River City star Frank Gallagher says he was “shattered” by the death of Sopranos star James Gandolfini.
Frank, who plays Shieldinch hard man Lenny Murdoch, is a huge fan of US crime dramas. And Gandolfini, who played fellow screen gangster Tony Soprano and died of a heart attack last month, was a particular favourite.
“I was just shattered but when you see the physical shape he was in he was a walking heart attack,” Frank told The Sunday Post. “Still, 51 is just far too young.
“I remember clearly when The Sopranos first came on TV back in 2001. It started as if it was going to be another mundane drama but then it went to a whole different level.
“He was the pivotal character and it’s like The Godfather, you can watch it again and again.
“There probably is, subconsciously, a bit of what I’ve seen from Tony in Lenny.
“A lot of people say to me, ‘Oh, that was a Sopranos moment there.’”
Viewers have been gripped by the kidnapping of Lenny’s grandson Cal over the past three weeks.
As Lenny was supposed to be looking after him he blames himself, especially when he realises the abduction is personal.
Kelly-Marie blames him, too, especially as panic rose when a package of Cal’s hair arrived.
Now the pair join forces this week for a showdown meeting with one of the kidnappers with repercussions that will tear the family apart.
“Because it’s his own grandson, he’s let anger get in the way,” explains Frank.
“And this isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning of something.”
Frank admits he’s right at home playing the show’s baddie.
“I’ve known a few Lennys,” admits Frank.
“You meet people as you go through life but I’ve never really thought of anyone as being a gangster.
“Every time I have they’ve seemed like a nice guy until someone has told me later.
“I think everybody loves a baddie and we’ve a culture in Scotland where people take crime in their stride.
“My job is to make it as real as possible but I’m sure real criminals look at it as total fiction.”
Despite his heavy screen image, Frank, who lives in Partick in Glasgow with wife Anne and sons Matthew, 20, and 13-year-old Michael, says Lenny doesn’t follow him around.
“I’m not like him at all, apart from being a bit of a smart mouth,” he laughs.
“People see us out and about as a normal family not a Sopranos-type family!”
River City, BBC1, Tuesday at 8pm
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe