Tony Sirico, 'Sopranos' star, useless at 79

Muricas News  — 

Actor Tony Sirico, who's finest recognized for enjoying henchman Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” has died, based on his supervisor Bob McGowan.

He was 79, based on his IMDB profile.

McGowan didn't present a reason for loss of life, however referred to as Sirico a “very loyal and long-term consumer” of 25 years and somebody who “at all times gave to charity.”

Sirico’s “Sopranos” co-star Michael Imperioli additionally shared the information on Instagram, saying Sirico died on Friday.

“Tony was like nobody else: he was as powerful, as loyal and as large hearted as anybody i’ve ever recognized,” he wrote. “I used to be at his aspect by a lot: by good occasions and dangerous. However principally good. And we had plenty of laughs.”

Sirico, a Brooklyn native, amassed a number of credit within the late ’80s and ‘90s, showing in movies like “Goodfellas,” “Mighty Aphrodite,” and “Mickey Blue Eyes.”

However he grew to become well-known – significantly in households with cable – by “The Sorpanos,” enjoying the colourful however brutal-when-necessary Paulie Walnuts.

On the time of his audition, he recalled in a single interview, he was 55 and sleeping on his mom’s sofa. He’d auditioned for a distinct character, however creator David Chase approached him with a distinct function, that turned out to be iconic in its personal proper.

“He mentioned, ‘You need the excellent news or the dangerous information?’” Sirico recalled in a 2021 interview. “I mentioned, ‘Give me the dangerous information.’ He mentioned, ‘You didn’t get Uncle Junior. However I've one thing in thoughts. Would you be prepared to do a recurring function on the present? I've a personality referred to as Paulie Walnuts.’”

After the present ended, Sirico appeared in exhibits like “Lilyhammer,” “The Grinder” and “Household Man.”

However “Sorpanos” – thanks partly to the present’s renewed reputation by streaming – remained his most memorable work.

“We discovered a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I'm proud to say I did plenty of my finest and most enjoyable work with my expensive pal Tony,” Imperioli added. “I'll miss him perpetually. He's actually irreplaceable. I ship like to his household, associates and his many many followers. He was beloved and can by no means be forgotten. Heartbroken right now.”

Michael Gandolfini, son of late “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, additionally paid tribute to Sirico on Instagram.

“Tony Sirico was one of many kindest, fiercely loyal, and heartfelt males that I’ve ever recognized,” he wrote. “He was at all times Uncle Tony to me, and Tony at all times confirmed up for me and my household. I’ll deeply miss his pinches on my cheek, and his infectious snort. He was an exceptional actor and an excellent higher man.”