James Gandolfini died earlier today in Italy, according to reports. The Sopranos star is believed to have suffered a heart attack, and was just 51 years old. Deadline was the first source to report Gandolfini’s death . He was in Italy to attend the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily, and was scheduled to appear in an event this weekend with director Gabriele Muccino. “Everyone is in tears,” a N.Y. Daily News source said. Gandolfini has appeared in many successful TV shows and films, but he truly became a Hollywood star when he was cast as Tony Soprano in 1999. He won three Emmy awards for The Sopranos . The press-shy star got his start as a character actr, became famous relatively late in his career, and stayed largely out of the limelight once The Sopranos ended. The burly Westwood, N.J. native is survived by his wife, former model Deborah Lin, who gave birth to a baby girl last October. The pair wed in 2008. Gandolfini, who spent part of his early career supporting himself as a bartender and nightclub manager, also has a son with his ex-wife, Marcy Wudarski. R.I.P.
Originally posted here:
James Gandolfini Dies of Heart Attack; The Sopranos Star Was 51
