The shocking news has come in this evening that actor James Gandolfini has died. The New Jersey native passed away at the age of 51 from a heart attack while in Italy, as he was preparing to attend Sicily’s 59th Taormina Film Festival. Perhaps best known for his role as mob boss on HBO’s The Sopranos, the talent recently re-teamed with creator David Chase in last year’s Not Fade Away. Around the same time he appeared in Zero Dark Thirty and Killing Them Softly, and had roles in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Violet & Daisy this year.
As evidence in just the aforementioned supporting roles, his on-screen presence was unforgettable and this is a devastating loss, especially at such a young age. Whether he was making us laugh in films like In the Loop or showcasing his iconic voice, exemplified in Where the Wild Things Are, I’ll truly miss the man. One will be able to see him in two upcoming films, Nicole Holofcener’s next untitled project and Michaël R. Roskam’s Animal Rescue. As we await these two projects, watch his episode of Inside the Actors Studio below, as he discusses his career.
What’s your favorite James Gandolfini role?