United Kingdom, July 28 -- The Sopranos star Joe Pantoliano has revealed his mental health crisis almost destroyed his marriage.

The 73-year-old actor - who played Ralph 'Ralphie' Cifaretto in the hit mobster drama - has confessed he was "a mess for a long time" and he made matters worse by self-medicating with alcohol which left his marriage to Nancy Sheppard on the brink of collapse.

He told New York Post column PageSix: "[I used] alcohol, what was available, women, you know, risky behaviour, act first and then ask questions second ...

"[I was] a mess for a long time ... 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."

Joe went on to insist he believes his p...