David Chase Addresses Reports of James Gandolfini "Going Missing" from "The Sopranos" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 03-30-2026, 05:29 PM

David Chase Addresses Reports about James Gandolfini "Going Missing" from "The Sopranos" Set
by Marina Watts
March 30, 2026

Despite having his own process, James Gandolfini was a team player on the set of "The Sopranos".

In an interview with The Guardian published on March 27, "The Sopranos" creator David Chase spoke about working with the late actor, who died in 2013 at 51.

When asked about recent reports that Gandolfini would go missing for days from set while portraying the complex Tony Soprano, Chase shared his perspective.

“Well, fortunately, I wasn’t the one who dealt with him going missing,” he said. “That was Ilene Landress, our line manager. She was the one who found out where he was and did everything that needed to be done.”

Chase then put to rest any rumors that Gandolfini would need space from his onscreen persona. “He never refused to do anything. He never said, ‘I’m gonna go wait in my trailer, and when you’re ready to shoot it the way I want it, come get me.’ That never happened.”

Chase compared his experience with Gandolfini to working on the 1990s era drama "Northern Exposure", recalling two trailers in the set's parking lot that needed to be exactly the same distance from set.

"The first assistant director was out there with a long tape measure, measuring the distance from one trailer to the front door and then the other trailer to the front door, because neither one of the two stars wanted to have a longer walk than the other. Now that wasn’t a happy set.”

https://ew.com/sopranos-showrunner-j...umors-11937034

03-30-2026, 05:29 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,223	David Chase Addresses Reports of James Gandolfini "Going Missing" from "The Sopranos" *David Chase Addresses Reports about James Gandolfini "Going Missing" from "The Sopranos" Set* by Marina Watts March 30, 2026 Despite having his own process, James Gandolfini was a team player on the set of "The Sopranos". In an interview with The Guardian published on March 27, "The Sopranos" creator David Chase spoke about working with the late actor, who died in 2013 at 51. When asked about recent reports that Gandolfini would go missing for days from set while portraying the complex Tony Soprano, Chase shared his perspective. “Well, fortunately, I wasn’t the one who dealt with him going missing,” he said. “That was Ilene Landress, our line manager. She was the one who found out where he was and did everything that needed to be done.” Chase then put to rest any rumors that Gandolfini would need space from his onscreen persona. “He never refused to do anything. He never said, ‘I’m gonna go wait in my trailer, and when you’re ready to shoot it the way I want it, come get me.’ That never happened.” Chase compared his experience with Gandolfini to working on the 1990s era drama "Northern Exposure", recalling two trailers in the set's parking lot that needed to be exactly the same distance from set. "The first assistant director was out there with a long tape measure, measuring the distance from one trailer to the front door and then the other trailer to the front door, because neither one of the two stars wanted to have a longer walk than the other. Now that wasn’t a happy set.” https://ew.com/sopranos-showrunner-j...umors-11937034