Edie Falco cuts a sad figure as she mourns for onscreen husband Sopranos star James Gandolfini

PUBLISHED: 08:18 EST, 21 June 2013 | UPDATED: 08:30 EST, 21 June 2013

View
comments

Sopranos star Edie Falco looked heartbroken as she appeared in public in New York City just a day after her co-star James Gandolfini was discovered dead in a hotel room.

The actress, who played Tony Soprano’s wife Carmela for eight years, was pictured getting out of a taxi on a New York street. She was wearing dark glasses, and refused to discuss Gandolfini’s death with reporters.

With her eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses she then walked along the street talking on her mobile phone.

Scroll down for video

In mourning: Edie Falco pictured out in New York the day after Sopranos' co-star James Gandolfini's death

Falco, currently starring in Nurse Jackie, had already paid tribute to her co-star, who died at just 51 years of age.

The pair produced one of the most tempestuous, passionate and troubled portrayals of a marriage ever seen on TV screens in the much-praised Sopranos. Both Falco and Gandolfini won three Emmys.

More...

Falco said: 'The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I've ever known.’

Shocked: The actress kept her eyes covered behind shades and declined to comment about Gandolfini

'I am shocked and devastated by Jim's passing,' continued the Golden Globe-winning star.

'He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words.'

'I consider myself very lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague. My heart goes out to his family,' she added.

She went on to say that she will forever 'hold on to the memories of our intense and beautiful time together.'

Gandolfini told Vanity Fair in 2012 ‘I’m still in love with Edie. Of course, I love my wife, but I’m in love with Edie. I don’t know if I’m in love with Carmela or Edie or both. I’m in love with her.’

A happy couple: Falco and Gandolfini played the central couple in The Sopranos for eight years

Falco echoed the sentiment in the same interview, admitting 'it was weird to sit down at a table read with the actresses playing Tony’s girlfriends.

'Occasionally I would get a sharp twinge at the back of my neck, because, especially if I’m tired, the emotional lines would bleed into each other and I’d have to kind of keep my bearings and remember, No, no, no, this is your job, and at home you have your life.

'Even years later, I remember when I saw Jim in God of Carnage on Broadway, and he was Marcia Gay Harden’s husband, and I had this “How come I have to be O.K. with this?” kind of feeling,' she added.

Gandolfini leaves behind wife Deborah Lin and two children, Michael, 13, and Liliana, eight months.

James Gandolfini in some of his most memorable film & TV roles

Edie Falco and James Gandolfini at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2008

Sopranos stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco pose with their Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor in a Drama Series

Award-laden: Falco and Gandolfini at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2008 (left) and at the Emmys - both actors won three Emmys each for The Sopranos

Lorraine Bracco, who played Tony Soprano's psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi in the show, said: 'I had the greatest sparring partner in the world, I had Muhammad Ali. He cares what he does, and does it extremely well.'

Brad Grey, The Sopranos‘ executive producer, also told Deadline: 'Jimmy was one of the most talented, authentic and vulnerable actors of our time. He was unorthodox and truly special in so many ways. He had the sex appeal of Steve McQueen or Brando in his prime as well as the comedic genius of Jackie Gleason.

Mafia man: Gandolfini as Tony Soprano led a formidable gang in the long-running TV series

Federico Castelluccio, who played Furio on the series and was a friend of Gandolfini's, said on the Today show that he was 'one of the greatest actors of our time....He was a really well-nuanced actor.'

Gandolfini’s managers, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, who along with cable channel HBO confirmed his death in Italy, said, ‘Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving.’

The Sopranos was considered by many to be groundbreaking television, and ran from 1999 until 2007 on HBO.

MOST WATCHED NEWS VIDEOS

Add your comments

Comments (13)

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

View all

Never saw the Sopranos. Never will. Liked the Godfather but it was more like an adaptation of some Ayn Rand fable. Goodfellas was the only realistic movie ever made about the Mafia. No attempt to glamorize it or make the characters appealing in any way.

- jay jay 2 , emeryville_CA, 21/6/2013 16:48

Click to rate Rating 78

Why is anyone red arrowing the 'she looks like she is on the phone' comment. She is isn't she?

- Buddy , London, United Kingdom, 21/6/2013 16:21

Click to rate Rating 22

It just shows the mentality of actors. Of course she would be upset spending endless hours playing his wife on the Sopranos. Great TV show, they would have formed a strong bond. But it when Ms. Falco says "The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I've ever known.¿ The love between the fake characters is just that fake, they pretended to play these people, but that love never was real. Actors live in the Land of Imagination.

- floatingabbey , Weston-TX, United States, 21/6/2013 16:12

Click to rate Rating 56

The older I get The more I realize absolutely nothing makes sense! People on death row live forever!! People who genuinely contribute to society, People who actually care, People who are brilliant and beautiful on the inside; They don't always get to live very long. Makes Noo Sense!! Rest well Mr. Gandolfini. No one will ever fill your shoes!!

- Tulip27 , Clackamas, United States, 21/6/2013 16:12

Click to rate Rating 125

It would be so nice if the press could back off and let his family and friends grieve in peace. The world is so fame orientated these days but when it intrudes on the pain of a death it truly is time to remember that we are all human beings.

- Oriele , Edinburgh, 21/6/2013 15:55

Click to rate Rating 20

Lorraine Bracco is yet to emerge and she was the closest one to him out of the cast. I love Edie Falco, what an actress she is. To go from Carmella Soprano to Nurse Jackie. Outstanding.

- Cyd83 , London, 21/6/2013 15:54

Click to rate Rating 69

She has odd shoes on!

- spiderbowser , Grantham, 21/6/2013 15:46

Click to rate Rating 40

Love Edie Falco and good for her for not blubbing to the press for attention. She gave a brief, heartfelt statement and that's all that's needed; she's not family, she's a former colleague. Such a response is dignified and appropriate. Now leave her alone to grieve in peace!

- Me , Here, 21/6/2013 15:43

Click to rate Rating 58

As brillliant as gandolfini was in the sopranos, edie falco was also brilliant. She had to be it wouldnt have been as dramatic and funny otherwise. To anybody who aint watched the sopranos i urge you to check it out because "mob drama" does it a massive injustice, it's infinitely more than that

- simjam , warrington, United Kingdom, 21/6/2013 15:40

Click to rate Rating 62

And fortunately DM and photo services had men in the field to take her picture! What would we do without you?

- Freddy , Boston, 21/6/2013 15:24

Click to rate Rating 16

Share this comment

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.