Broadway to dim lights for James Gandolfini

Broadway theaters will dim their marquee lights Wednesday night in memory of James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos" star who earned a Tony Award nomination in 2009, The Associated Press reports.

The Broadway League said Tuesday that the lights will be dimmed for one minute at exactly 8 p.m.

The 51-year-old actor died Wednesday in Rome. A funeral will be held Thursday at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City.

Gandolfini received a Tony nomination for his role in the award-winning "God of Carnage." He also appeared on Broadway in "On the Waterfront" in 1995 and "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1992 opposite Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin.

"Whether on screen or on a Broadway stage, [Gandolfini] made every role believable and seemingly effortless," Charlotte St. Martin, the Broadway League's executive director, said in a statement. He "was a consummate actor who brought individuality to each role and inspired a true connection with the audience."