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Lin-Manuel Miranda says he was 'scared shitless' working on 'The Sopranos' and reveals how James Gandolfini helped him

Mar 25, 2022, 03:40 IST
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Lin-Manual Miranda smiles during an interview.NBC/Getty Images
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda played a bellhop on season six of the HBO hit "The Sopranos."
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  • The "Hamilton" creator said he was "scared shitless" during filming.

Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared in a season six episode of "The Sopranos" alongside James Gandolfini, who played the show's lead character Tony Soprano.

According to Indiewire, Miranda described the experience in an interview for Judd Apatow's upcoming book, "Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy."

The "Hamilton" creator said he had trouble finding work before booking the "Sopranos" role. "I went on lots of voiceover auditions and acting auditions," he said.

Finally, he got the gig on the HBO drama. Miranda's character worked at a hotel Soprano and one of his capos Paulie Gualtieri (played by Tony Sirico) visit while fleeing New Jersey in anticipation of a body they disposed of being found by authorities.

"The only thing I booked was 'The Sopranos,' as a bellboy; I say, 'I don't know' twice," he continued.

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In spite of how limited his role was, Miranda remembered Gandolfini being generous with his time on set.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.HBO

Miranda said Gandolfini voluntarily remained behind to help the other actors.

"My one story about Gandolfini was that he stayed and did his sides even though it was the end of the night. He had no need to do that," he said. "He stayed and did the scene for the scared-shitless Puerto Rican kid in the bellhop outfit."

He also said Gandolfini "sat on the steps of his trailer the whole time" and interacted with the other people on set. "He was never locked up in this trailer; he was just out, and people would talk to him," Miranda recalled.

Gandolfini who earned three Emmy awards for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for his portrayal of Tony Soprano, died in 2013. Since then, many stories have circulated about his kindness on and off the set of the series, including how he once supported a costar who felt uncomfortable doing a nude scene.

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Looking back on the small role, Miranda recommended people watch the show to see him make an amateur mistake. "I'm so green you can see me look down at my mark. Watch it if you get a chance, because now people are like 'Lin-Manuel's cameo on 'The Sopranos'!' It wasn't a cameo. I wasn't even in the union yet," he said.

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