James Gandolfini's Funeral To Take Place Today

NEW YORK ? Mourners gathered Thursday for the funeral of James Gandolfini and the creator of "The Sopranos" is due to memorialize the actor at the ceremony.

David Chase is one of four people scheduled to offer remembrances during the ceremony at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. The others are his widow, Deborah Lin Gandolfini, and two family friends.

The 51-year-old actor best known for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano in the HBO series died of a heart attack last week while vacationing with his son in Italy.

Invited guests began gathering early for the 10 a.m. funeral. Dick Cavett chatted with actor Steve Buscemi near the front of the church. Aida Turturro, who played Gandolfini's sister in "The Sopranos," was one of the first from that show's large cast to arrive.

Some 1,500 seats had been set up. The public was to be allowed in after the invited guests.

A private family wake was held for the actor Wednesday in New Jersey.

Broadway theaters paid tribute by dimming their lights briefly Wednesday night. Gandolfini was nominated for a Tony Award in 2009 as an actor in "God of Carnage."

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James Gandolfini funeral set for Thursday in New York

By Sharon Waxman

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - James Gandolfini will be buried on Thursday at the famed Saint John the Divine cathedral in Manhattan, HBO announced on Sunday.

"We can confirm, on behalf of the Gandolfini Family, that the funeral service for James Gandolfini will be held Thursday, June 27th. The service will be held at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan," the statement said.

The sudden death of the iconic actor at 51 on Wednesday, who was on vacation with his family at the time, shocked Hollywood and his legions of fans.

Earlier Sunday a family spokesman said that Gandolfini's body would be returned Monday to the United States for burial.

HBO released the statement by Gandolfini family spokesman, Michael Kobold, in Rome, Italy.

"Thanks to the collaboration of all these people and organizations I just named, we are now looking at hopefully getting James Gandolfini's remains back to the States tomorrow," he said. "The provisional plan is to depart Rome tomorrow afternoon and arrive in the U.S. in the evening."

Kobold thanked the Italian and U.S. governments for expediting a process that he said usually takes seven days.

(Editing by Chris Michaud)

View the original article here

James Gandolfini funeral set for Thursday in New York

By Sharon Waxman

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - James Gandolfini will be buried on Thursday at the famed Saint John the Divine cathedral in Manhattan, HBO announced on Sunday.

"We can confirm, on behalf of the Gandolfini Family, that the funeral service for James Gandolfini will be held Thursday, June 27th. The service will be held at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan," the statement said.

The sudden death of the iconic actor at 51 on Wednesday, who was on vacation with his family at the time, shocked Hollywood and his legions of fans.

Earlier Sunday a family spokesman said that Gandolfini's body would be returned Monday to the United States for burial.

HBO released the statement by Gandolfini family spokesman, Michael Kobold, in Rome, Italy.

"Thanks to the collaboration of all these people and organizations I just named, we are now looking at hopefully getting James Gandolfini's remains back to the States tomorrow," he said. "The provisional plan is to depart Rome tomorrow afternoon and arrive in the U.S. in the evening."

Kobold thanked the Italian and U.S. governments for expediting a process that he said usually takes seven days.

(Editing by Chris Michaud)

View the original article here