McGowan did not give a cause of death, but called Sirico a “very loyal and long-term customer” of 25 years and someone who “always gave to charity.”
Sirico’s “Sopranos” co-star Michael Imperioli also shared the news on Instagram, saying Sirico died on Friday. “Tony was like no other: he was as tough, loyal and as big as anyone I’ve ever met,” she wrote. “I’ve been there for him through so much: good times and bad times. But mostly good times. And we’ve had a lot of laughs.”
Sirico, a native of Brooklyn, amassed numerous credits in the late ’80s and ’90s, appearing in films such as “Goodfellas,” “Mighty Aphrodite” and “Mickey Blue Eyes.”
But he became widely known — especially in cable households — through “The Sorpanos,” playing the colorful but brutal-when-necessary Paulie Walnuts.
At the time of his audition, he recalled in an interview, that he was 55 years old and sleeping on his mother’s couch. He had auditioned for a different character, but creator David Chase approached him with a different role, which proved to be iconic in its own right.
“He said, ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news?’ Sirico recalled in a 2021 interview. “I said, ‘Tell me the bad news.’ He said, “You didn’t get Uncle Junior. But I have something in mind. Would you like to do a recurring role on the show? I have a character called Paulie Walnuts.”
After the show ended, Sirico appeared on shows like “Lilyhammer,” “The Grinder,” and “Family Guy.”
But “Sorpanos” — thanks in part to the show’s renewed popularity via streaming — remains his most memorable work.
“We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I’m proud to say that I did my best and most fun work with my dear friend Tony,” added Imperioli. “I will miss him forever. He is truly irreplaceable. I send love to his family, friends and his many fans. He was loved and will never be forgotten. Broken today.”
Michael Gandolfini, son of the late ‘Sopranos’ star James Gandolfini, paid tribute to Sirico on Instagram.
“Tony Sirico was one of the kindest, fiercely loyal and warm-hearted men I have ever known,” she wrote. “He was always Uncle Tony to me and Tony always showed up for me and my family. I will deeply miss his pecks on my cheek and his infectious laugh. He was a fantastic actor and an even better person.”
