James Gandolfini -- Remains Headed Home Soon

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James Gandolfini
Remains Headed Home Tomorrow

The remains of James Gandolfini may be flown to his homeland Monday ... and it's no small feat.

A family spokesperson says, "The provisional plan is to depart Rome tomorrow afternoon and arrive in the U.S. in the evening."

It often takes a week or longer to return a body when an American dies in Europe.  The red tape is unfathomable.

Funeral services for the 51-year-old "Sopranos" star are planned for later this week at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in NYC.

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James Gandolfini -- Death Suite Rented Out to NY Governor's GF

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James Gandolfini
Death Suite Rented Out
to NY Governor's GF Business is business when it comes to the Italians and with James Gandolfini's body still warm, the hotel he died in has already rented out his room ... to none other than NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's girlfriend!

The "Sopranos" star died from a fatal heart attack on Wednesday night, the room was rented on Thursday, and Sandra Lee checked in yesterday according to the NY Post.

The Food Network star arrived to hotel Boscolo Exedra Roma with her sister and nieces. A source told the paper that Lee's party  rented a few rooms at the luxury hotel, including the $671/night fourth-floor suite where Gandolfini’s 13-year-old son found him keeled over in the bathroom.

When singer Whitney Houston died in the bathtub of the Beverly Hills Hilton, they took the room off the rotation for quite some time ... but that's clearly not how it's done in Rome.

The Italians gotta make them euro euro bills y'all ...

A rep for Lee tells US Weekly that Lee has since moved out of the room, saying, "Sandra Lee has moved out of the hotel room previously occupied by James Gandolfini ... The European paparazzi has been overwhelming ... with non-stop phone calls to the room ... reporters are pulling all sorts of trickery -- trying to bribe hotel staff to get into the suite."

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James Gandolfini Reportedly Guzzled 8 Drinks Hours Before Death

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James Gandolfini
Reportedly Guzzled 8
Drinks Before Death
James Gandolfini reportedly gorged himself on fried food, foie gras and booze just before he died of a heart attack.

Gandolfini downed at least 8 drinks at the restaurant in the hotel where he died -- 4 shots of rum, 2 pina coladas and 2 beers -- this according to the New York Post.

The "Sopranos" star also feasted on fried prawns covered in mayo and chili sauce and foie gras, according to the paper.

On Tuesday -- the night before he died -- we're told Gandolfini dined at another restaurant and downed at least one glass of wine (Photo above).

Gandolfini struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. 

Interestingly ... the doctor who runs the ER put out a statement Thursday that there was no evidence of alcohol in his system, but based on the report something is clearly off.

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James Gandolfini -- One Last Tribute Dance ... from 'Sopranos' Stripper

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James Gandolfini
One Last Tribute Dance
... from 'Sopranos' Stripper
It's a tribute worthy of Tony Soprano -- a Bada Bing stripper from the HBO show has paid her respects to James Gandolfini the only way she knows how ... by spinning around a pole in a g-string to the "Sopranos" theme song ... and it's all on video.

The clip was shot last night at the real-life Bada Bing -- a place called Satin Dolls in Lodi, NJ -- and it features longtime Bada Bing veteran Diana Lynn, who first appeared on the "The Sopranos" pilot episode back in 1999.

Diana -- who worked as a background dancer in several "Sopranos" episodes thereafter -- has been dancing at Satin Dolls for 15 years.

Diana says she's heartbroken by the loss of the great actor -- telling us she formed a bond with Gandolfini during his "Sopranos" days. She says the actor often hung around Satin Dolls after filming just to squeeze in some quality stripper time.

And based on the video, it really meant a lot to her. Bada bing, bada boom.

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James Gandolfini -- Possible Last Photo Before Death

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James Gandolfini
Possible Last Photo Before Death

James Gandolfini dined at an Italian restaurant and was photographed during his meal shortly before he died.

We've been getting unconfirmed reports Gandolfini was at Ciampini restaurant in Rome -- where the pic was taken -- hours before his death.  Although we know he was there, the restaurant can't confirm if it turned out to be his last meal.

And now we know ... doctors tried in vain for 40 minutes to resuscitate the actor.  They tried everything -- heart massage and other methods but there was no electric activity from the heart, meaning he was probably dead before he even got to the hospital.  The hospital confirms that.

There will be an autopsy, which will probably include a toxicology report that will reveal if drugs or alcohol were in Gandolfini's system.

The chief doc at the ER says it looks like the "Sopranos" star died of natural causes -- a heart attack.

James Gandolfini -- Tattoo Shopping Before Death

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James Gandolfini
Tattoo Shopping
Before Death
James Gandolfini was in the market for a mysterious new ink job before his death -- dropping by an L.A. tattoo parlor earlier this month ... and promising to return with a special order.

TMZ has learned Gandolfini visited T-Man Tattoo in Studio City on June 1st -- and the owner (pictured above) tells us, the actor was extremely excited about a new tattoo he was planning.

Gandolfini didn't tell the owner what he wanted to get done -- but said he just moved to the neighborhood, and promised to return later this month for a full tat session.

The owner says Gandolfini was in great spirits during the visit.

As we reported, Gandolfini passed away Wednesday in Italy from an apparent heart attack. He was 51.

James Gandolfini -- Tragedy Struck During Father-Son Trip

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James Gandolfini
Tragedy Struck During
Father-Son Trip
James Gandolfini's shocking death happened in the middle of a "guy's trip" for the actor and his teenage son, Michael ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources tell us James' trip was for pleasure and business -- first getting to spend some QT in Italy with Michael, who just recently graduated from the 8th grade ... and then attending the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.

We're told Michael's mom -- James' first wife Marcy Wudarski -- immediately flew to Italy on Wednesday to be with her son ... after she was told James had died.

James and his son were very tight -- Michael is a big hockey fan, and he and his father were regulars at L.A. Kings home games.

James Gandolfini Dead -- 'Tony Soprano' Actor Dies in Italy

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James Gandolfini
DIES IN ITALY

James Gandolfini -- who famously played Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos" -- died earlier today in Italy ... TMZ has learned.

Gandolfini is believed to have suffered a heart attack. He was 51.

Gandolfini was in Italy to attend the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily -- and he was scheduled to participate in a festival event this weekend with Italian director Gabriele Muccino.

Gandolfini shot to fame playing a hitman in the 1993 hit "True Romance" ... and quickly became a Hollywood legend when he was cast as Tony Soprano in 1999.  He won 3 Emmy awards for the role during the show's 6 season run.

'Sopranos' creator David Chase tells TMZ ... "[James] was a genius. He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time.  A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes.  I remember telling him many times, 'You don't get it.  You're like Mozart.' There would be silence at the other end of the phone."

Chase added, "He was my partner, he was my brother in ways I can't explain and never will be able to explain.”

Gandolfini also appeared in a ton of huge movies including "Get Shorty," "The Mexican" and "Zero Dark Thirty."

We last spoke to Gandolfini in May in L.A. -- he was in great spirits, making funny faces and joking about a "Sopranos" movie.

His 'Sopranos' co-star Joseph R. Gannascoli -- who played Vito -- tells us, "James is one guy who never turned his back on me. He was the most humble and gifted actor and person I have ever worked with ... and I will forever be indebted to him."

Gandolfini is survived by his wife Deborah Lin, who gave birth to the couple's daughter in October 2012. He also has a teenage son from a previous marriage. R.I.P.

James Gandolfini -- No Evidence of Drugs, Alcohol ... So Far

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James Gandolfini
No Evidence of
Drugs, Alcohol ... So Far A doctor who runs the ER where James Gandolfini was taken before he was pronounced dead says there are no suspicious factors, such as alcohol, but the statement appears premature -- especially with respect to any drugs that might have been in the actor's system.

Professor Claudio Modini, the chief ER doc, says it looks like a heart attack, adding it was "probably a natural cause of death, myocardial infarction."

Gandolfini had acknowledged he had been addicted to cocaine and booze, and substance abuse played a part in his 2002 divorce.

As for the professor's tentative conclusion, it's premature to know if drugs or alcohol were a factor.  It's also unclear what -- if any -- toxicology tests will be performed on Gandolfini's body.

As we previously reported, Gandolfini died Wednesday in Italy while on vacation with his son. He had been staying at the Boscolo Hotel Exedra in Rome (pictured below).