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December 2008 was not good for a few former Sopranos stars.
A star of the Sopranos committed suicide by shooting himself in the head just days before Christmas, though the news came out on December 26.
John Costelloe, best known for playing Johnny Cakes Witowski, the gay-fireman lover of a mob capo in the TV drama, was found dead in his New York home after family were unable to reach him.
His father Michael, 77, said: "It's beyond me. This is too much for me to handle."
Costelloe was a fireman in real life in addition to his acting roles. At the time of his death, he was starring in the off-Broadway play Gang of Seven.
Just days before the suicide, Lillo Brancato, who played Matt Bevilaqua in the award winning series, was found not guilty of a 2005 murder. Bevilaqua was cleared of the second-degree murder of an off-duty police officer but the 32-year old was convicted on a lesser charge of burglary.
A New York court heard Brancato and Steven Armento broke into a house to steal painkillers. When cop Daniel Enchautegui went to investigate, Armento shot him.
Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com
