Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap. Ive paid my rent, I take care of me and Ma. He found fans in his neighborhood, who were tough guys as well. 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. But he was the only one who ever asked me to have a line changed. Early in 1971 he was sentenced to a maximum of four years, of which he served 20 months. Bobby starts off as a low-level soldier under Uncle Junior, but eventually becomes one of the higher-ranking members of Tony's inner circle as the series goes on. The actress currently hosts the podcast "Pajama Pants" with her former onscreen brother Robert Iler and comedian Kasseem G. On the podcast, the hosts interview stars (including "Sopranos" alums) and talk about new developments in their lives. 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. 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. 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. 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. Has a son and a daughter, both in their 30s. The actor would have turned 80 this month. I was at his side through so much: through good times and bad. Actor Tony Sirico, best known for his portrayal of the wise-cracking Paul Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri on The Sopranos, has died at the age of 79. The cause of death was not immediately known. Junior, as he was called, remembered that he first got into trouble when he stole nickels from a newsstand. It was certainly the greatest cast Ive ever worked with, and Ive worked with some incredible casts. He was beloved and will never be forgotten. "I will miss him forever. Im still part of their family in their hearts. The actress had a recurring role on "The Blacklist" from 2017 to 2021, and most recently played Gail, the werewolf love interest of vampire Nandor, on "What We Do in the Shadows.". He loved his mother (although he found out she was really his aunt), and she loved him because he wrote the checks to keep her in an expensive nursing home. "I knew right away this was a role to kill for.". 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", combination of previously recorded footage and computer-generated imagery, portrayed in the "Sopranos" prequel film "The Many Saints of Newark". Steven Van Zandt, who played opposite Sirico as fellow mobster Silvio Dante on "The Sopranos," saluted him on Twitter as "legendary.". You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "The Sopranos" premiered January 10, 1999 on HBO. He starred opposite Marcia Gay Harden and Jeff Daniels in the Broadway play "God of Carnage," voiced a character in the 2009 film "Where the Wild Things Are," and had a minor role in the remake of "The Taking of Pelham 123. 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.. Gonna miss you a lot my friend," the actor and musician said. WebSirico was 79 when he died July 8 at an assisted-living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 79. He had a bullet wound in his leg after he was spotted kissing a girl that had broken the shooters heart. "When I first read David Chase's script, I knew this was special," Sirico told the New York Daily News in 1999. ", Paulie Walnuts resonated in pop culture, and Sirico reprised the role by making fun of it on the animated comedy "Family Guy.". They know Im a stand-up kid, whether Im a tough guy or not.. Turturro guest-starred on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "The Night Of" in 2016, and "Grey's Anatomy" in 2017. Gonna miss you a lot my friend, the actor and musician said. In 2019, Pastore appeared in crime thriller "Vault," and sports drama "Bottom of the 9th." The Brooklyn native was never a gangster, but he was no stranger to crime. Maybe he had been a bully as a young man. He racked up a total of 28 arrests for a variety of offenses including armed robbery and disorderly conduct. He worked in construction for a while but soon yielded to temptation. Photo from HBO/Getty Images. WebWas Tony Sirico Ever Actually In The Military ? He was 79. As Tony's spouse, Carmela was forced to deal with his mood swings and extramarital affairs, while also maintaining the household and taking care of their children. Actors don't work every week, and all of a sudden Vinny [, View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Remembering Those Who Passed Away in 2022. He also voiced a street-smart dog named Vinny in several episodes of the animated series Family Guy.. (Gandolfini died in 2013 at age 51). ", In the year before his death, Gandofini produced the HBO film "Hemingway & Gellhorn," and reuinted with "Sopranos" creator David Chase for the coming-of-age film "Not Fade Away.". He was 79. You were tough, and strong, yet sweet and a real artist. I will miss him forever. When I watched them, I said to myself, I can do that, he told The Daily News of New York in 1999. Mr. Sirico soon knew he was very famous. Cast members Michael Imperioli, Lorraine Bracco, Jamie Lynn Sigler and more all paid tribute to the late actor on social media. He also played Leander Whitlock on "Boardwalk Empire" from 2011 to 2013, and had a recurring role on "The Good Wife" from 2012 to 2015. A larger than life character on and off screen. 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. Ventimiglia has kept up a steady stream of guest appearances on numerous shows since "The Sopranos," including guest roles on "Law & Order" and related spinoffs, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: SVU," as well as "CSI," "White Collar," and "Person of Interest. When the Sopranos cast appeared in a group shot on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2001, Paulie stood with a baseball bat casually slung over his right shoulder. He was a boxing trainer in Mighty Aphrodite (1995), an escaped convict in Everyone Says I Love You (1996), a matter-of-fact jailhouse cop in Deconstructing Harry (1997) and a gun-toting gangster on Coney Island in Wonder Wheel (2017). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. | After "The Sopranos," Sigler starred on "Entourage" from 2008 to 2009, and on "Ugly Betty" in 2009. Sirico kept acting following his role as Paulie on "The Sopranos," appearing in "Friends and Romans" in 2014, and Woody Allen's "Cafe Society" and "Wonder Wheel" in 2016 and 2017, respectively. You were tough, and strong, yet sweet and a real artist., While Sirico was most known for his time on the HBO drama starring the late James Gandolfini, he had more than 80 acting credits including White Hot, Goodfellas and Family Guy., According to a Facebook post by his brother Father Robert Sirico, he is survived by his two children, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico, plus grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and many other relatives.. More recently, de Matteo starred opposite Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta on the NBC police procedural "Shades of Blue" from 2016 to 2018. I will say, Tony was part of one of the greatest casts of all time, Chase said. Tony didnt like that, the creator said. But Sirico knew it was a crew of actors dedicated to the art. Vincent Pastore of HBOs The Sopranos and the new movie Mickey Blue Eyes is enjoying being a career gangster on both the small and big screens. I knew I wasn't bad looking. He grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East Flatbush and Bensonhurst. Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. was born in Brooklyn on July 29, 1942, the son of Jerry Sirico, a stevedore, and Marie (Cappelluzzo) Sirico. 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.". His complex relationships with his wife Carmela, children AJ and Meadow, and other family members are also explored. See more reactions from The Sopranos crew below. "How did we miss out on this?" The actor has remained largely out of the spotlight, only appearing on an episode of "Law & Order" in 2009. The Institute has been described as an "American research and educational institution, or think tank," in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose stated mission is "to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. Tony and Uncle Junior both vie for the position of boss of the DiMeo crime family throughout the series, with Tony eventually taking over as Junior becomes senile in the later seasons. His brother, Father Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Yes but if thats the case there would be some type of record of it even on the internet. The Sopranos creator David Chase asked if he could share some stories about him. In the years since the critically-acclaimed show ended in 2007, many of its stars have kept acting. I send love to his family, friends and his many many fans. Ventimiglia has been equally prolific in his film career, appearing in the biopic of Biggie Smalls "Notorious" and in "The Hungry Ghosts" (written and directed by his "Sopranos" costar Michael Imperioli) in 2009. 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!". 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. The important thing is, he didnt like that word. Legendary. Sirico passed away Friday at an assisted living facility in Bracco narrated the series "I Married a Mobster" that same year, and voiced a therapist similar to Dr. Melfi on animated show "BoJack Horseman" in 2016. You gotta stop saying he was lying about it when you have no proof that he was. You were SUCH a phenomenal actor. As consigliere, Silvio acts as Tony's right-hand man throughout the series, frequently helping him make difficult decisions. Sirico was convicted of several crimes and had been arrested 28 times, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting. 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. We want to hear it. Gonna miss you a lot my friend. Tony Sirico was part of The Sopranos cast that won the Screen Actors Guilds outstanding ensemble award in 2008. After The Sopranos ended in 2007, he often worked with his co-stars. He was arrested repeatedly for criminal offenses, he said, and was in prison twice. I send love to his family, friends and his many many fans. "I watched 'em and I thought, 'I can do that.' I hope hes in heaven cracking everybody up now., A post shared by Lorraine Bracco (@braccoabroad), Imperioli took to Instagram to remember his dear friend, colleague and partner in crime., Tony was like no one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone ive ever known. She guest-starred on "Lipstick Jungle" in 2008, as well as "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in 2011. His best-known role was as Paulie Hes been around for so long there would of been something where he talks about it or anything literally. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Sirico burst on the scene late in his career as "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri, a character marked by gray-streaked hair, twisted street wisdom, and the inevitable deterioration of physical strength. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. Iler revealed in a rare 2020 interview with "Sopranos" costars Steve Schirripa and Michael Imperioli that he struggled with alcohol and drug abuse following the show.