James Gandolfini Will Be Known For Playing Tony Soprano, But He Will Also Be Known For Helping War Veterans

James Gandolfini Death: 'Sopranos' Star Shined a Light on Soldiers' Issues -- Hollywood Reporter

A trip to the front lines of the Iraq War left the actor deeply moved and led him to produce two excellent documentaries.

James Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack Wednesday at age 51, became a Hollywood icon playing Tony Soprano, a mob boss groping with the psychological tolls of living a life of daily brutality. Gandolfini used his celebrity to shine a light on the challenges facing members of the U.S. Armed Forces, many of whom, though separated by a moral chasm, suffered from similar issues.

The actor produced several documentaries for HBO on the topic after a visit to the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom left him devastated and deeply moved by their sacrifices. The first, made in conjunction with the Wounded Warrior Project, was Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq and featured interviews with soldiers who survived the war with their lives intact but were left with serious physical injuries.

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Update: Gandolfini covered veterans’ issues in HBO documentaries -- Stars and Stripes

My Comment: He was a cultural icon .... but he took the time to help those who served .... and for that (and more) he will be missed.