Tony Sirico, who portrayed the meticulously groomed mobster Paulie Walnuts in The Sopranos and contributed his tough-guy swagger to movies like Goodfellas, passed away on Friday. He was 79. According to Bob McGowen, Sirico’s manager, he died in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, assisted care facility. The reason for the death was not immediately known.
In a statement, Sirico’s family expressed their deep sorrow over his passing, as well as their immense pride, affection, and many happy memories.
Sirico was remembered by McGowan, who represented him for more than two decades, as devoted and giving with a strong charitable drive.
Sirico, who was born on July 29, 1942, was raised in the Flatbush and Bensonhurst areas of New York City. “Every guy was trying to prove himself. You either had to have a tattoo or a bullet hole. I had both” This he told in an interview in 1990 with the Los Angeles times.
He said that he had been imprisoned twice and frequently jailed for criminal offences. He caught the acting bug after seeing a performance by several ex-convicts during his last period in prison in the 1970s.
He told the Times, “I watched them and I thought, I can do that. I knew I wasn’t bad looking. And I knew I had the (guts) to stand up and (bull) people. You get a lot of practice in prison. I used to stand up in front of these cold-blooded murderers and kidnappers and make em laugh.”
The actor is survived by daughter Joanne Sirico Bello; his son Richard Sirico; brother, Robert Sirico, a priest; and other relatives.
