Borgoguy Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 The head of the Soprano Family has passed. My wife told me as she stepped off the train. So young. RIP. James Gandolfini, who won three Emmys for his portrayal of flawed antihero and conflicted mob boss Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos,” died in Italy at the age of 51 of a possible heart attack. HBO reps confirmed his death on Wednesday. According to the Taormina Film Festival, he was on his way to the festival where he was expected Thursday. He had been expected to participate in an onstage conversation with Italian director Gabriele Muccino on Saturday at the Sicilian festival. Gandolfini’s imposing screen presence was the driving force in establishing “The Sopranos” as the most influential TV show of the past generation. The actor was praised for his deft balance of the character’s violence and vulnerability, making the murderous mob boss a sympathetic figure that set the mold for the flawed anti-heroes that populate cable dramas today. SEE ALSO: “The Sopranos” Closes Out Age of Mob Rule “Jimmy was the spiritual core of our ‘Sopranos’ family, and I am stunned at this devastating loss. He was a great talent, but an even better man,” said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht, who greenlighted “Sopranos” in his previous role running HBO. The “Sopranos” actor appeared recently in “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.” He had been working on Fox Searchlight’s “Animal Rescue,” now in post-production, HBO limited series “Criminal Justice” as well as CBS show “Taxi 22.” “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,” HBO said in a statement. SEE ALSO: Gandolfini on Kristen Stewart and “the mad ones” Gandolfini had six Emmy lead drama actor nominations as well as a Golden Globe for his work in the “Sopranos,” which ended in 2007. Among his film roles were “Mr. Wonderful,” “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” “Get Shorty” and “True Romance.” Born in Westwood, New Jersey, his mother was born in the U.S. but raised in Italy and his father was born in Borgotaro, Italy. He attended Rutgers U. and became interested in acting when he accompanied his friend Roger Bart to an acting class. In 1992, he starred in ”On the Waterfront” on Broadway for six months, and returned to the stage in 2009 in “God of Carnage.” He is survived by his wife, Deborah Lin, a son and a baby daughter. (Cynthia Littleton and Nick Vivarelli contributed to this report.) http://variety.com/2013/more/news/james-gandolfini-dead-of-sudden-stroke-at-51-1200499141/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachEY Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Awful news. Met him once. They filmed the Sopranos in the town I grew up in. He took the time after a long day's shoot to shake a bunch of people's hands and say hi. Was really nice to all the people who wandered up to the set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Totally bummed .... feel like I've lost a family member ... for real ... was always holding a little hope that they would put together another season with whoever was left ... Rest In Peace, James. I've seen you on my tv's in The Soprano's more hours than any other actor/actress by an exponential factor and enjoyed every minute. And I'm sure I'll continue to watch the whole series every so often till I die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Woke up this morning...... Got myself a gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stugotz81 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Sorry to hear of his loss. Loved him as an actor and even more because he was a huge jets fan. May he watch over our Jets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SayNoToDMC Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/24023/tony-soprano-and-the-jets Tony Soprano and the JetsByRich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com The Jets lost one of their most famous fans Wednesday with the stunning death of actor James Gandolfini, 51, aka Tony Soprano, who reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack or stroke while vacationing in Italy. "We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend James Gandolfini," the Jets tweeted Wednesday night. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & friends." Gandolfini was a Jersey guy long before he became a suburban mobster on TV. He was born and raised in New Jersey and attended Rutgers. He went to many Jets home games in recent years. In fact, he witnessed at least three memorable games -- a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Houston Texans in 2010, the emotional and dramatic 2011 opening win over the Cowboys on the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11 and the crushing Christmas Eve loss to the Giants in 2011.The accompanying photo is from the Christmas Eve game. Judging from the look of angst on Gandolfini's face, it could be his reaction to Victor Cruz's 99-yard touchdown. (On a personal note, the gentleman in the background is my father. Gandolfini, seated in the row ahead of him, graciously posed for a picture with members of my family before the game.) Not many people know this, but Gandolfini narrated the video of the Jets' 2011 season, which was used as part of NFL Films' "NFL Yearbook" series. It was probably the best thing to happen to the Jets that year, an 8-8 disappointment. Gandolfini's most celebrated connection to the Jets occurred in June 2007, when then-coach Eric Mangini made a cameo appearance (as himself) in one of the final episodes of "The Sopranos." Mangini didn't have any speaking lines; it was just a quick exchange of pleasantries with Tony Soprano in the fictional restaurant of his boyhood friend, Artie Bucco (John Ventimiglia). "It took me a long time to get into character," Mangini joked at the time. "Playing me eating dinner is a real stretch, but I worked with an acting coach and I think I really nailed it." Mangini said he wasn't afraid of getting whacked. "I knew the context of what we were doing prior to getting into it and felt very comfortable with being at the restaurant," he said, laughing. "It's not like Tony and I had any previous affiliation or subsequent affiliation. It was more or less just meeting another person at a restaurant who happened to be a fan of the Jets." Cimini even finds a way to make this topic about himself and how much the Jets suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaumerJet Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Sorry to hear of his loss. Loved him as an actor and even more because he was a huge jets fan. May he watch over our Jets! And the Jets Organization last night responded via Twitter to the fact that he was a Jets Fan: New York Jets@nyjets We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend James Gandolfini. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & friends. One hell of an actor & one hell of a loss of a strong human being... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Very sad. Love watching this guy on film. RIP Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard King Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I am really sad. Great actor and a great Jets fan. Am going to miss seeing him on the Stadium's big screen leading that parking lot chant with a cigar. Too young to go. Ps I kinda feel like this should be on the main forum. He was a huge Jets fan as well as Rutgers football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borgoguy Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 For those interested, the autopsy results confirmed that Gandolfini died of cardiac arrest. As suspected, James Gandolfini died of a heart attack. Autopsy results released Friday determined that the 51-year-old "Sopranos" star passed away on Wednesday from natural causes after suffering cardiac arrest. [Related: James Gandolfini's 20 Best Roles] Hospital officials announced the findings at a press conference, which was also attended by some Gandolfini family members, at Rome’sBoscolo Exedra Hotel. The actor had been staying at that hotel with his 13-year-old son, Michael, when he died. Emergency room physician Claudio Modini said that doctors had not noted any suspicious factors — including alcohol — on his medical report, according to CNN. A rep for the actor's family, Michael Kobold, read a statement as well, saying, "James came here on a vacation with his family… He had a wonderful day. He visited The Vatican and had dinner at the hotel with his son awaiting the arrival of his sister. Today we received the results of the autopsy,which stated he died of a heart attack, of natural causes. The autopsy further states that nothing else was found in his system. [Related: Why We Loved Tony Soprano] "We are all devastated by this loss. James was a devoted husband, a loving father of two children, a brother and cousin you could always count on. We thank you for the privacy you have afforded us during this difficult time." Additional details have emerged about Gandolfini's final days, who, in addition to enjoying a boys' weekend with his son to celebrate his eighth-grade graduation, was expected to attend the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily this weekend. It was Michael who summoned help when his father did not respond to his knocks on the hotel bathroom door, said Tiziana Rocca, the head of a film festival, who spoke to Gandolfini's son by telephone, according to CNN. Hotel staff then broke down the door. [Related: 'Sopranos' Co-Stars and More Celebs React to James Gandolfini's Death] Despite the medical report findings that alcohol didn't play a factor in Gandolfini's death, a new report in New York Post claims the famed TV mobster had "at least eight alcoholic drinks" during what was his last meal at the hotel's outdoor restaurant. "Gandolfini guzzled four shots of rum, two pina coladas, and two beers at dinner with his son — while he chowed down on two orders of fried king prawns and a 'large portion' of foie gras," a hotel source told the paper. However, his family members weren't aware of any health problems — other than being overweight — that he suffered prior to his death, according to TMZ. While he had admitted to struggling with cocaine and alcohol in the past, "he was in near-perfect condition," a family insider told the website. Now that the cause of death has been established, the U.S. Embassy in Rome can issue a death certificate and the "Zero Dark Thirty" star's body can be transported to the United States. http://tv.yahoo.com/news/james-gandolfini-autopsy-confirms-cause-of-death-134733856.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I am really sad. Great actor and a great Jets fan. Am going to miss seeing him on the Stadium's big screen leading that parking lot chant with a cigar. Too young to go. Ps I kinda feel like this should be on the main forum. He was a huge Jets fan as well as Rutgers football. I kinda feel your 100% right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borgoguy Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 I am really sad. Great actor and a great Jets fan. Am going to miss seeing him on the Stadium's big screen leading that parking lot chant with a cigar. Too young to go. Ps I kinda feel like this should be on the main forum. He was a huge Jets fan as well as Rutgers football. Just saw this after Crusher quoted you. I agree. Thought that all these non-football items went in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 8 drinks and fois gras it's always sad when death comes around but it will come to all of us and most of us won't have a final meal in the piazza sunset of rome. that dude went out like he lived: a king. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebag Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 8 drinks and fois gras it's always sad when death comes around but it will come to all of us and most of us won't have a final meal in the piazza sunset of rome. that dude went out like he lived: a king. ! -yessireebob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Years ago in the old stadium he would sit in these VIP seats that were close to the Classic Harley Front Row Club seats. Gandolfini and the other VIP'ers would walk get escorted on to the field and through the end zone tunnel when they wanted to leave. Anyhow I was sitting there one game and everyone was going crazy when James walked by. Everyone except Uncle Tony from Classic Harley. Uncle Tony didn't get up, there is extra room in this row, but everyone else got up anyway to shake Gandolfini's hand. Uncle Tony never took his eye off the game. We later joked because Gandolfini seemed to give Uncle Tony a dirty look. RIP though, he will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TnT Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 </3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM28 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 RIP James, a great loss for us all and we will miss you. My condolences to the family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 RIP. Does anyone know if Hernandez was in Italy that day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Special viewing of JG on Inside The Actors Studio To commemorate his passing, Bravo will be re-airing his October 17, 2004 appearance on Inside the Actors Studio. The show will air Sunday, June 23 at 6pm ET/PT and encore presentations will broadcast June 24 at 10:30am and June 26 at 6pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borgoguy Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Special viewing of JG on Inside The Actors Studio To commemorate his passing, Bravo will be re-airing his October 17, 2004 appearance on Inside the Actors Studio. The show will air Sunday, June 23 at 6pm ET/PT and encore presentations will broadcast June 24 at 10:30am and June 26 at 6pm. Thanks, NJ. I watched the original. But will definitely check this out again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanightmare225 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Was he a Jet or Giant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shhwagah Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I'm a Jersey boy who never really got into watchin The Sopranos and now I feel ashamed. I've been downloading all of The Soprano episodes starting with the first season. I really love the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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