James Gandolfini was found, collapsed in the bathroom of his Rome hotel room around 10pm local time last night, by his own young son, NBC News reports. Michael, 13, called for help, the hotel manager says, and Gandolfini was alive when the ambulance arrived. Hotel workers had tried to resuscitate him, but he was dead by the time he arrived at the hospital. He died after suffering cardiac arrest, but the autopsy has not yet been completed, the AP reports. The head of the hospital's ER tells CNN it was "probably a natural cause of death, myocardial infarction," or heart attack.
Gandolfini was on a "guys' trip" with Michael, who had just graduated from 8th grade, sources tell TMZ; USA Today reports, however, that his second wife, baby daughter, and other family members were also on the trip. Michael's mom, Gandolfini's first wife, reportedly flew to Italy after Gandolfini's death. The Sopranos actor was scheduled to appear Saturday at Sicily's Taormina Film Festival as a guest of honor. Instead, festival organizers say they will organize a tribute "to celebrate his great achievement and talent." While in Italy, Gandolfini had been excited "to reconnect with his Italian roots," says the film festival director, who spoke to Gandolfini hours before his death; his assistant says the family "had a marvelous day together." Needless to say, colleagues and other VIPs are heaping praise upon him. Sopranos co-star Lorraine Bracco said in a statement, "We lost a giant today. I am utterly heartbroken." (More James Gandolfini stories.)
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