James Gandolfini, the star of HBO's award-winning hit The Sopranos, has died at the age of 51.

The Hollywood actor passed away in this hospital Wednesday while vacationing in Rome.

Hospital officials told Reuters that Gandolfini arrived in the late evening.

Attempts to resuscitate the 51-year-old, who may have suffered a heart attack, were unsuccessful.

The American-Italian is best known for his Emmy winning performance as a New Jersey mob boss, who suffered debilitating panic attacks.

An American woman whose husband is also being treated here, expressed her regret for his passing.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN FROM THE UNITED STATES WHOSE HUSBAND HAS JUST BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL SAYING:

"I don't know him very much but my husband from Texas is in the same hospital with heart attack so it's very bad, very bad. So sorry about Gandolfini."

Residents of the Italian capital also mourned his death.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME