Gandolfini had issues.

[mbig]

the other thread (RIP) is not appropriate for this.
The Sopranos was one of the few things that brought me to the TV set in the last Decade (without computer on), but he apparently had some issues which make this less that a giant surprise.
There was nothing 'suspicious' about his death but according to this report, it wasn't that outa the blue.
Was reading this article out for a late night snack where The Post as always around.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Sopranos' star James Gandolfini guzzled at least eight alcoholic drinks during his final meal: source - NYPOST.com

“Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, who struggled with booze addiction in his final weeks, scarfed down a decadent final meal that included at least 8 alcoholic drinks, The Post has learned. Gandolfini guzzled 4 shots of rum, 2 pina coladas, and 2 beers at dinner with his son — while he chowed down on two orders of fried king prawns and a “large portion” of foie gras, a hotel source in Rome said.

The Emmy Award winner had attended several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on Perry Street in the West Village, but people who saw him there “didn’t think that he was serious about getting sober,” said a source familiar with the matter.
“I can confirm he has been known to blow Lines and drink like an Irish sailor on weekend leave,” said another source.
Photos of Gandolfini in Rome show the actor looking haggard in the days leading up to his death.."
[........]
News of Gandolfini’s addictions first surfaced during his 2002 divorce from Wudarski, who claimed in court documents that he’d go on benders that included kinky sex with other women. She also said in the filings that he did Cocaine with some “Sopranos” castmates.
Gandolfini, who filed a countersuit claiming Wudarski was mentally unstable, was often his own harshest critic.
The burly actor would repeatedly Punch himself in the face when he made mistakes on set, GQ reported yesterday.

The magazine said he was spooked by the overnight fame that came with “The Sopranos,” and sometimes blew off work to hole up in his Tribeca apartment.
In February 2002, he was a No-show for an expensive-to-shoot “Sopranos” scene at Westchester County Airport, where producers rented out a huge space, GQ said.
No one could find him until the fourth day of shooting, when he finally called in from a Brooklyn beauty salon, where he had Wandered in from the streets.
[.......]