Capo di tutti capi

Tony Soprano, the centre of gravity of the New Jersey mob, The Sopranos, was quite some character.

What made Tony the magnetic pull of the television series was the actor who played his part, James Gandolfini, who died suddenly while on holiday in Italy at the age of 51.

Few would describe him as a lean mean gangster. He was mean, sure enough, but holding back the weight was not the forte of a man who once described himself as a 260 lb Woody Allen. Despite the flab he was never short on muscle, applying it liberally when 'business' required. Neither sentiment nor friendshipp stood between Tony and business.

Sopranos fans everywhere will mourn the loss of the larger than life actor who came to characterise 'the Mob.'

Irish playwrite Brendan Behan in the type of gangsterish pose that cigar hugging Tony Soprano would come to make his own

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