James Gandolfini: 1961-2013

James Gandolfini rose to fame as mob boss Tony Soprano on HBO's hit drama "The Sopranos," which ran from 1999 to 2007. He passed away on June 19.

Michael Imperioli played his wife's cousin and Tony's own protege, Christopher Moltisanti. Gandolfini's character paved the way for other antiheroes to come, including "Breaking Bad's" Walter White, "Dexter's" Dexter Morgan and "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm, to name a few. All are highly flawed, but beloved by viewers.

The actor attended the opening night of Cirque du Soleil's "Banana Shpeel" at the Beacon Theatre on May 19, 2010 in New York with his wife Deborah and son Michael. The teenager was the one who discovered Gandolfini collapsed in their hotel bathroom.

Gandolfini attended the New York premiere of HBO's documentary film "Which Way Is The Frontline From Here?" on April 10, 2013. The film follows the work of photographer Tim Hetherington, who was killed in Libya. Gandolfini himself produced two documentaries examining the difficulties facing America's soldiers and Marines.

As the wealthy owner of Bally's Casino, Gandolfini was very much in charge of the wacky magicians (including Steve Carell) who want to perform in his establishment in 2013's "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone." Reportedly, the actor traveled to Las Vegas to research his role.

Gandolfini spoke onstage at the 2012 New York Film Critics Circle Awards at Crimson on Jan. 7, 2013, in New York.

Gandolfini teamed up with "Sopranos" creator David Chase again for the 2012 film "Not Fade Away," in which he played, Pat, an Italian immigrant who was father to a young Italian-American with dreams of becoming a rock star in 1960s New Jersey.

Though Gandolfini's character was named as only "CIA director" in the 2012 Oscar-nominated film, presumably he was playing Leon Panetta, who was in charge of the agency when Osama Bin Laden was killed, which was the subject of the film.

Gandolfini starred alongside Brad Pitt as hitman Mickey Fallon in the 2012 crime film "Killing Them Softly."

Gandolfini played Doug Riley, a father grieving the death of his daughter in the 2010 film "Welcome to the Rileys." Kristen Stewart played a 16-year-old stripper named Mallory with whom Doug moves in while he tries to put himself back together.

James Gandolfini starred with Marcia Gay Harden on Broadway in "God of Carnage" in 2009. The role earned the actor a Tony nomination.

Gandolfini has always been bigger than life, and in the 2009 adaptation of "Where the Wild Things Are" it was even more true -- despite the fact that he never appeared in person on screen. Gandolfini voiced the head Wild Thing, named Carol (pictured with actor Max Records, who played Max).

In 2004's "Surviving Christmas," Gandolfini played a suburban father who clobbers Ben Affleck him with a shovel, but ends up having him over for the holiday.

In 2001's neo-noir "The Man Who Wasn't There," Gandolfini (pictured with Katherine Borowitz) played "Big Dave" Brewster, a braggart who claims to have served in WWII's Pacific Theatre.

In the 2001 comedy "The Mexican," Gandolfini played a sensitive, gay hitman who made it his business to protect Julia Roberts' Samantha.

Gandolfini won the Emmy for best lead actor in a drama series in 2000 for his role as Tony Soprano, an honor he would claim two more times. The actor also won a Golden Globe for best performance by an actor and three SAG awards for outstanding performance by a male actor, among many more honors.

Tony Sirico (as Paulie), Michael Imperioli (as Christopher) and Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) starred as mob men who did the bidding of boss Tony Soprano (Gandolfini) in the HBO drama "The Sopranos."