FACTBOX: Five key facts on Emmy winner "The Sopranos"

(Reuters) - Mob family drama "The Sopranos" was a big winner on Sunday at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, U.S. television's top honors, taking three Emmys including best TV drama.

Here are five key facts about the HBO cable TV show.

-- Tony Soprano, who is played by James Gandolfini, is the emotionally conflicted leader of the New Jersey gang, and his long suffering wife Carmela, is portrayed by Edie Falco. They have two kids, Meadow and Anthony, Jr.

-- The show first aired in 1999 and concluded its run on television this past June in a final episode that ended with a notorious on-air blackout which left audiences wondering whether Tony survived or was rubbed out by a hitman.

-- Since its debut, it has been nominated for best drama seven times, including the 2007 season, and it won the drama Emmy twice, in 2004 and again Sunday night.

-- James Gandolfini had been nominated for best actor in a drama six times, and he had won best dramatic actor three times -- in 2000, 2001 and 2003. But he lost on Sunday night to James Spader of "Boston Legal."

-- Edie Falco had been nominated for best actress in a drama six times, and she had won best dramatic actress three times previously -- in 1999, 201 and 2003. But like Gandolfini, she lost on Sunday night to Sally Field for "Brothers & Sisters."