Broadway's bright lights to dim in tribute to James Gandolfini

Marcia Gay Harden and James Gandolfini in a scene from the play 'God of Carnage,' 1999 (AP)

The bright lights of New York’s theatreland will go out tonight in honour of The Sopranos star James Gandolfini who died a week ago aged 51.

Broadway theatres will simultaneously turn down their lights at 8pm local time this evening in tribute to the American actor who was a star of the stage, film and television.

The Broadway League boss Charlotte St. Martin described him as “a consummate actor who brought individuality to each role”.

She said: “Whether on screen or on a Broadway stage, he made every role believable and seemingly effortless.”

Gandolfini, who was best known for playing mobster boss Tony Soprano in the long-running HBO drama The Sopranos, also had a number of diverse credits as a stage and film actor.

On Broadway he received a Tony Award nomination for best actor in 2009 for his role in God Of Carnage. He also appeared in a notable production of On the Waterfront in 1995 having made his Broadway debut in 1992’s A Streetcar Named Desire.

Gandolfini died of a heart attack in Rome on Wednesday last week having been found collapsed in his hotel.

The actor had been due to attend the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily where he was to receive a special prize on Saturday.

He is survived by wife Deborah Lin, their baby daughter Liliana, and his son, Michael, from his first marriage.

St. Martin said: "Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, and certainly to all of his fans who felt as if they knew his characters."

His funeral will be held at 10am on Thursday in New York at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.