Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times The “Sopranos†star James Gandolfini.An autopsy on James Gandolfini, the “Sopranos†star and actor who died on Wednesday, has found that he died of a heart attack, a spokesman for the actor’s family said on Friday.
The spokesman, Michael Kobold, made the remarks in a statement to the news media in Rome. The statement was also distributed to reporters by HBO.
In the statement, Mr. Kobold said that Mr. Gandolfini came to Rome “on a vacation with his family†where “he had a wonderful day.†Mr. Kobold continued, “He visited the Vtican and had dinner at the hotel with his son awaiting the arrival of his sister. Today we received the results of the autopsy, which stated he died of a heart attack, of natural causes. The autopsy further states that nothing else was found in his system.â€
The statement concluded, “We are all devastated by this loss. James was a devoted husband, a loving father of two children, a brother and cousin you could always count on. We thank you for the privacy you have afforded us during this difficult time.â€
Mr. Gandolfini had been staying at the Bocolo Exedra Roma Hotel on Wednesday, where he experienced a medical emergency at about 10 p.m. that night, hotel personnel have said. Emergency crews were summoned to administer first aid, and Mr. Gandolfini was taken to the Policlinico Umberto I hospital in Rome, where additional attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. Mr. Gandolfini was 51 years old.
