James Gandolfini’s newly-filed will reveals the actor has left the bulk of his estimated $70 million estate to his 13-year-old son Michael and 8-month-old daughter Liliana.
James Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack while on vacation in Italy last month, also left millions to his wife, his two older sisters and friends – including his personal secretary and assistant.
The will, which was seen by the New York Post, was signed on December 19 last year and filed in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court on Tuesday.
It shows that James Gandolfini’s teenage son Michael by his first wife is to get the largest chunk of his father’s estate through a trust set aside for him until he turns 21.
Through the trust, Michael Gandolfini will also be able to buy his father’s lavish home and parking space in Greenwich Village in Manhattan.
Michael Gandolfini will split his father’s Italian property with his half-sister, Liliana, when she turns 25.
James Gandolfini asked in the documents that they “keep it in our family for as long as possible”.
James Gandolfini’s newly-filed will reveals the actor has left the bulk of his estimated $70 million estate to his 13-year-old son Michael and 8-month-old daughter Liliana
His other properties – a $1.1 million home in Califon, New Jersey, and a $7 million penthouse in Tribeca, Manhattan – are not specifically mentioned in the will but it notes they can be sold.
Michael Gandolfini also gets his father’s clothing and jewelry.
The remainder of James Gandolfini’s estate will be split among his wife, Deborah Lin, his sisters, Johanna Antonacci and Leta Gandolfini, and his baby daughter Liliana.
Johanna Antonacci and Leta Gandolfini each get 30% of the leftover estate, while Deborah Lin and little Liliana will each receive 20%. He also left $500,000 to each of his two nieces, the daughters of Johanna.
James Gandolfini left $200,000 each to his personal assistant and friend, Thomas Richardson, and secretary, Trixie Flynn Bourne, and amounts of $100,000 and $50,000 to other select friends.
The actor was estimated to be worth up to $70 million when he died of a sudden heart attack on June 19 when he was just 51.
James Gandolfini was found suffering a heart attack by his son Michael and was pronounced dead in hospital. A funeral for the beloved actor was held in Manhattan last week.
His family joined more than 1,000 mourners including Edith “Edie” Falco, Gandolfini’s on-screen wife, for the two-hour ceremony, which was described as a “wonderful” tribute to the star.
Friend Thomas Richardson, who was named in the will, described how every day with James Gandolfini was an adventure, whether it was sharing sushi on set or helping New Jersey residents recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
“He really made the most of every day,” he said.
“In his passing, he is forever with us. Amen.”
The will is the first and primary filing of James Gandolfini’s estate; more documents are expected to be filed.
James Gandolfini’s private viewing is underway in Westwood, a small northern New Jersey town near where the actor grew up.
Mourners began arriving late on Wednesday afternoon at an invitation-only wake for family and friends at the Robert Spearing Funeral Home in Park Ridge, near Westwood where the 51-year-old grew up.
Meanwhile, Broadway theatres in New York City dimmed their marquee lights on Wednesday night in memory of the late Sopranos star, who earned a Tony Award nomination in 2009 for his role in the award-winning God of Carnage.
James Gandolfini died suddenly last week from a heart attack while on holiday with his family in Italy.
Both James Gandolfini’s widow Deborah Lin and his ex-wife Marcy Wudarski were among the mourners at Wednesday’s wake.
His funeral will be held Thursday at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City.
James Gandolfini’s widow Deborah Lin and his ex-wife Marcy Wudarski were among the mourners at his wake in New Jersey
Meanwhile, James Gandolfini’s former Sopranos costar Lillo Brancato Jr. spoke about his shock at the actor’s passing.
Lillo Brancato is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence at Hudson Correctional Facility in New York for his role in a robbery that left a police officer dead.
“I couldn’t believe my ears,” Lillo Brancato told The New York Daily News.
“I thought it was a mistake.”
James Gandolfini and Marcy Wudarski divorced in December 2002, and their 13-year-old son Michael allegedly found his father’s body after having a massive heart attack in hotel bathroom in Rome.
Marcy Wudarski and James Gandolfini endured a turbulent separation and divorce but are thought to have grown closer over shared custody of their boy during recent years.
On August 30, 2008, after two years of dating, James Gandolfini married former model Deborah Lin in her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii.
They baby daughter Liliana Ruth Gandolfini, was born in October 2012 in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, the first showing of James Gandolfini’s work in crime-drama Animal Rescue was greeted with a reverential silence and respectful applause.
A top Searchlight executive introducing Animal Rescue tells international theater owners, “we are all very deeply saddened and feel very honored to have worked with him”.
Animal Rescue is the last film James Gandolfoni shot before his death on June 19 in Italy.
James Gandolfini, who plays a bar owner in the crime drama, stars with Tom Hardy and Noomi Repace.
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James Gandolfini was on a boys trip with his teenage son Michael when he died of a suspected heart attack in Italy on Wednesday.
Actor and friend Gilles Marini wrote a post on his Facebook page paying tribute to James Gandolfini revealing that the 51-year-old actor was on a “boy trip” in Rome with his son Michael.
James Gandolfini was on a boys trip with his teenage son Michael when he died of a suspected heart attack in Italy
Gilles Marini wrote: “I am heartbroken. My bud James Gandolfini just died. Last Saturday he told me at our kids graduation ghat (sic) he was so happy to go with his son to Italy. A boy trip!”
He added: “It was an honor to have met this man, such a great Dad! I spent so much time with James son teaching him soccer. I feel for that kid it must be so hard right now for little Michael.”
James Gandolfini had son Michael with his ex-wife Marcy Wudarski, from whom he was divorced in December 2002.
The actor is survived by his second wife Deborah Lin and their nine-month-old daughter Liliana Ruth and Michael.
