The Early Days

Before James Gandolfini, who died earlier this week, landed the role of Tony Soprano, he was living the more stereotypical New York City starving actor existence. In fact, he was profiled in a 1988 Times article on young renters, and Gothamist dug up the clip. "Since moving to New York City four years ago, Mr. Gandolfini, 26 years old, has never had his name on a lease, never paid more than $400 a month in rent and never lived in one place more than 10 months. His wanderer's existence has given him sojourns, some as brief as two months, in Hoboken, N.J.; Astoria, Queens; Clinton and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and Park Slope and Flatbush in Brooklyn." [Gothamist]