The Cast of ‘The Sopranos’ Remembers James Gandolfini on the Show’s 20th Anniversary

Credit: Getty Images

The Cast of 'The Sopranos' Remembers James Gandolfini on the Show's 20th Anniversary

It’s been 20 years since The Sopranos debuted on HBO on January 10, 1999, but show lead James Gandolfini, who passed away in 2013, hasn’t been forgotten by the series' viewers — or the rest of the cast. [ami-related id="4954" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/most-shocking-celebrity-deaths-of-all-time/" title="Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time" target="" showsubt="false" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/luke-perry-Most-shocking-celebrity-deaths.jpg"] The HBO star was remembered by his former castmates, including Vincent Pastore, Robert Iler and Annabella Sciorra, at The Sopranos 20th anniversary party at the SVA Theatre in New York City on Wednesday, January 9. Us Weekly reported that Gandolfini, who played show lead and crime boss Tony Soprano, died of a heart attack while vacationing in Rome on June 19, 2013. He was 51 years old. "We're all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family," the network said in a statement to Us at the time. "He was a special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone, no matter their title or position, with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us." Scroll through to find out what his costars had to say about their beloved friend. With reporting by Nicki Gostini

Credit: Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Vincent Pastore

“My favorite memory of working with Jimmy was working with him,” Pastore, who played Salvatore “Big P—sy” Bonpensiero, tells Us. “Just getting on the set, I couldn't wait to work with him, to do our scenes together ... The biggest memory was the last episode, because everyone was so upset that I wasn't going to be on anymore. Tony Sirico, Little Steven was very, very upset, Jimmy was upset and I remember that day specifically.”

The 72-year-old actor says that Gandolfini would’ve shied away from the series' 20-year celebration, however: “I don't think he would even want to come. He was very shy. He didn't like this stuff.”

Credit: Mike Coppola/WireImage

Lorraine Bracco

The real-life Dr. Jennifer Melfi remembers her castmate's stage presence. “When I close my eyes, one thing I always loved about him was his broken tooth, but I remember him settling into that chair,” she tells Us. “We used to shove our lines into the chairs. Getting himself comfy.”

Credit: Mike Coppola/WireImage

Robert Iler

“He was such a great person,” Iler recalls of the Enough Said star. “There was none of this, you know 'Hollywood bulls--t.' It wasn't this fake kissy ... You know, when the cameras were around, he was like, 'Grr.' He didn't want pictures of us kissing each other on the cheek or hugging. He wanted the real relationship to be in real life, and that's where it was.”

Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Annabella Sciorra

The Emmy winner’s ability to make Sciorra feel comfortable endeared him to her. “I was really visibly shaking at the first read through and I remember Jim sitting to my right and he took my hand and tickled and I started laughing and that put me at ease,” she says. “I'll always remember that about him.”

Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Steven Van Zandt

Like Pastore, Van Zandt says that it was the everyday moments he remembers most from Gandolfini’s time on set. “Working with him every single day. His attitude of just accepting me as an actor which he didn't have to do,” the musician tells Us. “I was acting for the first time and he treated me just like he treated everyone else, with total respect. So that's the main thing I remember, making me feel comfortable on the set. I was very nervous and every scene I did with him, you walk away a better actor.”