This high school heartthrob’s evolution into TV legend is truly inspiring
“My father sold tires to his father,” Travolta said after Gandolfini died. “I was his inspiration to get into the business…He would see pictures of me on the wall from movies and he decided that he wanted to be an actor.”
Before heading off to Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts, Gandolfini first celebrated his last year at high school with classmates voting him “best looking” and – not surprisingly – “biggest flirt.”
“I [love] this picture of Jimmy and Donna…I always remember him like this…happy kid with that killer smile,” writes one old friend. “It’s a great picture of Jim and Donna,” shares another.
Meanwhile, Duff Lambros remembers his childhood friend as having “a “quiet confidence,” and “a cool dignity.” He said, “Girls loved him. Guys loved him.”
The friend adds, “When he cracked that smile, it wasn’t just teeth, he smiled with his eyes. It felt like the sun was shining.”
Travolta – who shared the screen with Gandfolfini in several films – remembers his long-time family friend as a giant not only as an actor, but also in his personal life. “He was a people person first and then everything else,” Travolta said. “He was this beautiful man and I love him very much.”
Despite Tony Soprano’s imposing presence, Gandolfini exhibited remarkable humility and dedication. He humorously characterized himself as a “260-pound Woody Allen,” emphasizing his unassuming nature despite the larger-than-life character he portrayed on screen.
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