A painful goodbye. Tony Sirico, who was identified for taking part in Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, has died at the age of 79.
“It’s with nice disappointment, however with unimaginable pleasure, love and an entire lot of fond recollections, that the household of Gennaro Anthony ‘Tony’ Sirico needs to tell you of his loss of life on the morning of July 8, 2022,” the actor’s household instructed Deadline in an announcement on Friday, July 8. A explanation for loss of life was not instantly revealed.
Sirico’s supervisor, Bob McGowan, additionally confirmed the information to In Touch, saying: “Tony was a loyal shopper for 25 years, ex-army vet, all the time gave to charities and a member of the Wounded Warriors.”
The actor’s former Sopranos costar Michael Imperioli paid tribute to Sirico through Instagram, writing: “It pains me to say that my pricey good friend, colleague and companion in crime, the good TONY SIRICO has handed away in the present day. Tony was like nobody else: he was as powerful, as loyal and as large hearted as anybody I’ve ever identified. I used to be at his facet by means of a lot: by means of good occasions and dangerous. However principally good. And we had lots of laughs.”
The White Lotus star, 56, added that the duo “discovered a groove” working collectively during their time on The Sopranos, which ran on HBO from 1999 to 2007. “I’m proud to say I did lots of my greatest and most enjoyable work with my pricey pal Tony,” he continued. “I’ll miss him endlessly. He’s actually irreplaceable. I ship like to his household, pals and his many many followers. He was beloved and can by no means be forgotten. Heartbroken in the present day.”
Lorraine Bracco, who appeared on the present as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, echoed Imperioli’s sentiments in her personal Instagram submit, sharing a throwback picture of herself having fun with amusing with Sirico.
“I am keen on Tony Sirico,” she wrote. “A get up man who all the time had my again and who cherished my youngsters and my mother and father. I’ve a lifetime of recollections with Tony — beginning with Goodfellas to The Sopranos and method past — however my God, did we’ve got enjoyable doing the Bensonhurst Spelling Bee — I’m nonetheless laughing. I hope he’s in heaven cracking all people up now. Love you, my Pal … relaxation in peace.”
Sirico’s Sopranos character, Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri, was a loyal henchman for mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). Although the present was identified for its unflinching depiction of violence, Sirico grew to become a fan favourite for including moments of humor all through the grim drama.
Born on July 29, 1942, Sirico made his movie debut as an additional within the 1974 film Loopy Joe. He went on to play gangsters in quite a lot of movies together with Mob Queen, Mighty Aphrodite, Defiance and — maybe most famously — Goodfellas.
Earlier than he started performing, Sirico frolicked in jail on a felony weapons cost. He later mentioned that he determined to strive his hand at present enterprise after an performing group got here to the go to the “faculty,” as he referred to as it. “They have been a bunch of ex-cons who got here again into the place to entertain the blokes,” he instructed Cigar Aficionado in March 2001. “I noticed them, and proper there after which I knew what I needed to do. It simply hit me. I mentioned, ‘I can try this.’”
Although the Deconstructing Harry star is now beloved by Sopranos followers for his work as Paulie, he initially auditioned for the position of Uncle Junior, which went to Dominic Chianese. After creator David Chase provided him the position of Paulie as an alternative, Sirico took the half on the situation that his character would by no means grow to be a rat.
“I come from the streets. I been within the Military, I been all over the place,” he instructed Deadline in January 2019. “I wouldn’t play a rat in case you put a gun to my head, and in case you did put a gun to my head, you higher empty it.”
Sirico was final seen on display earlier this 12 months in Respect the Jux. In 2018, he reunited with fellow Sopranos alums Vincent Pastore and Federico Castelluccio within the movie Sarah Q.
The previous Lilyhammer star is survived by daughter Joanne and son Richard, his household mentioned, in addition to grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and lots of different family.
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