James Gandolfini Dead at 51

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Thursday, 20 June 2013 12:08

Written by Janet Walker

James Gandolfini, Emmy award winning actor, producer and star of stage and screen, has died of an apparent heart attack while vacationing with his son, Michael, in Rome, Italy. He was 51.

According to media reports, Gandolfini was in Italy to attend the Taormina Film Festival where he was to receive the Taormina City Prize, teach a Masterclass, and to appear on a panel with Director Gabriele Muccino.

He and his son, Michael, 13, from media reports enjoyed a lovely day together and returned to the hotel, where Gandolfini suffered a massive heart attack. From all reports he was alive when medics arrived at the hotel and died twenty minutes later at the hospital when efforts to resuscitate the Emmy winning actor failed.  

Gandolfini is best known for his role as Tony Soprano, the mobster with a heart, from the long running HBO series “The Sopranos.”  His role as Tony Soprano earned him six Emmy nominations for “Best Actor in a Drama” and three wins. Gandolfini also won the Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the AFI Award for the same role. He was nominated a total of 36 times for numerous awards for his portrayal of the iconic mobster.

Hollywood was reeling yesterday as the news of his passing shocked the usually immune industry. Former co-workers, friends, executives, publicists all voiced the same sorrow over the passing of one of the greats.

David Chase creator of “The Sopranos” issued the following statement, “He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of the greatest actors of this time or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes. I remember telling him many times, “You don’t get it. You’re like Mozart.” There would be silence at the other end of the phone. For (his wife Deborah Lin) and children (Michael and Liliana this is crushing. And it’s bad for the rest of the world. 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.”

Former “Sopranos” co-star Edie Falco, who played the long suffering Carmela, opposite Gandolfini issued this statement, “I’m shocked and devastated by Jim’s passing. He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with kindness and generosity beyond words. I consider myself lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague.”

Gandolfini manager’s Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders issued a joint statement, “It is with great sadness that we report our client, James Gandolfini, passed away today while on holiday in Rome. Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving.”

Gandolfini was also known for his support of wounded veterans. The HBO documentary, “Alive Day: Home from Iraq,” of which he produced brought to light the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSG) and the issues veterans face with re-entry into civilian life and integrating into society.

Born in Westwood, New Jersey, Gandolfini is survived by his wife Deborah Lin, whom he married in 2008, a daughter Liliana Ruth, born in October 2012, and a son, Michael, 13, from his previous marriage to Marcy Wudarski.

An autopsy is planned. Final arrangements have not been released.

Sources: Various