Jamie Lynn Sigler is reflecting on the last moment she shared with actor James Gandolfini, highlighting their close bond. The two worked together on “The Sopranos” for the show’s entire run, portraying father and daughter Tony and Meadow Soprano.
She also spoke about how her on-screen father supported her throughout her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), recalling his kindness, encouragement, and the lasting impact he had on her both during and after their time on the series.
In an interview for a cover story with Us Weekly, Jamie Lynn Sigler recalled the last time she saw her on-screen father, James Gandolfini, before he passed away in 2013. It was just months before his death, and they saw each other at a casino. “I was happy to see him in a beautiful marriage and in a beautiful space in his life,” the actress said.
“We were both like, ‘We’re good. Look at us’,” said Sigler, adding that Gandolfini asked her if she needed his help walking. At that time, Sigler had not revealed to the public that she had MS, an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system, and the actor was one of the only few people she shared her diagnosis with.
“I said ‘I’m OK,’ and he said, ‘Alright, you tell me if you need help.’ I remember him being proud. It was a beautiful moment,” Sigler said.
James Gandolfini Was The Only One On ‘The Sopranos’ Who Knew Of The Actress’ Diagnosis
Elsewhere in the interview, Sigler shared how Gandolfini helped lessen her burden as she battled her disease in secret. The actress was diagnosed with MS when she was 20 years old, around 2001 to 2002, but it wasn’t until 2016 that she shared it with the world, fearing that going public with her ailment would have limited her career opportunities.
Sigler told Us Weekly that Gandolfini would often pull her aside and ask how she was doing. “But never at work and never in front of anybody. It shifted a lot of the energy for me, just knowing that somebody knows my secret,” she said.
In a 2024 episode of the “Work in Progress” podcast, Sigler talked about the moment she told Gandolfini about her MS. “I remember him putting his big paw on my shoulder and he’s like, ‘Whatever you need, I’m not gonna tell anyone, but whatever you need, you let me know’,” Sigler recalled, adding that the actor was “the most loving, gentle presence.”
The Moment Jamie Lynn Sigler Found Out About Her On-Screen Father’s Death
In 2013, Gandolfini was on vacation in Italy with his family when he had a heart attack. He was discovered unconscious in his hotel bathroom in Rome, and paramedics attempted life-saving measures on the way to the hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. He was 51 years old.
In an episode of “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” Sigler recalled the moment she learned about Gandolfini’s death. She received a call from one of her “Sopranos” co-stars, Vince Curatola, who said, “All of us were confused as to who should call you because we know you’re pregnant… but Jim’s gone.”
Sigler said she was shocked and cried a lot. “It was surreal, because how many times had we done funeral scenes as a cast? And to lay to rest our leader — he was the sun and we were the planets all around him. So the whole ‘Sopranos’ life sort of came to an end at that moment,” the actress shared.
The Actress Learned Numerous Lessons From Gandolfini
A couple of years after Gandolfini’s death, Sigler shared that the actor taught her to be more assertive on set and to gain confidence, telling her that her opinion mattered and that part of acting was collaborating, not just being directed.
“He taught me how to improv a little bit, and he taught me to trust my instincts,” she said, adding that she learned a lot from the actor just by being around him on set. “You just felt like everything’s going to be okay… he was just your leader and your protector,” Sigler said of Gandolfini’s presence.
Jamie Lynn Sigler Shares James Gandolfini’s Touching Gesture
In a 2024 conversation with Justin Long on the podcast “Life is Short,” Sigler recalled how Gandolfini supported her indirectly, in addition to always checking in with her. The actress said that her “Sopranos” father had always been protective of her, especially after he found out she had MS. “I found out after his death that he donated to MS organizations constantly for me,” Sigler told Long.
Sigler shared her MS diagnosis in 2016 via an interview with PEOPLE, saying that she was finally ready to “live my truth.” “I don’t want to hold a secret where it feels like I have something to be ashamed of or something to hide,” she said.
Sigler has lived with MS for more than 20 years and hosts the podcast “MeSsy” with Christina Applegate, who is also living with the condition.
