‘The Sopranos’ Creator Unveils How James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano Died, Or Didn’t

It’s been seven years since HBO’s The Sopranos finale faded to black at the end, leaving fans of the New Jersey mob show dumbfounded. Fast-forward to today, and Sopranos creator, David Chase, finally answers the question about James Gandolfini’s character: Did Tony Soprano die? A Vox writer has the answer.

Who can forget the last Sopranos episode, dubbed as “The Last Supper” by many uber fans and film critics? Tony Soprano, his TV wife Carmela (Edie Falco), and son A.J. (Robert Iler) sat in a Jersey diner waiting for Tony’s daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) to arrive. And with Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey) playing in the background ambiance, the screen suddenly went dark. Bada bing!

Initially, legions of viewers thought it was a glitch or they forgot to pay their cable bill. However, when the music stopped and the credits started rolling, it was obvious the end had come — just like that — and in anticlimactic fashion. It was an ominous ending, and this generation’s “Who Shot J.R.” moment with Dallas.

Fan sites cropped up no sooner than the show ended, with many offering their takes on how Tony Soprano died, assuming he did. Debates ensued over the controversial Sopranos ending. Ironically, even Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti — and was whacked a number of episodes before the finale — was clueless over the fate of Tony. In fact, when he was probed about what he knew, Imperioli said he, like many viewers, thought Soprano died, but the manner was beyond his pay grade.

Writer Martha P. Nochimson sat down with the show’s creator, who finally revealed the mob boss’ fate. Since 2005, she and David Chase kept in touch on book projects and other matters of consultation. While talking in a coffee shop about another book project and details about writing improvement, Nochimson popped the question about the fate of Tony Soprano and the shocking Sopranos ending.

“Chase startled me by turning toward me and saying with sudden, explosive anger, ‘Why are we talking about this?’ I answered, ‘I’m just curious.’ And then, for whatever reason, he told me.”

David Chase nodded his head, signaling “no,” and then he cleared up the seven-year mystery, sort of, of Soprano’s rumored demise, by way of a traditional whacking.

“No, he isn’t.”

And just like the show’s ending, one could see the credits going up on the conversation. It was over, and Chase offered little else.

In true fashion, the mafia is known to be secretive, with all matters remaining in the “family.” The unwritten rule is “listen, but don’t tell.” If you are caught doing the latter, someone gives the order, and you wind up at the bottom of a lake by way of cement shoes.

Chase hasn’t let on as to why he kept the public in shambles over whether Tony died in a volley of bullets or walked off into the sunset with a new social security number. Just think of it as part of the mob code. Moreover, his keeping the details under wraps is part of the American mystique. Heck, the mystery of what happened to Jimmy Hoffa still burns on the minds of many.

The Sopranos‘ James Gandolfini died suddenly from a heart attack in June of last year, but with the cryptic response from Chase, perhaps, there are more episodes in the HBO vault to be released?

Things that make you say, hmm?

[Image via YouTube]