Goldee, the mare who portrayed racehorse Pie-o-My belonging to mobster Tony Soprano on the long-running HBO series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 23. Goldee’s owners made the announcement via Twitter, saying the mare had battled Cushing’s disease, also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), for several years. Goldee lived on a private farm in Orange County, New York, with a pony companion named Candy.
Pie-O-My brought out the best side of Tony Soprano in the hit HBO series. Although capable of despicable acts towards humans, Tony doted on the racehorse and was distraught after her death on the show, the circumstances of which became a pivotal plot point. The warm relationship with the horse wasn’t just acting, though: “James Gandolfini was really polite, and he wasn’t afraid of [Goldee] at all. He even played with her on set,” Goldee’s owner once told Mel Magazine in an interview.
Goldee’s owners have asked fans to donate to their local animal rescue or shelter in her memory.
Click here to read more about research into PPID diagnosis and treatment.
