James
Gandolfini, the three-time Emmy-winning actor who played mob boss Tony
Soprano on HBO's hit series The Sopranos, died on Wednesday in Italy at
age 51.
The actor suffered a possible heart attack while traveling in Rome, a rep for
HBO says. Gandolfini had been scheduled to take part in the Taormina Film Fest
in Sicily.
"We're all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a
beloved member of our family," HBO says in a statement. "He was
special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person
who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect.
"He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and
his humility," the statement continues. "Our hearts go out to his
wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of
us."
Born in Westwood, N.J., Gandolfini graduated from Park Ridge High School, where
he played basketball and participated in school plays, and went on to study
communications at Rutgers University.
He kicked off his acting career in 1987 in Shock! Shock! Shock! and then
appeared in the Melanie Griffith-starring A Stranger Among Us – as well
as notably starring in 1993's True Romance as Virgil, a mob-enforcer.
After several mob-related roles over the years, Gandolfini got his big break in
1999 starring in The Sopranos.
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
Anthony Neste / / Time Life Pictures / Getty
As a New Jersey-based mobster with a wife and children, the show
centered around Tony Soprano's juggling of his home life while leading his
criminal organization.
Tony was a complicated, conflicted character, kind one moment, a violent sociopath
the next, while also struggling with depression.
"He was a genius," said Sopranos creator David Chase.
"Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that.
He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that
genius resided in those sad eyes."
Chase added: "He wasn't easy sometimes. But he was my partner, he was my
brother in ways I can't explain and never will be able to explain."
Gandolfini had a wide-ranging film career, appearing in Zero Dark Thirty,
Get Shorty and The Mexican.
His most recent movie was The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, which also
starred Steve Carell, Olivia
Wilde and Jim Carrey.
"James Gandolfini was a kind, funny, wonderful guy," Wilde Tweeted. "I'm
so lucky to have worked with him. Sending love to his family. Such a sad, sad
day."
Gandolfini is survived by his wife Deborah
Lin, their 8-month-old daughter Liliana, and son Michael, 13, from a
previous marriage.
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