James Gandolfini playing Col. Winter in The Last Castle

James Gandolfini, star of such films as The Last Castle, Crimson Tide and most recently Zero Dark Thirty, died Wednesday in Italy, from an apparent cardiac arrest. He was 51.

Gandolfini was best known for his portrayals of military figures, although many celebrate his greatest achievement as his HBO documentaries, Alive Day: Home from Iraq, and Wartorn: 1861-2010.

In Alive Day, Gandolfini interviewed ten Iraq War veterans about their experiences in combat and the healing process they went through, both physically and psychologically.

Wartorn examined the phenomenon of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its effects on American service members from the Civil War through to 2010, when the film was produced.

Gandolfini's first acting role was as high-strung supply officer Lt. Bobby Dougherty in Crimson Tide. In the film, his character was at odds with Cmdr. Hunter, played by Denzel Washington, and his plan to mutiny in order to deter a nu…