Actor James Gandolfini, best known for his role as Tony Soprano on the acclaimed HBO series, has died.

According to the network, the 51-year-old passed away following a heart attack while on vacation in Rome.

“We’re all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family,” the HBO network said in a statement.

“He was special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”

Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards as best actor for his role as a Mob patriarch in the hit drama, which ran for six seasons. He also recently had roles in films Zero Dark Thirty and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.

He is survived by his wife Deborah Lin, their 8-month-old daughter Liliana, and son Michael, 13, from a previous marriage.

_{Image credit: By gdcgraphics (James Gandolfini) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons}