italy where he was scheduled to attend the taormina film festival in sicily later this week. the press-shy star made one of his last public appearances at this charity event for the stella adler acting studio in new york city just last week. among his last film roles was playing defense secretary leon panetta on "zero dark thirty". >> you guys ever agree on anything? >> reporter: he may have enjoyed global fame, but he never strayed far from home, new jersey. >> definitely put new jersey on the map. all positive, you know. he just made jersey better than it already is. >> reporter: one of his best known fans, new jersey governor chris christie, in a statement said in a statement "it's an awful shock. james gandolfini was a fine actor, a rutgers alum and a true jersey guy. i was a huge fan of his and the character he played so authentically, tony soprano." the ice cream shop in bloomfield, new jersey, which served as the diner setting for the final scene of "the sopranos" was overflowing with