Actor James Gandolfini attends the 2009 New York Film Critic's Circle Awards in this Jan. 11, 2010 file photo.LOS ANGELES - HBO and James Gandolfini's managers say the actor famous for his role in "The Sopranos" has died in Italy.
The cable channel, and managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, say the 51-year-old Gandolfini died Wednesday while on holiday in Rome.
In a statement, HBO called the actor a great talent and a gentle and loving person.
Gandolfini played conflicted mob boss Tony Soprano in the groundbreaking HBO series that aired from 1999 to 2007.
His film credits included "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Killing Them Softly," and he appeared in the Broadway production "God of Carnage."