The 51-year old Emmy winning actor died from a massive heart attack while at a film festival in Italy.
The Sopranos was a surprise hit for HBO and helped rocket the Westwood N.J. native to stardom.
He also appeared on Broadway in 2009 in "God of Carnage," a comedy that won a Tony Award.
He also supported himself early in his career working as a club manager and bartender.
After the Sopranos left production in 2007 Gandolfini had roles in “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Not Fade Away.”