James Gandolfini, best known for his role on the HBO's "The Sopranos" portraying an anxiety-ridden mob boss died Wednesday while on vacation in Italy, CNN reported. He was 51. His managers indicated it was possibly a heart attack, but the exact cause of death was not known.
"It is with immense sorrow that we report our client, James Gandolfini, passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy," managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders said in a joint statement. "Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving."
Gandolfini was a three-time Emmy Award-winner for portraying Tony Soprano. His versatility as an actor made him both an iconic figure, as well as respected in the arts.
Edie Falco, the actress who played Tony's wife Carmela, said she was "shocked and devastated" by the news.
"He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words. I consider myself very lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague. My heart goes out to his family," Falco said in a statement Thursday. "The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I've ever known."
Gandolfini was born September 18, 1961, in Westwood, New Jersey, according to Biography.com.
He got his start on Broadway with a role in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire."
In recent years, he had starred in several movies, including the Oscar-nominated "Zero Dark Thirty, (portraying then CIA Director Leon Panetta) "All the King's Men," "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" and "Killing Them Softly."
Gandolfini is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their 9-month-old daughter, Liliana. He is also survived by a son, Michael, from another marriage.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie described himself as a "huge fan" of Gandolfini. "It's an awful shock. James Gandolfini was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy," he said.
