He was really in shape , really ripped . Tony Soprano first role was in a student film in 1989 . 1989 before James Gandolfini 's , he played a tough guy character named Tony Soprano . The film 's director recalls Gandolfini was `` really intense and always prepared '' on set .
Tony Soprano first role was in a student film in 1989 . 1989 before James Gandolfini 's , he played a tough guy character named Tony Soprano . The film 's director recalls Gandolfini was `` really intense and always prepared '' on set .