James Gandolfini's Body Arrives in New Jersey From Rome

Actor's remains landed at Newark Liberty International Airport Sunday night and were taken to a funeral home in New Jersey; a memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, June 27

James Gandolfini is back home.

The actor's body was returned to the U.S. Sunday night after being flown in from Rome, E! News has confirmed.

Per a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, a plane carrying Gandolfini's body landed at Newark Liberty International Airport at 9:45 p.m. Sunday, and the actor's remains left the airport for a funeral home in New Jersey at 11:20 p.m.

A spokesman for the Robert Spearing Funeral Home in Park Ridge, N.J., confirms to E! News that it will be handling the arrangements for the funeral service, which is scheduled for Thursday in New York City.

On Wednesday, Gandolfini's teenage son found his father collapsed in their hotel room in Rome, and autopsy results released Friday revealed that the 51-year-old Emmy-winning Sopranos star died of a heart attack.

HBO confirmed in a statement that a funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in upper Manhattan.

On Sunday, a family spokesman expressed the family's gratitude to Italian authorities for the swift help in getting Gandolfini's body back home to the U.S.

"On behalf of the Gandolfini family, I would like to thank the Italian authorities for all the assistance they have rendered in expediting the formalities necessary to repatriate James Gandolfini's remains to the United States," spokesman Michael Kobold said.

"It has been our privilege to be guests in your beautiful country, despite the difficult circumstances. We sincerely thank you."