Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
James Gandolfini's Funeral Service Will Be Thursday, 10 AM At St. John The Divine
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 24, 2013
Modified Jun 24, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 24, 2013
Modified Jun 24, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The body of actor James Gandolfini arrived in New Jersey last night. Gandolfini passed away while vacationing in Rome last week, and his family thanked the Italian and U.S. government for helping expedite the process of returning the body.
Specifically, his family thanked Secretary of State John Kerry, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. (Bill Clinton and James Gandolfini were friends.)
The funeral for Gandolfini will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. John Divine in Morningside Heights. The Daily News notes that Gandolfini was Catholic and St. John the Divine is an Episcopalian church, adding that many other famous people (Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, James Baldwin, Nikola Tesla, Mayor John Lindsay, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Henson, George Balanchine) also had funeral services there. Our guess: The seating capacity for St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown is about 2500; St. John the Divine's nave can hold 6,000. Plus, it's probably easier to manage traffic uptown, versus in Midtown.
Flags are being flown at half-staff in New Jersey in honor of Gandolfini. Governor Chris Christie's executive order notes (PDF):
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini was an iconic actor, who left a timeless impact upon television and film in the State of New Jersey and across our Nation; and
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini was born in Westwood, New Jersey, on September 18, 1961, and grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey;
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1979, where he played basketball and starred in school plays; and
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University, and began to pursue what would become an extraordinarily successful acting career; and
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini’s most popularly acclaimed role was the part of Tony Soprano, the lead character in the television drama The Sopranos, which debuted in 1999 and continued through 2007; and
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini appeared on Broadway and in several films, including True Romance, Terminal Velocity, Get Shorty, The Juror, The Mexican and The Taking of Pelham 123; and
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini produced two documentaries, Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq and Wartorn: 1861-2010, which revealed the immense challenges faced by servicemembers and veterans integrating back into society; and
WHEREAS, James Gandolfini passed away suddenly on June 19, 2013; and
WHEREAS, it is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of James Gandolfini and extend our sincere sympathy to his family, friends, and countless fans; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize the achievements and contributions, to honor the memory, and to mark the passing of James Gandolfini;
Tagged
funeral
james gandolfini
st. john the divine
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .