The passing of "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini leaves a gaping hole in the TV landscape.
The actor, who died suddenly of a heart attack in Italy at the age of 51 on Wednesday, won three Emmys for his performance as mob boss Tony Soprano on the highly-acclaimed HBO series, which aired from 1999-2007.
"We're all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family," HBO said in a statement. "He was special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us."
“He was a genius," "Sopranos" creator David Chase said in a statement. "Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes. I remember telling him many times, 'You don't get it. You're like Mozart.’ There would be silence at the other end of the phone. For Deborah and Michael and Liliana this is crushing. And it's bad for the rest of the world. He wasn't easy sometimes. But he was my partner, he was my brother in ways I can't explain and never will be able to explain.”
Tony Soprano has largely been hailed one of the most iconic and fan favorite characters in TV history and there are many moments in the show's eight-season history that encapsulate Gandolfini's impressive work on the series.
Below, check out some of "The Sopranos" scenes we'll always remember Gandolfini by, from his heartfelt moments in Dr. Melfi's office to the emotional deterioration of his marriage to "those goddamn ducks."
