They also were considering Lorraine Bracco to play Carmela but she thought the psychiatrist role as Dr. Melfi would be more challenging. Anyway, Edie was the perfect choice.One of the last characters to be cast for the show was Carmella. Jimmy and Stevie wanted Melissa Leo (who won an Oscar for The Fighter) to play the part. But Leo was unwilling to leave her hit show Homicide: Life on the Streets, Edie Falco was willing to leave Oz.
Edie was fantastic.They also were considering Lorraine Bracco to play Carmela but she thought the psychiatrist role as Dr. Melfi would be more challenging. Anyway, Edie was the perfect choice.
Leon Askin lived to be 97though, is that so many people find his premature death "shocking"... The guy was easily 100# overweight for crying out loud. You don't see a lot of fat 90 year-olds...
For some great insight into this check out his appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio.He gained and lost weight for many roles. He said he flet the Tony Soprano character just needed the bulk. He was overweight in Enough Said (one of his last roles) but I am not sure I would 100 lbs overweight. There was rumours of a coke problem and he did spend years managing nightclubs. That likely did more to kill him at young age than his weight if you ask me.