James Gandolfini’s body arrived back in his native New Jersey tonight on a charter flight from Rome, where the beloved actor died of a heart attack last week.
“The Soprano’s” star’s remains were loaded from the flight at Newark Airport at 9:33 p.m., sources said, and were prepared to be taken to a funeral home in Park Ridge, N.J.
The Italian news agency ANSA had earlier published a photo showing airport workers loading a box containing Gandolfini’s coffin on to the jet in Rome. Gandolfini’s final flight left at about 6 p.m. local time.
On Thursday morning, friends and loved ones of the actor best known for his portrayal of Tony Soprano will give him one more standing ovation during services at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan.
Police and funeral planners are set to meet today to go over logistics of the massive send-off.
The NYPD expects to close off at least a few blocks around the gothic church, on Amsterdam Avenue and West 112th Street.
Gandolfini, 51, died of an apparent heart attack Wednesday, in Room 449 of the Boscolo Exedra Roma.
He had just polished off a huge meal of fried prawns and eight cocktails at the hotel’s outdoor eatery, sources said.
He was vacationing with his son.
It usually takes at least one week to work through international red tape and ship a body home.
But Gandolfini rep Michael Kobold thanked HBO, United Airlines, Secretary of State John Kerry, former President Clinton, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, US Embassy vice counsel Patricia Hill and Italian officials for speeding things up.
“We are fully aware that this process usually takes seven days and we are extremely grateful for their efficiency in dealing with this matter,” Kobold said.
With Rebecca Rosenberg and Post Wire Services