Sopranos star James Gandolfini has suddenly passed away at the age of 51. The Golden Globe-winning actor died of a stroke, according to HBO, while on in Italy with his family.
Gandolfini – who will be best remembered for his career-defining, six season turn as mob boss Tony Soprano – had a career which spanned critically acclaimed roles on stage and over 30 movies. His impressive recent filmography includes Killing Them Softly, Zero Dark Thirty and 2009’s In the Loop.
His managers said in a statement: “It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy. Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply.”
HBO said in a statement: “He was a 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 humour, his warmth and his humility.”
Sopranos creator David Chase: “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 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.”
In memory of the man, here’s his Inside the Actors Studio interview.
