Who Is Marcy Wudarski? Everything about James Gandolfini’s First Wife and Mother of His Son

Marcy Wudarski and James Gandolfini had one child during their short-lived marriage. Their son Michael, who was only 14 when his father died, is continuing James's legacy by portraying a younger version of his dad's famous on-screen character.

Marcy Wudarski is often recognized as the wife of actor James Gandolfini. However, she is a star in her own right, working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

Born on February 6, 1967, Wudarski came from a military working-class family. Although it is known that she graduated from Bayonet Point Junior High School, there is no information about her higher education.

Wudarski later pursued a career as a film producer, working on the movie "Wish You Were Here." Her other productions have yet to be disclosed.

MARCY WUDARSKI AND JAMES GANDOLFINI'S RELATIONSHIP

Wudarski and Gandolfini met in 1995 when he hired her as his personal secretary. "He was nobody when we met," Wudarski said, adding:

“I was working between jobs, working for a movie company, and a friend suggested I be a part-timer helper, do some piddling things for 'this actor you never heard of who's made a couple of nothing movies.'”

Gandolfini's career was at the onset of its success, so he needed help from Wudarski. After having a working relationship, the pair began dating. They moved into a West Village Apartment shortly after.

In March 1999, the couple tied the knot in a small and private wedding ceremony. By that time, the bride was already pregnant with their first child, Michael. Sadly, their relationship didn't last long.

WHY MARCY WUDARSKI AND JAMES GANDOLFINI DIVORCED

Although Wudarski didn't explicitly reveal the reason for their divorce, she did mention that "The Sopranos" star struggled with drugs and alcohol abuse during their marriage.

"Gandolfini's wife described increasingly serious issues with drugs and alcohol, as well as arguments during which the actor would repeatedly punch himself in the face out of frustration," author Brett Martin said.

A few years after their divorce, in 2013, Gandolfini died of a heart attack while in Italy with his son. Wudarski attended the internment and put a brave face on.

MARCY WUDARSKI IS MICHAEL GANDOLFINI'S MOTHER

Michael was only 14 years old when his father passed away. Now an adult, Gandolfini's son is following in his father's footsteps as an actor. He previously appeared in "The Many Saints of Newark," the prequel to "The Sopranos."

Michael brought life to the younger version of Tony Soprano, his father's character, which he prepared for by watching and studying each episode of the show's first season.

"The pressure is real," Michael said of taking the role. "There's fear, but the second layer, that a lot of people don't think about, which was actually harder, is to play Tony Soprano." Despite the pressure, Michael will definitely make his father proud.