'Sopranos' Star, Jersey's Gandolfini Had Rolex Stolen After Heart Attack: Report

An Italian paramedic aiding James Gandolfini after he suffered a massive, life-ending heart attack allegedly stole the New Jersey native’s $3,000 Rolex watch.

Claudio Bevilacqua is accused of the theft from June 2013, according to nbcnews.com, when Gandolfini was visiting Rome with his son and was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor in his hotel room.

Gandolfini, best known for his role as mobster Tony Soprano in the HBO hit series The Sopranos, lived in Tewksbury, Hunterdon County at the time of his death. He could often be seen around the state frequenting his favorite places.

See related: Soprano Was Wise Guy, Gandolfini ‘Nice Guy’

One of those was the General Store in Oldwick, just a few minutes from his home. The tough guy persona Gandolfini played on screen was the polar opposite of who he was in real life.

"He was a really nice guy, and his wife was a sweetheart," said General Store cook Adrian Kribs. The actor ordered everything from baloney sandwiches to egg white omelettes and came into the small shop on Rt. 517 as much as twice a week.

The Bergen County native and former Rutgers University student was in Italy for the Taormina Film Festival at the time of his death. He was scheduled to make an appearance at the Festival’s closing gala.

Bevilacqua was to begin his trial for the theft Monday, but after a brief first hearing – Bevilacqua was not present – the trial date was moved to November, the report said.