LOS ANGELES (AP) – James Gandolfini “was a genius.” That’s what “Sopranos” creator David Chase says. Gandolfini died yesterday while in Rome on vacation. He was 51. Gandolfini won three Emmys for his role as Tony Soprano on the ground-breaking HBO series. Sopranos co-star Lorraine Bracco says she’s “utterly heartbroken.” Another Sopranos co-star, musician Steven Van, says the “world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time.”

Hospital officials in Rome say Gandolfini died after suffering cardiac arrest.

Dr. Claudio Modini, head of the emergency room at the Policlinic Umberto I hospital, said Gandolfini arrived at the hospital at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday and was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. after reanimation efforts in the ambulance and hospital failed.

He told The Associated Press today that an autopsy would be performed starting 24 hours after the death, as required by law.