http://www.tmz.com/2013/0...ies-italy/

James Gandolfini -- who famously played Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos" -- died earlier today in Italy ... TMZ has learned.

Gandolfini is believed to have suffered a heart attack. He was 51.

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.

Gandolfini shot to fame playing a hitman in the 1993 hit "True Romance" ... and quickly became a Hollywood legend when he was cast as Tony Soprano in 1999. He won 3 Emmy awards for the role during the show's 6 season run.

Gandolfini also appeared in a ton of huge movies including "Get Shorty," "The Mexican" and "Zero Dark Thirty."

We last spoke to Gandolfini in May in L.A. -- he was in great spirits, making funny faces and joking about a "Sopranos" movie.

[Edited 6/19/13 16:44pm]

No fucking way!!!!

watching CNN now...so sad...my wife and I just finished watching a "Soprano" marathon and watched all the episodes over a few weeks...RIP to a great actor.

OH.MY.GOD!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I saw the alert pop up on my phone, I couldn't believe it!!!!

Rip . I wonder if it had anything to do with his past cocaine addiction. Even sporadic cocaine usage can greatly increase a chance of a heart tatack.

I am seriously in shock. This is one of the most shocking and upsetting celebrity deaths I have seen since 2009. The Sopranos was and is my all time favorite TV show, and he was one of my favorite actors ever. I always expected that Dom Chianese or Tony Sirico at least to be gone before James. RIP James, a great actor.

aahhhhhh nooooo:-(

At least he died in the country of his ancestors, his parents were actually Italian immigrants

Sad shit. I'm bummed big time

RIP

Holy crap!!!! Noooooooooooooo!!!!

http://www.thestar.com/en...at_51.html

I am in shock. Loved loved The Sopranos show. Never missed one.

Wow wow and wow

Just read it on facebook. Damn so young. What a great talent. He will be missed.

Great Interview:

[Edited 6/19/13 18:43pm]

OH MY GOD!!!

This is shocking...I didn't see this coming.

RIP James (aka Tony Soprano). This is truly heartbreaking.

[Edited 6/19/13 18:14pm]

Very big lost! I spent the whole entire summer after I graduated from high school watching first season of the Sopranos. RIP James Gandolfini

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

OH MY GOD!!!

This is shocking...I didn't see this coming.

RIP James (aka Tony Soprano). This is truly heartbreaking.

[Edited 6/19/13 18:14pm]

Neither did I. I don't think any of us saw it coming.

RIP

Nice pics of his family in Italy.

http://www.dailymail.co.u...ttack.html

so sad. RIP

He apparently had a sudden heart attack. I'm pretty sure no one saw this coming. How sad. RIP to an exceptionally great actor of our time.

Rest In Peace Mr. Gandolfini

http://www.brandonmsflorist.com/

[Edited 6/19/13 20:04pm]

Too young, Capo.
Way too young.

RIP

star of one of the best shows on tv ever

WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK Seriously... i can not believe this.

He was just getting bigger movie roles to... and finally being shown for the great talent he is.

Tony Soprano was one of the most complex, dark, riveting, best written characters in TV history. And he acted his ass off every episode!

R.I.P. Tony.

Hubby and I were huge fans of the Sopranos. James was a great actor and everyone says what a nice, down to earth man he was.

I was shocked when I heard this news last night. It's very sad.

I'd avoid 8MM, not one of his better roles.

Rest in Peace James.

This was such a shock when I heard yesterday on my drive home.

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R.I.P. Mr. Gandolfini

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My condolences to his family and friends.

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