Tributes to the late James Gandolfini poured in from Sopranos cast members and Hollywood stars as they learned of his sudden death in Italy.
“The guy was like a brother to me. He was a great actor, a great father and was a lot of laughs,” said Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Bacala on the hit series, told The Post.
Bacala was so shaken by the news that he left a Yankees game to clear his head.
“This is devastating. When I say we were like family, this is very much like losing a family member,” he said, his voice shaking.
Even onscreen rivals like David Proval, Janice Soprano’s short-lived husband before she offed him and recruited Tony to dump the body, praised Gandolfini’s role as a leader on set.
“I couldn’t have asked for any better actor or better gentlemen to work with,” said Proval, or Richie Aprile for Sopranos fans, told The Post. “His generosity was unmatched.
“He was always right there for me during the show. It was a head-spinning kind of experience for everyone, yet he always found the time for me and everyone on the cast.”
Proval said Gandolfini was the opposite of the ruthless mob boss he portrayed on TV.
“He was very protective. We’d hear stories over the years about who was going next. He’d say, ‘Don’t worry, I’m here for you.’”
“I always revert to the big teddy bear, cream puff of a guy,” Proval, remembering his friend in happier times.
“We were enemies on screen, but pretty good friends off screen,” Frank Vincent, who played white-haired mobster Phil Leotardo on “The Sopranos,” told The Post.
“Jim was a loving guy who just enjoyed life. It’s a sad and tragic thing that’s happened. I feel bad for his family.
“He always had something to say — you know how the guys are — it was a men’s club and everybody had a good time all the time. Jimmy was the perfect choice for Tony Soprano.”
Managers for the Emmy-winning actor said their hearts were “shattered” in a statement confirming his death while vacationing in Rome.
“He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving,” said handlers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders.
The network responsible for skyrocketing Gandolfini to fame called the actor “a gentle and loving person who treated everyone, no matter their title or position, with equal respect.”
HBO’s statement said, “He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”
The heavyweight talent was also remembered for his talents as a mentor.
“When James Gandolfini was on Inside the Actors Studio, our students discovered how thoughtful the real James was — and how knowledgeable and caring he was about the craft he practiced so effortlessly that it didn’t look like acting at all,” said James Lipton, of the popular Bravo series.
“Like all of the finest actors, James convinced you that whatever you were seeing and hearing was just James being James, with no artifice or design.”
Fellow Hollywood A-Listers joined the mourning with statements praising the New Jersey native’s acting chops and down to earth personality.
Emmy winner Bette Midler tweeted, “The great James Gandolfini passed away today. Only 51. I can’t believe it.”
“So sad to lose James Gandolfini,” Susan Sarandon posted. “One of the sweetest, funniest, most generous actors I’ve ever worked with. Sending prayers to his family.”
Schirripa, aka Bobby Bacala, last saw Gandolfini three weeks ago at the Los Angeles premiere of the Nickelodeon movie “Nicky Deuce,” which was adapted from Schirripa’s children’s book.
Schirripa starred in the movie — as did other “Sopranos” cast members, including Gandolfini.
“He came to the premiere and he loved the movie and we had a drink afterwards,” he said. “It’s a sad day for everybody.”