The role of Tony Soprano was a breakthrough for James Gandolfini — his mobster was a symbol of a new era of dramatic series. However, because of the actor, the project was close to being closed, because passions raged behind the scenes and disputes about the amounts of money that the boss from Northern New Jersey never dreamed of.
How the Gandolfini-HBO Conflict Began
By 2003, The Sopranos wasn't just a hit, it was a hugely profitable show for the network, and Tony Soprano, masterfully played by Gandolfini, had become the epitome of depth and complexity in the modern antihero.
However, despite the success, behind the scenes disagreements began to mount. As always, the reason was money: the big bosses rarely want to pay the workers, undervaluing their work.
When HBO struck a new deal with series creator David Chase for $20 million per season, the executives made a mistake: Gandolfini was not promptly informed of the details of the deal, which violated the terms of his contract. The star's lawyers said he was released from his obligations and did not plan to appear.
The Sopranos Legal War
The actor who plays Tony sued HBO, demanding a raise to $20 million per season, a figure comparable to what network TV stars were making. HBO countersued for $100 million, claiming financial losses due to the production shutdown. The fate of The Sopranos was hanging in the balance at the time.
At the time of the dispute, Gandolfini was making $400,000 per episode, or about $5.2 million per season. That sounds like a lot of money until you look at how much stars of other hits were making:
- Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond made $800,000 per episode.
- Chandler, Monica, and others from Friends made $1 million per episode.
- Kelsey Grammer made $1.6 million per episode for his role on Frasier, or about $35 million per year.
Given that The Sopranos was HBO's major commercial triumph, Gandolfini felt his contribution to the show's success deserved to be rewarded accordingly.
How the Sopranos Dispute Ended
After months of intense negotiations, the parties finally reached a compromise. Gandolfini agreed to a salary of $11 million per season — twice his previous salary, but still less than he had originally demanded.
While the actor did not achieve the level he had been seeking financially, his victory was in the recognition of the value of his contribution to the success of the show. HBO also realized that without Gandolfini, the series would have been doomed.
