an explosive temper. >> tony, i'm sorry. i'm just having some bad luck. >> there. just got worse. >> shortly after the show debuted in 1999, series creator david chase spoke to cnn about his leading man. >> we have a great cast. and of that cast, james gandolfini is really important to the equation. i think, you know, he's playing a mob boss, a killer, a tough guy. and i think if he didn't have someone playing that role who also could illicit feelings of empathy and sympathy and even pity, i think we'd be -- we wouldn't have the show we have. >> some of gandolfini's finest acting came in scenes with edi falco who played his wife. their marriage featured regular betrayals and titanic fights. >> allow me!