„They’re Going to Fire Me”. James Gandolfini Surprised Michael Imperioli when It Was Revealed That He Lied to Get a Role in The Sopranos and Caused an Accident
Michael Imperioli talked about a situation on the set of The Sopranos that could have serious consequences for him. He feared it could lead to his dismissal.
Iconic The Sopranos was a key TV series in the Second Golden Age of Television, and many actors wanted to appear in it, sensing a potential hit. This group included Michael Imperioli, who, while fighting for the role of Christopher Moltisanti, lied about a rather key issue, given that his character occasionally acted as Tony Soprano's driver.
Namely, Imperioli didn't admit that he can't drive, a fact that came to light quite soon after he got the role and stepped onto the set. The actor mentioned this during an interview with Page Six.
I didn’t tell them that because I wanted the job and in one of the takes I actually back up into a tree and smashed up the back of the Lexus. We all jumped forward, the air bags came out, smoke, it was a big disaster and I was thinking [Gandolfini] must be thinking I’m an idiot, this is going to be a disaster, they’re going to fire me.
Imperioli began to panic, fearing dismissal, as well as the reaction of James Gandolfini, who was sitting next to him, playing Tony Soprano. And that's when the TV series star, reacted in a way that surprised Imperioli. As he confessed, it was a pivotal moment for their relationship.
And he just looks at me and starts cracking up laughing and we both just broke down hysterically and I thought, “Ok this is going to be a good ride”. That was a bonding moment.
As you can see, it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. And Michael Imperioli, despite fears of being fired after his lie came to light, kept his role and made himself known to viewers as Christopher Moltisanti, playing him to the very end of The Sopranos.
