Gandolfini plays mob boss Tony Soprano

Crisis talks between the network and the star, mediated by Sopranos' producer Brad Grey, broke the deadlock at the weekend, according to the New York Times.

Gandolfini has agreed to fulfil the terms of his original contract, meaning a fifth series of the show can go ahead after being delayed by the dispute.

HBO said it would withdraw its own counter-action against the actor. who currently earns $400,000 (£256,000) per episode.

The network's chairman and chief executive, Chris Albrecht, confirmed the dispute was over in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"We are delighted that the great Jim Gandolfini will be back at work in the role he has created with such distinction," he said.

Emmys

Gandolfini renegotiated his contract in 2000 in a $10m (£6.2m) deal for two seasons, following the success of the show but had wanted his pay to reflect that of other TV stars.

Following Gandolfini's threat to pull out of the series, HBO suspended the show, telling cast and crew not to turn up on 24 March for the first day of filming.

Its own legal action said that the network would lose $100m (£69m) if Gandolfini failed to fulfil his contract.

"It's gratifying because like everyone else I love the show," Mr Grey told the New York Times.

"I think it all ends the way Jim and I discussed it on Saturday."

The Sopranos, about an Italian-American mafia family, is the jewel in the crown for cable network HBO, and has been nominated for more than 50 Emmys during its five-series history.