First Posted: 6/24/2013
On screen, Phil Leotardo and Tony Soprano were foes; the heads of the New York and New Jersey crime families respectively on the hit HBO series “The Sopranos.” Off screen, Frank Vincent and James Gandolfini comprised a cast that, for the past week, has consistently described itself as a big family.
“Probably one of the finest actors I’ve ever worked with; a very professional guy,” Vincent said via telephone about his on-screen enemy, following the news last week that Gandolfini died in Italy at the age of 51. “He never let his talent get in the way of his friendship. He was a sweetheart of a man and it’s very tragic that this happened.”
An autopsy confirmed that Gandolfini passed away from a heart attack. A private jet flew the actor’s body back to the U.S. His funeral will take place Thursday morning in New York. Vincent said he did not know of any health issues with the star.
“Jimmy was always a big, healthy, hearty guy,” he said. “Who knows? 51 years old… they say when you’re young and you get a heart attack, it’s not the best thing in the world. It’s a shock to everybody.”
Vincent filmed for years with Gandolfini, and looks back fondly on the times they spent together.
“All the stuff in the Bada Bing that we did and all the stuff in the houses… I mean, it’s just a sad thing. I feel bad for his family.”
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Swift and Gomez
So Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez walk in to an ice cream shop.
There’s no punch line here. The best friends were hanging out at T-Swift’s pad in Watch Hill, R.I., on Friday and took a quick stroll down to scenic Mystic, Conn. There the singers, along with a bodyguard, entered Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream.
“I was making a cappuccino for some lady, and I turned around and (Swift) and Selena Gomez were standing near the register,” a starstruck employee of the store told “The Ralphie Show.” “I did a double-take. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s Taylor Swift!’”
Outside of the one employee, there was little fanfare surrounding the visit. Swift and Gomez ordered two Mint Oreo waffle cones, the “22” singer paid with her credit card, and they exited for a bench overlooking the Mystic River.
“(The employees) really love Taylor Swift, and they’re really excited (her and Gomez) came in,” said the worker. Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream is a mainstay in the area, with the storefront first serving homemade treats in the 1800’s. “They were very nice, and very polite and friendly.”
Swift bought her mansion in the Ocean State this past April for a reported $17 million, according to TMZ.
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