DARK DAYS

‘Sopranos’ Star Reveals Mental Health Battle Almost ‘Destroyed’ His Life

Joe Pantoliano admitted his struggle with depression nearly cost him everything.

Sopranos star Joe Pantoliano says his battle with clinical depression nearly wrecked his marriage and destroyed his life. The 73-year-old actor, who was officially diagnosed in 2007 and has since written two books about his struggles, said he used to self-medicate with “seven deadly symptoms”—including “alcohol, what was available, women, you know, risky behavior, act first and then ask questions second.” He told Page Six: “My wife and my kids were ready to throw me out. The only people who were happy to see me weren’t people. They were my dogs.” He said the dogs “saved my life because it was the only spark that was left in me. I was like Tinkerbell and the light was dying.” Pantoliano founded the charity No Kidding, Me Too!, which seeks to remove the stigma around mental health, in 2009. “We’ve done such a great job,” he said of the endeavor. “Our mission for ‘No Kidding, Me Too!’ was to make the discussion of mental disease cool and trendy. And we’ve succeeded,” he added. “You can’t get them to shut up now!”