And we had a lot of laughs, he wrote. He probably did a two year dip and was out. Absolutely not, he told Rolling Stone in 2001. Tony Sirico, the actor best known as loyal gangster Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri in the HBO drama The Sopranos, has died. A lot of army records were lost in a fire in 1973. A Warner Bros. spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the post to Rolling Stone. I know he did time for some Casino robberies.Atlantic city I think. Mr. Sirico married and divorced early. Tony Sirico is survived by two children, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico, as well as by grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and other relatives, his brother said. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. I feel so lucky to have known you and been loved by you., A post shared by Jamie Lynn Sigler (@jamielynnsigler). Yes but if thats the case there would be some type of record of it even on the internet. Tony didnt like that, the creator said. The guy has done a ton of work with the USO and would've easily been called out by now if he in fact never did serve in the military. I've done like 45 movies, played 40 gangsters and five crooked cops. Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. July 29, 1942 July 8, 2022)[2] was an American actor. When I watched them, I said to myself, I can do that, he told The Daily News of New York in 1999. July 9, 2022. An Italian-American. Photo from HBO/Getty Images. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Since then, he has had no further trouble with the law. In January 2022, it was announced that Imperioli would star in the second season of HBO's dark comedy "White Lotus.". But mostly good. I got 28 arrests and only two convictions, so you gotta admit I have a pretty good acting record, he toldThe Los Angeles Timesin 1990. There was an air about them that was very intriguing, especially to a kid.. Theyre all dressed, slicked back, they got cars, they got girls, very enticing, he said. Edie Falco went on to star on "Nurse Jackie," but James Gandolfini died in 2013. Vicious, needy, and cunning, Livia is a great inconvenience to Tony for the first few seasons of the show. Flexing his muscles, you know. The Sopranos creator David Chase revealed to Vulture that Tony Sirico was the only actor to ever request a line change during the shows six-season run on HBO. His acting career included portraying 40 gangsters and five crooked police officers, Sirico has said. Siricos brother, Father Robert Sirico, echoed on his Facebook page that Gennaro Anthony Tony Sirico passed Friday. Throughout the early 2010s, Imperioli guest-starred on several shows. After the show wrapped, Van Zandt continued making music, releasing an album called "Soulfire" in 2017, and "Summer of Sorcery" in 2019. There were no A-listers on the emo-mob show not even close. Despite Paulies many flaws, Sirico lent a certain depth of humanity to the character, transforming a seemingly unlikeable figure into a complex, multi-faceted figure in theSopranosuniverse. He's appeared in numerous films in the years since "The Sopranos" ended, including "The Lovely Bones" in 2009, "Oldboy" in 2013, "The Wannabe" in 2015, and "Primal" in 2019. Sirico played Gonna miss you a lot my friend. According to The Smoking Gun, Sirico was sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison. He served 20 months. Tony Sirico's got the demeanor, the arrest record, and the stories to paint a picture of a life right out of The Sopranos. He also voiced a street-smart dog named Vinny in several episodes of the animated series Family Guy.. "We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I am proud to say I did a lot of my best and most fun work with my dear pal Tony," he said on Instagram. Imperioli recalled Sirico as a high-level collaborator on-set. But mostly good.". In real life, McGowan said, He was so tough but so gentle.. She's appeared in several Broadway and off-Broadway plays, including 2011's "The House of Blue Leaves," and "The True" in 2018. The cause of death was not immediately known. IE 11 is not supported. Sirico was unconcerned about being cast in a string of bad guy roles, McGowan said, most prominently that of Peter Paul Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri in the 1999-2007 run of the acclaimed HBO drama starring James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano. Sirico passed away Friday at an assisted living facility in "You get a lot of practice in prison. Its a heartbreaking loss., Born July 29, 1942, Sirico grew up on the mean streets of Brooklyn first in East Flatbush, then Bensonhurst and was a self-described rough-and-tumble kid, he told Rolling Stonein a 2001 cover story. The family is deeply grateful for the many expressions of love, prayer and condolences and requests that the public respect its privacy in this time of bereavement, his brother said on Facebook. Sirico is survived by daughter Joanne Sirico Bello; son Richard Sirico; his brother, Robert Sirico, a priest; and other relatives. There was no one like him; deeply loyal and kind. But when he read for the "Sopranos," he said, he knew it would change his world. He is truly irreplaceable. He appeared in a crime drama, Respect the Jux, this year. Sirico is survived by daughter Joanne Sirico Bello; son Richard Sirico; his brother, Robert Sirico, a priest; and other relatives. And we had a lot of laughs. In 1971, he was indicted for extortion, coercion, and felony weapons possession, convicted, and sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served 20 months at Sing Sing. The actor played boxing trainer Angelo Dundee in the 2020 film "One Night in Miami," and reprised his role as Christopher to narrate the "Sopranos" prequel film "The Many Saints of Newark.". He was beloved and will never be forgotten., Jamie Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano, shared memories of her time with Sirico: Im so heartbroken. Sirico, who died on July 8 at the age of 79, played mobster Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos and quickly became a fan favorite due to his blunt and deadpan humor. He also appeared on several episodes of Van Zandt's show "Lilyhammer. Early on, however, it sometimes slipped his mind that he had rejected the dark side. I mean, some of my favorite films growing up, have been, forgive me, gangster films. If Im with five other Paulies, he told The New York Times in 2007, imagining a fairly unlikely situation, and somebody yells, Hey, Paulie, I know its for me.. - IMDb Mini Biography By: The two actors' oral history of "The Sopranos," titled "Woke Up This Morning," will be released later this year. We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I am proud to say I did a lot of my best and most fun work with my dear pal Tony. In the years since the critically-acclaimed show ended in 2007, many of its stars have kept acting. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He's also appeared in 2012's "The Iceman," 2013's "Blood Ties," 2015's "The Wannabe," and 2016's "Money Monster," among other titles. Imperioli is also a musician. Michael Imperioli, left, James Gandolfini and Tony Sirico in a scene from Season 2 of The Sopranos., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, A Real Tough Guy : Tony Siricos rap sheet: 28 arrests and 27 acting jobs, How two Sopranos wise guys launched a podcast from their coronavirus quarantine, Married to Mob Roles and Happy About It, Ozzy Osbourne rejects notion of retiring after canceling tour: Im not dying, Oscars diversity improved after #OscarsSoWhite, study shows. Deepest condolences to the family. Maybe he had been a bully as a young man. Gonna miss you a lot my friend," the actor and musician said. But mostly good. From childhood theft to prison time, read on to uncover the truth about Tony Sirico's life of crime before The Sopranos. Tony Sirico was raised in the neighborhood of Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, N.Y. a place that was home to known mafia activity for years. It was here that The Sopranos actor began forming his wiseguy persona as an admiring child. A larger than life character on and off screen. Tony Sirico, best known for playing mobster Paulie Walnuts on HBOs The Sopranos, has died at the age of 79, our sister site Variety reports. The teacher leaned over to me after I did a scene and whispered, Tony, leave the gun home. After so many years of packing a gun, I didnt even realize I had it with me., Tony Sirico, an Eccentric Gangster on The Sopranos, Dies at 79, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/arts/television/tony-sirico-dead.html, Tony Sirico as the gangster Paulie Walnuts on the HBO series The Sopranos.. She also appeared on Showtime's comedy "Dice," and starred on "Rizzoli & Isles" from 2010 to 2016. His surname Sirico originated in Campania. The family is deeply grateful for the many expressions of love, prayer and condolences and requests that the public respect its privacy in this time of bereavement, Sirico wrote. You were SUCH a phenomenal actor. Tony was like no one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone ive ever known,Imperioli said on Instagram. A stand up guy who always had my back and who loved my children and my parents. "When I heard James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli and Nancy Marchand were in it, I knew it was going to be a total class act," he told the Daily News. He asked me to take the word bully out of there. A statement from Sirico's family confirmed the death of Gennaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico "with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories.". That included helping ex-soldiers' causes, which hit home for the Army veteran, his manager said. It was pretty common for men of his age. Steven Van Zandt, who played opposite Sirico as fellow mobster Silvio Dante on The Sopranos,saluted him on Twitteras legendary.. And we had a lot of laughs. His death, in an assisted living facility, was confirmed by Bob McGowan, his manager. I wonder if [his past had] something to do with why he was so sensitive about it. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I was this 30-year-old ex-con villain sitting in a class filled with fresh-faced, serious drama students, Mr. Sirico recalled in the Daily News interview. You gotta stop saying he was lying about it when you have no proof that he was. In addition to her TV credits, de Matteo has also appeared in numerous films, including "Broken English" in 2007, "New York, I Love You" in 2009, "Dark Places" in 2015, and "Don't Sleep" in 2017. Tony Sirico is survived by two children, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico, as well as by grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and other relatives, his Sirico died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said his manager, Bob McGowen. I started running with the wrong type of guys, and I found myself doing a lot of bad things, he said in James Tobacks 1989 documentary, The Big Bang. Bad things like armed robbery, extortion, coercion and felony weapons possession. The show ran for three seasons before it was canceled in 2015. Sirico has also had roles in several TV movies, including "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" in 2008, and "Jersey Shore Shark Attack" in 2012. In addition to her numerous TV roles, Falco has kept up a steady string of film roles, starring in 2016's "The Comedian," and also appearing in "Landline," "I Love You, Daddy," "Megan Leavey," and "Outside In" in 2017. The Sopranos creator David Chase asked if he could share some stories about him. She's also appeared in short films like "The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee" in 2012, and "Master Maggie" in 2019. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. in 2014. His brother, Father Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. A devotee of James Cagney films, the young Sirico found himself drawn to the gangsters hed often see around Bensonhurst. In addition to his brother Robert, he is survived by two children, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico; a sister, Carol Pannunzio; another brother, Carmine; and several grandchildren. He appeared in several of them, beginning with Bullets Over Broadway (1994), in which he played the right-hand man of a powerful gangster turned theater producer. Among his other credits were Woody Allen films including "Bullets over Broadway" and "Mighty Aphrodite," and appearances on TV series including "Miami Vice" and voice roles on "Family Guy" and "American Dad!". I doubt he was trying to get more cred by lying about being a draftee. I send love to his family, friends and his many many fans. Tony Sirico, who played the impeccably groomed mobster Paulie Walnuts in The Sopranos and brought his tough-guy swagger to films including Goodfellas, died Friday. Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images, scenes were ultimately cut from the final film, Clive Owen as former president Bill Clinton, star in the second season of HBO's dark comedy "White Lotus. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. The actor also played Lex on the 2015 Amazon comedy show "Mad Dogs," and took on the role of Eddie on "Alex, Inc." in 2018. After "The Sopranos," Imperioli starred on sci-fi crime drama "Life on Mars" and police procedural "Detroit 1-8-7," both of which were canceled by ABC after one season. A New York native, Sirico was born on July 29, 1942, and raised in Brooklyn. McGowan, who represented Sirico for more than two decades, recalled him as loyal and giving, with a strong philanthropic streak. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. In his last stint behind bars, in the 1970s, he saw a performance by a group of ex-convicts and caught the acting bug. After The Sopranos ended in 2007, he often worked with his co-stars. He was 79. He was also reluctant to have his character kill a woman Paulie smothered an older nursing home resident with a pillow when she interrupted his theft of her life savings but he was pleasantly surprised that people in the old neighborhood didnt seem to think less of him after the episode was shown. In addition to his television credits, Imperioli wrote and directed the 2009 drama "The Hungry Ghosts." in 2016, and starred in the 2018 film "The Christmas Chronicles. On February 27, 1970, he was arrested at a restaurant, and found with a .32 caliber revolver on his person. And so funny. All Rights Reserved. [ F.A.Q | Opt Out | Opt Out Of Subreddit | GitHub ] Downvote to remove | v1.5, Ok but still even with all the USO stuff he did going overseas to Iraq and him not once mentioning anything about his time in ? The important thing is, he didnt like that word. I always had that itch in my britches to find out who I was. Actor's portrayal of Paulie Walnuts a no-nonsense mobster with distinctive silver wingtips and a wry sense of humor made him a beloved figure to fans of the groundbreaking TV series. The Brooklyn native was never a gangster, but he was no stranger to crime. The "Sopranos" star has a recurring role on ABC's "A Million Little Things," and currently stars on Amazon's drama "Paradise City.". Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.. ", His most recent project was the 2019 short film "Return to Me.". It's the pride thing. He hated being stuck with an almost $900 restaurant check but could appreciate a tasty ketchup packet on a cold night in the Pine Barrens when there was nothing else to eat. Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap. More recently, Bracco had a recurring role on "Blue Bloods" from 2017 to 2018, and currently plays Tim's mom on the British comedy show "Jerk.". He played Dr. Wattabi on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" in 2010, Powell Goldman on a 2012 episode of "Girls," and Sensei Billy on a season nine episode of "The Office.". Mr. Sirico was an uncredited extra in The Godfather: Part II (1974) and made his official film debut in Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell (1977), directed by Larry Buchanan, a self-proclaimedcinema schlockmeister. He followed that with more than a decade of small television and movie roles, capped by his part as the flashy mobster Tony Stacks in Goodfellas (1990). (Gandolfini died in 2013 at age 51). 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