Tributes to ‘One of the greatest actors of any time’

James Gandolfini’s portrayal of criminal Tony Soprano in the landmark drama series The Sopranos was just one facet of an actor who created a rich legacy of film and stage work in a life cut short.

Gandolfini, 51, who died on Wednesday while on holiday in Rome, refused to be bound by his star-making role in the HBO series that brought him three Emmy Awards during its six-season run.

“He was a genius,” said the show’s creator David Chase. “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.”