Joe Pantoliano, Sopranos Actor: Depression Nearly Destroyed My Life

According to Cinemadrame News Agency, Joe Pantoliano, the actor from The Sopranos, says his battle with depression nearly brought his life to the brink of collapse. The 73-year-old actor has published two books about his struggles with depression.

He told the New York Post that he used to “self-medicate” with what he calls “the seven deadly signs”:
“Alcohol, whatever was available, women—you know, risky behaviors, acting first and asking questions later.”

Pantoliano says:
“My wife and kids were ready to throw me out. The only living beings happy to see me weren’t people—they were my dogs… because they were the only glimmer of light I had. I was like Tinker Bell, and my light was fading.”

In 2009, Pantoliano founded a charity called No Kidding, Me Too! aimed at eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health issues. About these efforts, he says:
“Our mission was to make conversations about mental illness a hot topic of the day. And we succeeded.”

The actor who played “Ralph Cifaretto” in The Sopranos had previously said he intends to move to Portugal if Donald Trump returns to office.