
HBO reportedly paid James Gandolfini $3 million to decline The Office role
James Gandolfini was offered the lead role in The Office after Steve Carell departed in 2011, but HBO reportedly paid him $3 million to refuse the gig. Co-stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa discussed the incident on a 2021 podcast, noting that HBO likely wanted to protect the legacy of The Sopranos. Writer Daniel Chun confirmed Gandolfini was hesitant about comedy, stating he was unsure how to play the part. Gandolfini died in 2013 at age 51, having never fully transitioned away from his Tony Soprano image.










