An estimated 1,500 mourners attended James Gandolfini's funeral on Thursday at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan.

Gandolfini was remembered by his family members, closest friends and colleagues including Eddie Falco, who played Tony Soprano's wife, and most of the cast of "The Sopranos".

"Sopranos" creator David Chase was among the four speakers during the service. He was remembered by Chase as an actor who brought a key element to the mob boss: Tony Soprano's inner childlike quality.

George Loros who played FBI informant Ray Curto in the series told Reuters, "He could be talking like you and I are talking right now." "He had such a God-given gift."

For actor Tommy Bayiokos, Gandolfini is "a master of his craft." He worked with the late actor in the fifth season of "The Sopranos".

Before the funeral service, a private wake for the actor, attended by 100 people, took place on Wednesday in New Jersey; while Manhattan's Broadway theatres dimmed their marquees that night to pay their tribute to actor who also had a successful stage career.

The 51-year old actor was last seen in the films "Killing Them Softly" and "Zero Dark Thirty". He had been working on an upcoming HBO series, Criminal Justice.

He died last June 19 in Rome while having a vacation with his son. He was also scheduled to attend the closing of the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.

Gandolfini is survived by his wife Deborah Lin, their baby daughter Liliana, and son, Michael, from his first wife.

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