His manager announced that Tony Sirico, the wisecracking, aging gangster he played on HBO’s hit series “The Sopranos,” had died. He was 79 years old.
His long-time manager Bob McGowan reported that the actor passed away Friday morning in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Sirico was “Paulie Walnuts”, a character characterized by gray-streaked hair and twisted street wisdom that led to the inevitable decline in physical strength.
McGowan stated that McGowan was “so tough, but so gentle” in real life.
Sirico, an Army veteran, was a great helper and gave back to charity all his life.
The cause of death is not yet known.
McGowan stated that McGowan couldn’t recall details as the years went by, and that he was in declining health.
In an Instagram post, Michael Imperioli, a fellow actor on “Sopranos”, mourned the passing of his former costar.
Imperioli stated, “Tony was unlike anyone else: he was tough, loyal, and as big-hearted as any person i’ve ever met,” “I was there for him through all of it: good and bad. But mostly, it was good.
Sirico was a long-standing actor and performer of character parts and bits, including roles such as Poker Player and Frankie. This was before the Sopranos debut in 1999.
In the 1990s Woody Allen films, in which Sirico was featured in bits at least four times, he was a constant presence. Martin Scorsese also gave him a small part in the 1990 film, “Goodfellas.”
He said that he knew it would transform his life when he read the “Sopranos” book.
Sirico stated that “When I first saw David Chase’s script I knew it was special,” Sirico said to the New York Daily News in 1999. “This is the thing I had been searching for my whole life.”
The emo mob show had no A-listers — not even close. Sirico was aware that it was an ensemble of actors who were dedicated to the art.
He told the Daily News that he knew it would be a class act when he heard that James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, Michael Impperioli, Nancy Marchand, and Michael Imperioli were involved. “I knew this was the role I wanted to play.”
He said that he had been denied Uncle Junior’s role, the one he applied for. Dominic Chianese landed it. Chase offered Chase Paulie Walnuts to him, an enforcer who can be cold when there was a job.
Imperioli recalls Sirico as a high level collaborator.
He said that they had a “groove” as Christopher and Paulie, and he was proud to share some of his best work and most enjoyable times with Tony. He will be missed forever. He is truly irreplaceable.”
Paulie Walnuts, a street wisecracker and keen observer on “The Sopranos”, was an inspiration for the show’s title episode. He lamented about how the coffee roasters’ explosion has led to a lack of credit for Italian Americans when they sold espressos and lattes.
“How could we have missed this?” The character stated on the six-season series, “How did we miss this?” … It’s more than just the money. It’s also the pride.
Paulie Walnuts was a popular role in pop culture. Sirico reinterpreted the role on “Family Guy,” an animated comedy that made fun of the situation.
Although he wasn’t a gangster, the Brooklyn native was not a criminal. He spent time at New York’s notorious Sing Sing Correctional Facility. There he claimed he witnessed a troupe of ex-cons known as the Theater of the Forgotten, and that he decided that this was his calling.
He claimed that he received his Screen Actors Guild card shortly after his release.
Sirico said that his acting career included the portrayal of 40 gangsters as well as five corrupt police officers.
Father Robert Sirico Sirico, Sirico’s brother, posted on his Facebook page, that Gennaro Anthony Sirico had died Friday.
His brother posted on Facebook, “The family is deeply thankful for the many expressionss of love and prayer as well as condolences and requests to keep its privacy during this time of loss.”
Sirico’s death brought him great sadness. But, he said that he was proud of his life and it brings back many fond memories.
Tony Sirico was survived by Joanne Sirico Bello, and Richard Sirico. He also had two children, Richard Sirico Bello, and grandchildren, and siblings.
