SAG honors "Sopranos" after final TV season

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a last tribute to one of the most successful shows in American television history, the Screen Actors Guild gave top acting honors to "The Sopranos" after the mob drama's sixth and final season.

"The Sopranos" swept all three awards in the SAG's television drama category, while "30 Rock" and "The Office" split the three television comedy awards.

James Gandolfini, who plays the strapping and troubled New Jersey Mafia boss Tony Soprano, won best actor, while Edie Falco his long-suffering wife, Carmela, won best actress.

"It's been 10 years. It's an honor. That's all I can say," said Gandolfini.

The entire cast of the HBO show, including Tony's therapist played by Lorraine Bracco, won best drama ensemble cast.

"We worked very hard on this show. What a wonderful way to go," said Tony Sirico who played Tony Soprano's lieutenant Paulie.

Other actors said it was hard to move on after such a successful run for the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning show.

"I have fallen in love with these people and I don't know how you walk away from that," said Falco.

While honoring the old and established, the SAG also gave a big wink to the up and coming comedy shows.

"30 Rock," the quirky NBC show in its second season about a television variety show, took the top two comedy acting awards. Alec Baldwin won best actor for his role as a brash boss, while show creator Tina Fey won best actress for her role as a beleaguered writer.

Fey, who has been a strong ally of the striking Hollywood writers, said her show's future is in danger if the three-month-old strike is not resolved soon.

But "The Office," the U.S. version of the British mockumentary about an unbearable boss and cruel working environment, took best comedy ensemble cast, beating out "30 Rock" and stalwarts like "Desperate Housewives."

(Editing by Sandra Maler)