he was, indeed, Tony Soprano. He accepted the gig, which turned out to be an 8-year job that turned out six seasons of incredible television. 

However, it wasn't a secret that Gandolfini often struggled with the role. In the documentary Wise Guy, Chase discussed how the actor "had to go places that were destructive to him, and painful for him" (via USA Today). Those who worked with Gandolfini also noted that the actor would frequently threaten to quit the show. He stuck with it — and was rewarded handsomely. The role earned him three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe Award — and a nice paycheck.

Gandolfini died of a heart attack in 2013. He was 51 years old.