UPDATE (8:12pm): HBO sent out this statement: ”
We’re all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family. 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. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”
UPDATE (7:58pm): HBO reps confirmed his death. No confirmation on supposed heart attack cause of death
UPDATE (7:50 p.m. ET): Chris Albrecht who greenlighted the crime family saga at HBO and gave Gandolfini his start, just emailed Deadline’s Nikki Finke: “Absolutely stunned. I got the word from Lorraine Bracco and just got off with Brad Grey who had just heard from David Chase. We had all become a family. This is a tremendous loss.”
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James Gandolfini, star of the HBO original series The Sopranos as main character and anxiety-ridden Tony Soprano, has died in Italy according to TMZ, Deadline, and Variety. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed but its currently thought that Gandolfini suffered from either a heart attack or stroke.
According to TMZ, “Gandolfini was in Italy to attend the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily — and he was scheduled to participate in a festival event this weekend with Italian director Gabriele Muccino.”
Both TMZ and Deadline are suggesting a heart attack claimed the life of the 51-year old actor, and Variety does as well though their headline formerly stated a stroke was the cause.
The Sopranos aired on HBO from 1999-2007 and quickly became one of the premiere television shows of all time, taking a fresh approach to an often tired mob genre. Gandolfini won three Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2000, 2001, and 2003. The Sopranos is often the television show by with all others are measured by, dominating ratings charts with its unprecedented take on mafia antics in New York City and New Jersey, through unique takes on character development and personalization of cosa nostra bosses.
He also appeared in a number of critically acclaimed feature films like Zero Dark Thirty, Where the While Things Are, and Crimson Tide as well as, now in post-production, HBO show Criminal Justice and CBS show Taxi 22.
Gandolfini is survived by his wife Deborah Lin, who gave birth to the couple’s daughter in October 2012. He also has a teenage son from a previous marriage. Rest in peace.
Stay tuned to BostInno for absolute confirmation on every detail as information continues to be made available to the public.
