By Tara Palmeri
Friends and co-stars filled a Manhattan cathedral today to remember James Gandolfini, a “big teddy bear,” whose larger than life role as Tony Soprano often consumed him in darkness.There were enough actors and extras to film a Sopranos scene at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Morningside Heights, where Gandolfini’s funeral drew a thick crowd. Gandolfini, 51,a New Jersey native who earned international fame, died last week after suffering a heart attack while vacationing in Rome with his family.
The list of heartbroken mourners could have easily been pulled from the credits that ran after his groundbreaking show. It included co-stars Eddie Falco, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, Steve Schirripa, Aida Torturro and Steve Buscemi.
They were joined by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and such stars as Dick Cavett, Mario Batali, Chris Noth and Brian Wiliams.
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