James Gandolfini dead at 51: 'Sopranos' star suffers heart attack in Italy with son
James Gandolfini's assistant said the actor suffered a heart attack while in the bathroom during a trip to Italy with his 13-year-old son, Michael. He was alive when the ambulance arrived.
MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS
Actor James Gandolfini is dead at 51. He suffered a massive heart attack while on a trip to Italy with his son, Michael.
James Gandolfini, the New Jersey-bred actor whose Mafia-boss character survived six seasons of mob hits and panic attacks on “The Sopranos,” died Wednesday in Italy. He was 51.
The man behind Tony Soprano was with his teenage son, Michael, 13, when he suffered a massive heart attack, a source close to the barrel-chested actor said.
James Gandolfini, the New Jersey-bred actor whose Mafia-boss character survived six seasons of mob hits and panic attacks on “The Sopranos,” died Wednesday in Italy. He was 51.
The man behind Tony Soprano was with his teenage son, Michael, 13, when he suffered a massive heart attack, a source close to the barrel-chested actor said.
SHAUN MADER/PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM
James Gandolfini was just in New York on June 10 attending the Stella By Starlight Gala for the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
Gandolfini and his family had spent “a beautiful day out together,” the actor’s assistant, Tom Richardson, told friend Mike Sullivan on Wednesday.
“When they got back to the hotel, Jimmy went to use the restroom. And something happened in there . . . . His sister said he was alive when they took him out in the ambulance on the way to the hospital,” Richardson said, according to Sullivan, a close pal of “Sopranos” actor Tony Sirico.
Gandolfini and his family had spent “a beautiful day out together,” the actor’s assistant, Tom Richardson, told friend Mike Sullivan on Wednesday.
“When they got back to the hotel, Jimmy went to use the restroom. And something happened in there . . . . His sister said he was alive when they took him out in the ambulance on the way to the hospital,” Richardson said, according to Sullivan, a close pal of “Sopranos” actor Tony Sirico.
STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE
James Gandolfini (second from left) with his wife Debbie (right), son Michael and a guest in Hollywood September 2011.
PHOTOS: JAMES GANDOLFINI: A LIFE IN PHOTOS
The news floored Gandolfini’s friends, fellow actors and “Sopranos” co-stars, including Steve Schirripa, who was in a box suite at Yankee Stadium when word reached him by phone. The color drained from Schirripa’s face and uncertainty reigned for a half-hour as he and other “Sopranos” cast members, like Lorraine Bracco and Steve Van Zandt called each other, desperate for details.
PHOTOS: JAMES GANDOLFINI: A LIFE IN PHOTOS
The news floored Gandolfini’s friends, fellow actors and “Sopranos” co-stars, including Steve Schirripa, who was in a box suite at Yankee Stadium when word reached him by phone. The color drained from Schirripa’s face and uncertainty reigned for a half-hour as he and other “Sopranos” cast members, like Lorraine Bracco and Steve Van Zandt called each other, desperate for details.
ANTHONY NESTE/AP
James Gandolfini (center) is best known for his role as Tony in HBO's 'The Sopranos,' acting alongside Tony Sirico (from left), Steven Van Zandt, Michael Imperioli and Vicent Pastore.
“I had to get up and leave,” said Schirripa, who played Tony’s brother-in-law, Bobby Baccalieri. “It was like being told a brother had died. Jimmy Gandolfini was as great a friend as he was an actor and a human being.”
“The phone hasn’t stopped. I spoke to a lot of the guys from ‘The Sopranos.’ We were crying,” Schirripa added. “People joke about us being a family. But we are a family.”
“I had to get up and leave,” said Schirripa, who played Tony’s brother-in-law, Bobby Baccalieri. “It was like being told a brother had died. Jimmy Gandolfini was as great a friend as he was an actor and a human being.”
“The phone hasn’t stopped. I spoke to a lot of the guys from ‘The Sopranos.’ We were crying,” Schirripa added. “People joke about us being a family. But we are a family.”
JILL CONNELLY/AP
James Gandolfini (right) with 'The Sopranos' creator David Chase.
Soon enough, Twitter and Facebook exploded with rumors and contradictory information about Gandolfini’s death, including claims that it was a hoax.
PHOTOS: BEST MOMENTS OF 'THE SOPRANOS'
Soon enough, Twitter and Facebook exploded with rumors and contradictory information about Gandolfini’s death, including claims that it was a hoax.
PHOTOS: BEST MOMENTS OF 'THE SOPRANOS'
RICHARD CORKERY/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
James Gandolfini and his wife Deborah Lin were married in Hawaii in 2008.
But managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders confirmed the death in a statement: “It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today.”
“Our hearts are shattered, and we will miss him deeply.”
But managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders confirmed the death in a statement: “It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today.”
“Our hearts are shattered, and we will miss him deeply.”
STARSURF/SPLASH NEWS
The 46-year-old actor married Deborah Lin, 40, during a twenty minute church ceremony at the Central Union Church in Honolulu.
The stunning news came almost exactly six years after the gut-wrenching and inconclusive series finale of “The Sopranos.”
Gandolfini was a frequent visitor to Italy, where his parents both grew up. His family owns land near Milan.
The stunning news came almost exactly six years after the gut-wrenching and inconclusive series finale of “The Sopranos.”
Gandolfini was a frequent visitor to Italy, where his parents both grew up. His family owns land near Milan.
SPLASH NEWS
James Gandolfini and Deborah Lin welcomed a baby girl in October of 2012.
RELATED: JAMES GANDOLFINI DEAD AT 51: FRIENDS REACT
It was initially unclear whether the actor had been suffering from health problems before his sudden death. He was in Italy partly to attend the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.
RELATED: JAMES GANDOLFINI DEAD AT 51: FRIENDS REACT
It was initially unclear whether the actor had been suffering from health problems before his sudden death. He was in Italy partly to attend the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.
ROSCOE/SPLASH NEWS
James Gandolfini was spotted in West Hollywood with his wife and their baby daughter in October of 2012.
Gandolfini had been working on a new TV series, “Criminal Justice,” and speculation had always swirled about a “Sopranos” movie.
Film and TV bigs, and other notables, flooded social media with an extraordinary deluge of condolences and praise.
Gandolfini had been working on a new TV series, “Criminal Justice,” and speculation had always swirled about a “Sopranos” movie.
Film and TV bigs, and other notables, flooded social media with an extraordinary deluge of condolences and praise.
HBO/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION
James Gandolfini sipping a coffee in the first season of the HBO smash hit 'The Sopranos.'
“RIP James Gandolfini!” the prolific Jersey screenwriter Kevin Smith wrote on Twitter. “Your iconic portrayal of mob boss Tony Soprano gave soul to a monster and fostered perverse pride in the Garden State!”
RELATED: JAMES GANDOLFINI DEAD AT 51: CAREER SHOWED RANGE OF TALENTS<
“RIP James Gandolfini!” the prolific Jersey screenwriter Kevin Smith wrote on Twitter. “Your iconic portrayal of mob boss Tony Soprano gave soul to a monster and fostered perverse pride in the Garden State!”
RELATED: JAMES GANDOLFINI DEAD AT 51: CAREER SHOWED RANGE OF TALENTS<