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Gandolfini to sell 'Sopranos' wardrobe to benefit charity

By ULA ILNYTZKY | Associated Press Writer

May 27, 2008

NEW YORK - Tony Soprano is shedding his wardrobe for charity.

From the short-sleeve, button-down blue shirt he wore in the opening credits of the smash HBO series to the bathrobe he donned to fetch the morning paper, actor James Gandolfini is selling off 24 outfits at Christie's.

Proceeds from the June 25 pop culture auction will go to the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit group that assists severely wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Estimates for the costumes start at $500.

Gandolfini's wardrobe, many with the original production tags attached, is expected to bring up to $36,500.

The actor's contract allowed him to keep the clothes after the show ended its six-season run last year, Christie's said. He has authenticated all the outfits in the sale.

A tan cotton bathrobe with lavender trim and 'S' insignia on the breast pocket, featured in the pilot when he got the paper and fed the ducks in his pool, may bring as much as $1,500.

For a taste of the show's blood and guts, the auction house is offering the blood-splattered costume worn in the scene when Tony is shot by a demented Uncle Junior.

Consisting of a black and beige short-sleeve polo shirt, white tank top and black pants, the costume could fetch up to $3,000.

Another 37 costumes worn by other lead "Sopranos" characters, including Paulie Walnuts, Christopher Moltisanti and A.J. Soprano, also are being sold, though the proceeds from those sales will not benefit the Jacksonville, Fla.-based veterans' organization.

The costumes for the series were designed by Juliet Polsca, who earned two Emmy nominations and a Costume Designers Guild Award.

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www.christies.com

www.woundedwarriorproject.org