The death of James Gandolfini, best known for his role as an anxiety-ridden mob boss on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” on Wednesday affected many in Hollywood and beyond. Friends and colleagues tweeted and made statements after hearing news of the actor’s death.
“He was a genius. 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.”
The band, Journey, whose signature song, “Don’t Stop Believin” was played in the “The Sopranos” finale:
“It’s truly an honor to have been able to share one of the greatest moments ever in TV history with James Gandolfini. He was an amazing actor — taken way too young — and he’ll be missed. Our condolences go out to his family.”
Mark Ruffalo, co-star in “The Last Castle” and “Where the Wild Things Are”:
“Oh Jimmy. It’s a crying shame. You stormed in and out. Your voice like velvet granite. From a whisper to a shout. A comet of a man. So long.”
