James Gandolfini's funeral to be held in New York

LOS ANGELES, June 21 (UPI) -- James Gandolfini's publicist says the late actor's family hopes to fly his body to the United States from Italy next week after completing necessary paperwork.

The New York Post quoted Gandolfini's spokesman, Michael Kobold, as saying an autopsy conducted in Italy confirmed the New Jersey-born actor died of a heart attack Wednesday while on vacation in Rome with his family. He was 51.

A funeral for the triple Emmy Award-winning star of "The Sopranos" is to be held in New York some time after his body is brought home either Wednesday or Thursday, Kobold said. No other details regarding plans for the service were immediately available.

"Today we received the results of the autopsy, which stated he died of a heart attack, of natural causes," People.com said Gandolfini's spokesman told reporters Friday.

"The autopsy further states that nothing else was found in his system. We are all devastated by this loss. James was a devoted husband, a loving father of two children, a brother and cousin you could always count on. We thank you for the privacy you have afforded us during this difficult time."