The Charismatic Young Man
Before heading off to Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Gandolfini celebrated his senior year of high school by being voted “best looking” and “biggest flirt.” An old photo shared by the Park Ridge community shows the young star with a classmate, Donna Lange, and they were named “class flirts.”
Recalling his high school years, childhood friend Duff Lambros remembered Gandolfini’s “quiet confidence” and “cool dignity.” He added, “Girls loved him. Guys loved him. When he cracked that smile, it wasn’t just teeth; he smiled with his eyes. It felt like the sun was shining.”
John Travolta, who shared the screen with Gandolfini in several films, described his longtime friend as a giant not only in acting but also in his personal life. “He was a people person first and then everything else,” Travolta said. “He was this beautiful man, and I love him very much.”
