confirmed through hbo and that's where everybody else is getting their confirmation. independent confirmation is very hard to come by. as soon as we get more information on james gandolfini to add one more thing you were saying on top of all of the television awards he won as well as the cable ace award he was also nominated for a tony award on broadway for god of carnage, a great play that he was. in he didn't win but was nominated for the best actor category and you are right, very high demand in films like crimson tide. he was influenced he said by robert dinero and, of course, he was considered as many times he told the story for the role of vincent vega in pulp fiction. that, of course is the vehicle that brought john travolta back. >> shepard: james was born september 18th, 1961, a native of west wood, new jersey. and his decision to become an actor really came late