The Sopranos cast pranked James Gandolfini with a fart machine on set

In the wake of James Gandolfini's death, we look back at the best of his character Tony Soprano's lines
In the wake of James Gandolfini's death, we look back at the best of his character Tony Soprano's lines

The Sopranos actor Lorraine Bracco revealed a prank she once pulled on James Gandolfini using a fart machine on set.

Bracco recalled the fond memory when she appeared on the Gangster Goddess Broad-cast yesterday (22 September). The weekly podcast is hosted by Drea De Matteo, who played Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos.

The actor – who famously portrayed Dr Jennifer Melfi on the hit HBO show – shared some touching behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Speaking about her therapy scenes with the late Gandolfini (Tony Soprano), Bracco explained how a crew member once helped tape a fart machine beneath her chair to prank her co-star.

Bracco recalled: “I said to Jimmy, ‘Listen, I don’t feel good, I don’t know what I ate, I’m sweating’. So I set it up – my stomach is killing me, the whole thing. Then with Marchetti, I would [clench up], and he would press the button.”

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Gandolfini suspected a prank was being played on him and tried to find a whoopie cushion on Bracco’s chair.

The actor added: “Jimmy finally said, ‘You’re f***ing with me,’ and he grabs me and he takes my chair and he lifts up the cushion – but there’s nothing there!”

Gandolfini died aged 51 after a heart attack in 2013.