Between 1999 and 2007, HBO broke the mold of TV series when it ran The Sopranos. The show would go on to garner a staggering 111 Emmy nominations in that time, redefining television in the process as it broke barriers and pushed boundaries in ways that opened the door for R-Rated shows to become as commonplace as they are today. Though many cast members from it were excellent, none of the roles stood out as much as the lead character, Tony Soprano, whose portrayal became a career-defining role for James Gandolfini.

His riveting and superbly nuanced approach to the role was almost Brando-esque as it made Gandolfini the Godfather of TV mobsters. With his life indelibly marked by the character, Gandolfini went on to have a terrific career that included many supporting roles in a host of hit films like Zero Dark Thirty and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. However, no matter how...