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James Gandolfini, Sopranos star, dies in Italy aged 51 | James Gandolfini, Sopranos star, dies in Italy aged 51 |
(about 4 hours later) | |
James Gandolfini, the US actor best known for his role as a therapy-seeking mob boss in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 51. | James Gandolfini, the US actor best known for his role as a therapy-seeking mob boss in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 51. |
Gandolfini suffered a possible heart attack while on holiday in Rome, the US HBO TV network told the BBC. | Gandolfini suffered a possible heart attack while on holiday in Rome, the US HBO TV network told the BBC. |
The New Jersey-born star had been in Italy to attend the Taormina film festival in Sicily. | The New Jersey-born star had been in Italy to attend the Taormina film festival in Sicily. |
He won three Emmy awards for his role as Tony Soprano, a mafia boss juggling his criminal career and family life. | He won three Emmy awards for his role as Tony Soprano, a mafia boss juggling his criminal career and family life. |
"It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy," said his managers, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, in a statement on Wednesday night. | "It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy," said his managers, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, in a statement on Wednesday night. |
"Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply." | "Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply." |
HBO also said the star of The Sopranos, which ran for six series on the cable channel from 1999-2007, would be "deeply missed". | HBO also said the star of The Sopranos, which ran for six series on the cable channel from 1999-2007, would be "deeply missed". |
From bartender to Broadway | From bartender to Broadway |
"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," said its 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," said its statement. |
"He touched so many of us over the years with his humour, his warmth and his humility." | "He touched so many of us over the years with his humour, his warmth and his humility." |
Gandolfini was born in 1961 in Westwood, New Jersey, to a school dinner lady and a bricklayer-turned-school caretaker, both of Italian background. | Gandolfini was born in 1961 in Westwood, New Jersey, to a school dinner lady and a bricklayer-turned-school caretaker, both of Italian background. |
He graduated with a degree in communications from New Jersey's Rutgers University. | He graduated with a degree in communications from New Jersey's Rutgers University. |
Then he moved to New York, finding work as a bartender and a club manager. | Then he moved to New York, finding work as a bartender and a club manager. |
Gandolfini's acting career took off in 1992 when he landed a part in a Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire. | Gandolfini's acting career took off in 1992 when he landed a part in a Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire. |
His breakthrough role came a year later playing a mobster in the movie True Romance. | His breakthrough role came a year later playing a mobster in the movie True Romance. |
Gandolfini's more recent film credits included In The Loop, Zero Dark Thirty and Killing Them Softly. | Gandolfini's more recent film credits included In The Loop, Zero Dark Thirty and Killing Them Softly. |
He was nominated for a Tony theatre award in 2009 for his role in the Broadway hit God of Carnage. | He was nominated for a Tony theatre award in 2009 for his role in the Broadway hit God of Carnage. |
'Genius' | 'Genius' |
Gandolfini is survived by his second wife, Deborah Lin, a former model from Hawaii, whom he married in 2008, and their daughter, Liliana, born last year. | Gandolfini is survived by his second wife, Deborah Lin, a former model from Hawaii, whom he married in 2008, and their daughter, Liliana, born last year. |
He also leaves a teenage son, Michael, from his first marriage to Marcy Wudarski, his former personal assistant. They wed in 1999 and split three years later. | He also leaves a teenage son, Michael, from his first marriage to Marcy Wudarski, his former personal assistant. They wed in 1999 and split three years later. |
Sopranos creator David Chase said Gandolfini was a "genius". | Sopranos creator David Chase said Gandolfini was a "genius". |
"He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time," he said. "A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes." | "He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time," he said. "A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes." |
Lorraine Bracco, who played Tony Soprano's psychiatrist, Dr Jennifer Melfi, in the TV drama, said: "We lost a giant today. I am utterly heartbroken." | Lorraine Bracco, who played Tony Soprano's psychiatrist, Dr Jennifer Melfi, in the TV drama, said: "We lost a giant today. I am utterly heartbroken." |
Jeff Daniels, who starred with Gandolfini in God of Carnage, said: "If Broadway has a version of a guy you want in your foxhole, Jim Gandolfini was mine." | Jeff Daniels, who starred with Gandolfini in God of Carnage, said: "If Broadway has a version of a guy you want in your foxhole, Jim Gandolfini was mine." |
In a December 2012 interview with the Associated Press news agency, Gandolfini said he had become an actor to overcome his anger. | In a December 2012 interview with the Associated Press news agency, Gandolfini said he had become an actor to overcome his anger. |
"I don't know what exactly I was angry about," he said. | "I don't know what exactly I was angry about," he said. |
"I try to avoid certain things and certain kinds of violence at this point," he added. "I'm getting older, too. I don't want to be beating people up as much." | "I try to avoid certain things and certain kinds of violence at this point," he added. "I'm getting older, too. I don't want to be beating people up as much." |