James Gandolfini probably died of a heart attack, according to the head of a Rome hospital's emergency department where the actor was taken.

The body of the actor was transferred to a hospital morgue in Rome early Thursday, where it awaited an autopsy.

By law, medical examiners in Italy are required to carry out the postmortem 24 hours after the body's arrival in the morgue, a hospital spokesman said.

Before Italian authorities can release his remains for transport back to the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Rome must issue a death certificate.

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