James Gandolfini, who was one of the iconic television actors of the current generation, died earlier this year. The late actor was honored this weekend with a special ceremony in his hometown of Park Ridge, New Jersey.
Gandolfini, a special actor who will always have a place in the hearts of all of the fans of The Sopranos, was honored by having a street in his hometown named after him on Sunday. The actor who was known primarily to audiences in the role of Tony Soprano, died of a heart attack on June 19, 2013, at the age of 51.
The death of The Sopranos actor came as a big surprise to all of his friends and fans, and while he had scares in the past, it was not something anyone had seen coming.
In addition to his role on The Sopranos, he starred in several films including the recent drama Enough Said, which was released after his death, and co-starred Julia Louis Dreyfus.
Nice to see that the #SpiritAwards nominations recognized James Gandolfini's good work in ENOUGH SAID. A good film with fine performances.
— Omar Moore (@popcornreel) November 27, 2013
It has been a tough year for Gandolfini, and as a member of the Hollywood community that will surely be missed, he was also given a touching tribute from his former on-screen wife, Edie Falco, at this year’s Emmy Awards show.
The family of James Gandolfini, as well as friends and co-stars, all showed up for the ceremony on Sunday. In addition to naming a part of Park Avenue “James Gandolfini Way,” the city council declared Sunday to be James Gandolfini Day in Park Ridge.
One of his former co-stars on The Sopranos, Dominic Chianese, spoke during the event and said of Gandolfini, “All I can say is, I thank God that Jimmy Gandolfini was in my life.”
The ceremony was attended by all sorts of people, including those who knew him growing up, while acting in plays as a kid. One resident, Mike Meidanis spoke of him, saying “He was a humble man. He was so kind to everyone. You could never tell he was a big star.”
He is also set to receive a tribute during Monday’s Gotham Independent Film Awards.
Steve Buscemi to pay tribute to the late James Gandolfini at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.
— ruben nepales (@nepalesruben) November 20, 2013
James Gandolfini was a special actor that showed a lot of emotion in his roles, and will be forever missed by his family and friends, as well as his many friends who enjoyed watching him over the years. He leaves behind his wife Deborah Lin, as well as their son Michael, and daughter Liliana.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
