Sopranos Star James Gandolfini Passes [VIDEO]

The Sopranos star James Gandolfini has passed away at the age of 51. TMZ is reporting that the actor was in Italy at the time of his death and was scheduled to participate in the 59th annual Taormina Film Festival in Sicily this weekend.

Hospital officials in Rome say U.S. actor James Gandolfini died after suffering cardiac arrest.

Dr. Claudio Modini, head of the emergency room at the Policlinic Umberto I hospital, said Gandolfini arrived at the hospital at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday and was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. after reanimation efforts in the ambulance and hospital failed.

Steven Van Zandt is paying his respects to James Gandolfini following the actor's sudden death. The Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band member worked closely with Gandolfini as an actor on The Sopranos, playing Silvio Dante. Van Zandt tweeted Wednesday night, "I have lost a brother and a best friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time. Maureen and I send our deepest sympathy and love to Deborah, Michael, Lily, and all of Jimmy's family."

Here is the final scene from the Sopranos.