James Gandolfini dead at 51 - Possible Heart Attack in Italy

James Gandolfini died in Italy today, reports TMZ. He was 51. Developing...

Update: Variety has confirmed that Gandolfini died of a stroke (now updated to possible heart attack).

HBO also confirms that James Gandolfini has died.

James Gandolfini dead at 51 - Report

From TMZ:

James Gandolfini -- who famously played Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos" -- reportedly died earlier today in Italy ... TMZ has learned.

The details surrounding Gandolfini's death are unclear. He was 51.

Gandolfini was in Italy to attend the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily -- and he was scheduled to participate in a festival event this weekend with Italian director Gabriele Muccino.

Gandolfini shot to fame playing a hitman in the 1993 hit "True Romance" ... and quickly became a Hollywood legend when he was cast as Tony Soprano in 1999.