The Broadway community mourns the sudden loss of celebrated film, stage, and television actor James Gandolfini, who passed away on Wednesday at age 51. The marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in his memory on Wednesday, June 26th, at exactly 8:00 p.m. for one minute.
“James Gandolfini was a consummate actor who brought individuality to each role and inspired a true connection with the audience. Whether on screen or on a Broadway stage, he made every role believable and seemingly effortless,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, and certainly to all of his fans who felt as if they knew his characters.”
Although well-known for playing a New Jersey mob boss on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series “The Sopranos” (which debuted in 1999 and ran for six seasons), Gandolfini also had a long and diverse list of credits as a stage and film actor, including many character and supporting roles.
On Broadway, Gandolfini received a 2009 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play for his role in the award-winning God of Carnage. He also appeared in On the Waterfront in 1995 and A Streetcar Named Desire in 1992.
He is survived by wife Deborah Lin, their daughter, Liliana, and a son, Michael, from his first marriage.
