Actor James Gandolfini’s family and friends paid their last respects to the man who gained his fame from playing a mobster in The Sopranos. Gandolfini died of a heart attack aged 51 in Rome on 19 June 2013.

The 90 minute funeral service took place on Thursday morning at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. It was led by Reverend Dr. James A Kowalski and Gandolfini’s wife, Deborah Lin Gandolfini said a few words. She said her husband was a “honest, kind and loving man”.

Gandolfini’s co-stars, Lorraine Bracco and Tony Sirico of The Sopranos TV series embraced each other before they entered the church. Other celebrities including Alec Baldwin, New Jersey Govenor Chris Christie made their way into the church too, while spectators gathered outside.

The service was not recorded by HBO despite reports suggesting the network would. An HBO spokesperson said the recordings were for “personal archival usage”.

Bob Price, the husband of Gandolfini’s cousin said:

It’s a nightmare for the whole family. It’s a horrible, horrible thing. Everybody is just devastated.

[Source: CNN, Madison, Today]