James Gandolfini was an American actor who became popular for his portrayal of the character of mobster Tony Soprano in the hit television series ‘The Sopranos’. Although Gandolfini had been active in Hollywood since the 1980s, playing minor roles in hugely successful films such as ‘Crimson Tide’ and ‘True Romance’, it was his role of Tony Soprano that vaulted him to worldwide fame. His portrayal of a cold-blooded but troubled mobster on the hit HBO TV series earned him, among other honours, three Emmys for best actor in a TV series. The show ran for six seasons starting from 1999 and is widely regarded by viewers and critics alike as one of the greatest American TV shows. After Sopranos ended, Gandolfini reunited with HBO to produce a documentary on the post-traumatic stress disorders that soldiers who returned from Iraq suffered from. His other notable appearances included his Tony-nominated role in the Broadway play ‘God of Carnage’. However, Gandolfini’s career was cut short by his unexpected demise, at the age of 51, in 2013.