James Gandolfini
Actor

James Gandolfini continued a family tradition when he followed the lead of his two older sisters and attended Rutgers, where he majored in communication. He planned on a career managing bars and clubs but his life’s path changed when he took an acting class, taught by another Rutgers alumnus, when he was 25. The acting “bug” bit Mr. Gandolfini hard, and he developed a strong affinity for the art.

He appeared in a score of films and made his Broadway debut in 1992. While his film career has seen him in major roles opposite such stars as Julia Roberts and Robert Redford, it was the smaller screen of television that led to his greatest fame. As the star of the acclaimed Home Box Office series The Sopranos, he portrays a conflicted New Jersey mobster. His superbly nuanced performance has earned him multiple Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. Yet, he has never forgotten his New Jersey roots, or his alma mater, which he has supported by appearing in commercials supporting Rutgers athletics.

Gandolfini graduated from Rutgers College with a degree in Communication.