RIP - Actor James Gandolfini, best known for his role as Tony - the mobster with a heart - on the hit HBO series “The Sopranos”, died yesterday from Cardiac Arrest at the age of 51. Gandolfini suffered the coronary while on vacation with his 18 year-old-son in Rome. In addition to his son from his first marriage, he leaves behind his second wife, whom he married in 2008, and an 8-month old baby girl.
The admittedly overweight Gandolfini, won three Emmy’s for his role as the head of the Soprano “organized crime” family during the shows 6-year-run. And his performance did something unique: It made viewers not only “like” the bad guy, but actully root for him over the Feds. (Of course this was back in the days when people actually thought the Feds were good guys!)
For six years, millions of Americans tuned into every Sunday night to watch Tony chat with his therapist, have a nice family dinner, then go whack somebody. As a tribute to the man and actor, people called “A cold-hearted murderer with a heart of gold”…I’m posting the heart-stoppingly open-ended final scene of “The Sopranos”.
RIP Tony…
-Dick
New Podcast tomorrow!