Gandolfini

Gandolfini is an Italian surname. It is derived from the given name Gandolfo, itself from older Germanic elements, with the -ini suffix forming a patronymic meaning “descendants of Gandolfo.” The name is found in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities, particularly in the United States.

The most prominent bearer of the name is James Gandolfini (1961–2013), an American actor renowned for his portrayal of Tony Soprano in the HBO series The Sopranos. The role earned him widespread critical acclaim and multiple major television awards. Beyond television, Gandolfini had a substantial film career with appearances in titles such as True Romance (1993), Get Shorty (1995), The Mexican (2001), and Enough Said (2013). He died in Rome, Italy, in 2013 at the age of 51.

Michael Gandolfini (born 1999) is an American actor and the son of James Gandolfini. He gained attention for portraying a younger Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark (2021), a prequel to The Sopranos, continuing the association of the Gandolfini name with the crime drama genre and the work of his late father.