Broadway Theaters to Dim Lights in Honor of Tony Nominee James Gandolfini

Broadway theaters will dim their lights this week to pay tribute to the passing of James Gandolfini, who passed away on June 19 at the age of 51. Theater marquees will go dark for one minute at 8 PM on June 26 in honor of the late actor.

“James Gandolfini was a consummate actor who brought individuality to each role and inspired a true connection with the audience. Whether on screen or on a Broadway stage, he made every role believable and seemingly effortless,” Executive Director of The Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, and certainly to all of his fans who felt as if they knew his characters.”

Best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of mobster Tony Soprano on HBO's groundbreaking series The Sopranos, Gandolfini suffered a heart attack in Rome. He earned a 2009 Best Actor in Play Tony nomination his performance in Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play God of Carnage. Born and raised in Westwood, New Jersey, the actor got his first break when he made his Broadway debut in the 1992 production of A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange. He also appeared on the Great White Way in a short-lived run of On the Waterfront in 1995. His many off-Broadway credits include Big El’s Best Friend, Tarantula’s Dancing, Summer Winds, One Day Wonder and The Danger of Strangers.