Viewers followed Tony as he tried to juggle everyday life at home in New Jersey with his role as the boss of a notorious crime family. At times, he struggled to do so. His serial womanizing tested his marriage to Carmela, and his short temper often made waves with his mother, Livia Soprano , his nephew Christopher Moltisanti and other close relatives.
And yet, fans loved tuning in to Tony’s antics week after week, flaws and all. In fact, they grew so attached to his character over the years that some had trouble separating real life from fiction. “I was living in the meat-market district on the far West Side [of New York City], below 14th Street,” Gandolfini recalled toin April 2007, two months before the series finale aired. “I heard this banging on the outside door and screaming. It was late, like after midnight. So I opened the door, and the guy turns white. All of a sudden I realize, ‘Oh, f–k, he thinks I’m Tony.’”
Viewers were also entranced by Meadow and A.J., who quickly became aware of their father’s criminal activities as the show went on, as well as Christopher’s struggles with love, addiction and trying to live up to his uncle’s expectations.-created series took home 21 Primetime Emmys, five Golden Globes and two Peabody Awards, among other accolades.