The entertainment industry was dealt a tragic blow Wednesday, when James Gandolfini, star of the hit television show "The Sopranos," died of an apparent heart attack in Rome, Italy. 

Gandolfini, who was 51, was best known for his role as Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos." Soprano would frequently keel over from panic and heart attacks on the show, and it appears that the man who so dutifully portrayed the character met a similar fate.

"The hotel notified emergency crews who responded, and first aid was administered before Mr. Gandolfini was taken to the hospital, where he died of an apparent heart attack," said close family friend of Gandolfini, Michael Kobold.

Gandolfini received wide-ranging praise for his portrayal of Soprano, winning three Emmy's for "Best Actor in a Drama." Those that knew him best, however said that he was nothing like the fiery, quick-tempered mob boss he played.

"A nicer guy you never met," recalled Del Rio Diner owner Larry Georges. "Last time Gandolfini came was three months ago after a funeral for my friend Joe Chulengarian, who was married to Gandolfini's cousin, Phyllis Borgo. Phyllis grew up with the Gandolfini sisters and Jamie, which is what they always called him."

Gandolfini not only received recognition from the acting community for his role in "The Sopranos" but also from actual Italian mobsters as well. Georges has said that "old-time street guys" admired Gandolfini's interpretation of their culture as well, saying that no other actor had ever done such a good job of portraying who they were.

"He was the American actor who better than anyone else was able to interpret the Italian-American society, with all of its rich contrasts, ambitions, pain, humor," said Mario Sesti, head of a film festival in Sicily.

Gandolfini was on a vacation with his family and they were in their hotel room when he went up to use the bathroom. After spending an inordinate amount of time in there, one of his family members went into to investigate, only to find his body on the ground. A Roman emergency crew quickly came to the scene but were unable to resusitate him.