John Travolta discusses close friendship with James Gandolfini on 'GMA'

"My father sold tires to his father," said Travolta. "I was his inspiration to get into the business. He would see pictures of me on the wall from movies and he decided that he wanted to be an actor."

Travolta has maintained a close relationship with Gandolfini all these years and swore to look after his wife Deborah Lin, and his two children - teenage son Michael and infant daughter Liliana. This mirror's the support that Gandolfini gave Travolta after his son Jeff passed away unexpectedly due to a seizure.

"James went out of his way to come to Florida and he would not leave Florida until I was okay, or he felt that I would be fine," he said.  "After a week I said, 'Jim you can really, you can, you know, we’ll be fine.  I’ve got a lot of support here.' But the idea that in our profession someone would go out of their way and not want to leave you until he felt you were okay, that’s the kind of soul that James Gandolfini was."

"My goal is to make sure that his family is okay," Travolta added.  "His little boy, I watched him grow up, and his brand new little girl.  We'll just make sure they're taken care of.  That’s the whole idea."

I am surprised by this. I had no idea the two men were so close. Good for Travolta for offering to help out during this terrible time for the Gandolfini family

Travolta's interview with Robin Roberts can be seen here.